With the summer holidays upon us, my ability to both write and photograph blog posts will be limited. Children, at least mine anyway, demand an enormous amount of attention (involving lots of behaviour management). It can be rewarding and frustrating in equal measures.
So, keeping this in mind, I will be posting recipes over the next few weeks that can be put together with very little effort. They may even be recipes that my children have had a helping hand in making. Who knows, I may even just put all my own ideas aside and let them choose the way my blog goes forward this summer……
It will be a good opportunity for me to practice my teaching skills. I have some classes coming up in September in which I may be teaching both parents and their children together through a Family Learning scheme run by the council I work for.
My only concern is that my teaching methods may get somewhat lost amongst the battle between who gets to use the best pastry cutter or who has the biggest quantity of bread dough and why this just isn’t fair!
Now on to the recipe. This is a dish I put together in minutes last week. My 4yo had already broken up from his pre-school. He wanted lunch and he loves tomatoes It was a huge success for him and me.
I think it could be a worthy rival to the well loved dish “Dauphinoise Potatoes”. It is a tomato gratin which I have adapted from Jane Grigson’s “Vegetable Book“. A gratin of tomatoes is insanely delicious. Why has it taken me so long to discover it?! Seasonal tomatoes baked in Sherry, garlic from the allotment, Oregano fresh from the garden and cream. Make sure you have a good loaf of bread to hand for the scrumptious sauce.
I am entering this into a few of this month’s challenges, including the one I am hosting (in partnership with WORKING LONDON MUMMY) “One Ingredient”, Ren Behan’s “Simple and in Season” this month guest hosted by Homemade By Fleur and to Karen at Lavender & lovage’s “Herbs on a Saturday“.
A Gratin of Tomatoes
Ingredients :- Serves 2
4 tomatoes sliced
Butter for greasing your small baking dish/ramekins
1 clove of garlic sliced very thinly
Fresh Oregano leaves
2 tbsp Dry Sherry
8 tbsp double cream
2 tbsp grated strong Cheddar
- Salt & pepper
Method :-
Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees.
Butter a small oven proof baking dish or alternatively 2 ramekins.
Add some of the sliced garlic to the dish then place the sliced tomatoes in, laying them in an overlapping circle.
Dot over the rest of the sliced garlic, seasoning and chopped Oregano leaves, tucking some in amongst the tomatoes.
Add the dry Sherry and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
Take the tomatoes out of the oven and pour in the double cream. Top with the grated Cheddar.
Bake for a further 15 minutes.
If the cheese has not browned sufficiently then place it under a hot grill for 1-2 minutes to achieve a crisp cheese top layer.
Serve with a loaf of good bread and enjoy the tomatoes and the sauce with the bread.
Notes :-
A side salad would be a great accompaniment to this dish.
To make more of a meal of it, serve with some roast or chargrilled meat or fish of your choice.
Looks wonderful. Perfect with some crusty bread too!
Yes, a good baguette as I will be making this in France I think. Love the tomatoes they have over there….so many varieties and flavours!
I can smell them from here. They look wonderful x
You got that so right, this dish smells heavenly!
Tomatoes, cheese, cream and herbs sound like a heavenly combination – especially combined with a good loaf of bread. I might just be joining your children in some of those cookery lessons.
I think you would be a welcome guest too! xxx
Oh yes! This looks good!
Thanks Kavey, it really is good!
Tomatoes are perfect just as they are, but always make melts so much better:)
Thanks Tania, yes they do make a good option and one which I will be using again :))x
Gosh, what a super dish, I haven’t sherry here but a dry white wine would work I imagine. The tomatoes here are fab so it will make a great meal when your in France.
I cannot wait to get to the French market for some amazing tomatoes. Not long now!!
As you know, I’m in the same boat over the summer. Great idea to allow the blog to ‘go with the flow’. I think that is when blogs work the best. Fab recipe too. Going to try that with mine for sure. Thanks for entering Simple and in Season.
Thanks Fleur, yes I hope you get to have a bit of a break this summer in between looking after your three little ones! xx
This sounds absolutely wonderful! I love the combination of flavours and I’m all for simplicity when it comes to summer eating. Delicious!
I do agree with you. This is so simple but the favours are great. Perfect for this summer weather we are now experiencing!
A PERFECT recipe and one that I make, albeit in a slightly different way, myself when my tomatoes are in FULL swing! I LOVE the combination of ingredients that you have used Laura and can’t wait to see you all! LOVELY Herbs on Saturday recipe, and maybe you can let Vanesther know, as she is hosting it this month over at bangers and mash! THANKS! Karen xxx
Yes, I am so looking forward to seeing you! Now long now and I can’t wait to be there x
Simple, but super delicious. Well worth a post. Will be keening these in mind.
Thanks Jac, great as a side dish or main meal! xx
My kind of meal! In fact this would suit us all down to the ground. And yes, a good loaf of bread is essential for that sauce!
Oh good, happy you like it :))x
Looks tasty!
Thanks Janice! xx
Great combinations Laura. Love the idea of adding the sherry to the dish. Where is France are you headed? You are bound to be spoiled with all their markets 🙂
Yes, Sherry is such a good idea and I love drinking it so have a bottle in the fridge. Off to the Dordogne very soon! x
I just now noticed this article. We have two things in common, we like gratin of tomatoes and children irritate us when they fight while cooking. Simple but really tasty, I just need to find good sun ripened tomatoes (!!),
Oh yes, cooking with bickering children around is not much fun. I am happy you like a gratin of tomatoes.Hope you find some really juicy ripe tomatoes soon :)x