Tomatoes are fantastic: packed with antioxidants, vitamins and potassium, not to mention super versatile! Celebrate this nutritional powerhouse with these 4 tomato-tastic recipes, plus find the linky for #CookBlogShare Week 39!
Busy, busy, busy!
Phew – life is BUSY right now. But good busy! Do you find that? I have so many good things going on right now, I just wish there was more time to do them in!
The thing taking up most of my time right now is Productive Blogging LIVE! This is my very first foray into the world of blog conference hosting – a one day blogging event in London on Saturday 5th October, featuring seminars, amazing food, fabulous sponsors, networking, goodie bags and more! I am super excited to be hosting it, but boy is it a lot of work!
When not working on Productive Blogging LIVE, I’ve still managed to share a one new recipe here on Easy Peasy Foodie – my Easy Spanish Chicken Stew, as well as a roundup of a whopping 28 Easy Peasy One Pot Recipes (You guys KNOW how much I love a one pot!)
Over on Productive Blogging this month, I’ve shared posts on:
- How to use the Yoast SEO plugin to optimise a blog post
- How to update an old blog post (and why you should!) + CHECKLIST
- 7 things to do on Sunday evening that will make your week way more productive
- 14 reasons why your blog isn’t making money (and what to do about it!)
And if that’s not enough, I’ve also been doing the rounds of secondary schools open days, as my daughter is now in her last year of primary school (#howdidthathappen?)
The importance of rest…
One of the big lessons I’ve learned this year has been the importance of rest and taking regular breaks. I love blogging so much that I am tempted to spend all my time blogging – for me it’s like a hobby, a job and a vocation rolled into one. But this year has taught me that I really need to step back and take a break from time to time – or else I risk burning out!
So, in amongst this month’s busy-ness, I was really glad to have the opportunity to do just that… A couple of weeks ago I went on a 3 day pilates retreat with some fellow bloggers and friends at Domaine du Pignoulet in SW France. I had just the most incredible time – amazing company, fabulous food, beautiful weather… pilates, breathwork, swimming… a trip to a local market… a sunrise walk… It just couldn’t have been more perfect.
And a special shout out to our wonderful hosts – Susie and James Wetton – they made us all feel so welcome and nothing was too much trouble (even my endless requests for decaf coffee!) If you are looking for an indulgent and relaxing break, then I can really recommend Domaine du Pignoulet.
In fact… I enjoyed it so much, I am now wondering if it might be possible to do a Productive Blogging RETREAT there in the future… It’d kind of be like Productive Blogging LIVE, only longer… with better weather… even more food, French wine and a swimming pool! #watchthisspace
4 Tomato-tastic Recipes
Last week’s #CookBlogShare linky was guest hosted for the first time by Lizet from Chipa By The Dozen. And she did a fab job of it! I think it’s one of the big strengths of #CookBlogShare that we have such a wonderful team of guest hosts 😀
The recipes that caught my eye from last week’s entries all featured one common ingredient – TOMATOES! Tomatoes are such a fabulous vegetable (well, OK technically a fruit – I know!), not only do they taste great, they are also a brilliant store-cupboard staple (I always keep a few tins of tomatoes in my cupboard for emergencies!) AND they are packed with nutritional goodness: a major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene – which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer – as well as vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.
So, this week’s #CookBlogShare roundup is a celebration of the tomato – featuring a tart, a stew, a stuffed marrow and a curry. Let’s tuck in!
Tomato Galette with Homemade Basil Pesto
First up we have this gorgeous Tomato Galette with Homemade Basil Pesto from Choclette of Tin and Thyme. Like Choclette – I love galettes – this rustic free-form style of tart is quick, easy and less fiddly than a standard tart and no less delicious! To make this tart, Choclette uses a wholemeal spelt base and tops it with homemade pesto (though you can use shop bought pesto if time is tight!) and fresh cherry tomatoes. I can just imagine how good this must taste (not to mention the gorgeous aroma wafting through the house as it cooks!)
Wendy’s Spanish Chicken
If you follow Jacqui’s lovely blog, Recipes Made Easy, then you will be familiar with her Friends in the Kitchen series. In this series she showcases recipes from her friends in their kitchens. This time it’s the turn of Wendy’s Spanish Chicken. Given that Wendy has written over 30 recipe books (!!) – picking just one recipe to share was a tough decision. This Spanish Chicken Recipe is taken from Wendy’s latest book – The Europhile’s Cookbook. Written to celebrate 25 years of the Channel Tunnel, it features recipes from all over Europe. (Want to win a copy? Head over to Wendy’s Spanish Chicken recipe to find out how). And of course, Wendy’s Spanish Chicken features tomatoes – a handful of fresh ones roasted with the chicken!
Vegetarian Stuffed Marrow with Veggie Chilli
So far, the recipes have featured fresh tomatoes, but these next two feature that store cupboard essential: tinned chopped tomatoes! Here Corina from Searching for Spice has used tinned tomatoes as the basis for a delicious vegetarian chilli, which she has then stuffed into marrow halves and roasted in the oven. I love how this Vegetarian Stuffed Marrow recipe is absolutely packed with vegetables: onions, chillies, garlic, peppers, aubergine, kidney beans, marrow… and, of course, tomatoes! You’ll be well on your way to your five a day after eating this meal!
Leftover Roast Beef Curry
And last – but by no means least – we have this wonderful Leftover Roast Beef Curry from Donna at Donna Dundas. Tinned chopped tomatoes are used as the base for this delicious curry, along with spices, chilli, garlic and yogurt. It can be served with rice, naan bread or poppadoms… or take a leaf out of Donna’s book and serve with all three! Such a fab way to use enjoy leftover roast beef.
#CookBlogShare2019 Week 39
And so we come to this week’s linky. You can link up any foodie post that you have – both old and new posts are welcome. All you need to do is:
- Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions (maximum of 4, please).
- Add a link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!) and / or add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (you can find the code below).
- Comment on one of the host’s posts and a minimum of 2 other posts linked up here, and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
If you wish, you can tweet a link to your recipe to me @easypeasyfoodie and also (if you have room on the tweet!) my co-hosts Jacqui @recipecrumbs and Monika @monikasecipes, using the #CookBlogShare hashtag and we will retweet them. You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.
Need some help on Instagram? You and me both…so let’s help each other! Whenever you post to Instagram, use the #CookBlogShare hashtag, then quickly hop over to the #CookBlogShare feed, liking as many as you can and commenting on any that particularly catch your eye. Not a big job at all, but if we all do it, it would make a BIG difference!!
I will comment on a selection of my favourite posts this week and pin them to the Cook Blog Share Pinterest Board. I can’t wait to see what you’ve all been making!
Just to remind you, by joining in, you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!
The next #CookBlogShare will be hosted by Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy 🙂
Pin 4 Tomato-Tastic Recipes for later
Corina Blum says
I love tomatoes Eb! I always have lots of fresh tomatoes and tinned tomatoes at home as they are perfect for whipping up a meal at the last minute. I especially love the sound of Wendy’s Spanish chicken. Thanks so much for featuring my stuffed marrow as well x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Corina – yes I always have plenty of tomatoes in my house too. As you say, they are perfect for whipping up a meal last minute! Eb x
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Tinned tomatoes are definitely a staple in my kitchen too. This time of year I do prefer fresh ones that would be perfect on top of Choclette’s galette which is simply a thing of beauty! 🙂 Your relaxing weekend in France sounds fantastic! I’ve done a great yoga retreat before and know really well how fabulous and rejuvenated you feel afterwards. x
Eb Gargano says
Oh yes, fresh ones at this time of year are great – I love how Choclette has really celebrated them in her galette! Eb x
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
Couldn’t agree more about Lizet doing a great job guest hosting for the first time. The guest hosts really are what makes #CookBlogShare special.
I use tomatoes in so many dishes such a good choice for a round-up. Thanks for including Wendy’s Spanish chicken and the book giveaway. I love doing the friend in the kitchen series.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jacqui – I really love your Friends in the Kitchen series! Eb x
Choclette says
My goodness you have been busy. Your retreat sounds just wonderful. It’s been a long time since I did anything like that. But I’m really looking forward to Productive Blogging Live. I’m sure it will be a fantastic day and all your hard work paid off. Thanks for featuring my galette. I reckon tomatoes are at their very best in September.
Eb Gargano says
Haha – I always am. I am very impatient, which means I want to do everything NOW. Great for my business, not so good for my health – but this year I’ve been much better at forcing myself to TAKE A BREAK! Eb x
Donna says
My son insists that he doesn’t like tomatoes, but near enough all of his favourite meals are tomato-based! Thanks for including my curry, the rest look fab too!
Eb Gargano says
Haha – yes, I have one of those too. My son really hates fresh tomatoes, but loves curries / pizza / tomato pasta / ketchup etc. Eb x
Lesley Garden says
Tomatoes, my favourite food ingredient. What a great round-up, some lovely ideas to try out here.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks, Lesley 😀
Monika Dabrowski says
A pilates retreat sounds great, even better to do it with other bloggers! I wouldn’t even need a pool. I’d definitely come to a productive blogging one!
Eb Gargano says
Aw yay – that’s good to hear. Can’t wait to see you on Saturday! Eb x