A recipe for finding calm between the noise
My past weeks have been a bit chaotic and overwhelming, so having some simple but nourishing recipes up your sleeve can be very helpful. Just scroll down for the recipe.
Although autumn has fully arrived and it isn’t high season for tomatoes, there are still plenty available here. Tomatoes are my go-to fruit for those moments when my creativity and inspiration apparently have somewhere else important to be. So yes, sometimes eating off-season comes with a few perks.
I’m embracing the Italian lifestyle wholeheartedly; totally hooked on long, generous lunches and small dinners most of the time. That's why I made this recipe for dinner, but it’s perfect for a nourishing lunch as well.
What I used
✦ Two small-sized tomatoes
✦ Plenty of olive oil (EVOO)
✦ Herbs like (fresh) rosemary and oregano
✦ A little pepper and a pinch of salt
✦ 120 g ricotta
✦ One tablespoon honey
✦ 2–3 medium-sized slices of bread
How I made it
✦ I cut the tomatoes in half and warmed up some olive oil. Then I roasted the tomatoes for a couple of minutes in a pan.
✦ In the meantime, I whipped the ricotta for a minute before adding one tablespoon of olive oil and the salt.
✦ I toasted the slices of bread in the oven. (I don’t have a toaster, that’s why.)
✦ When the bread was done, I drizzled some extra olive oil on top. Only because I love the taste of fresh olive oil.
✦ I spread the ricotta on the bread slices and topped them with the roasted tomatoes. Then I added the rosemary and seasoned everything with a little oregano and pepper.
✦ I heated the honey until it was runny and drizzled it over the toasts.
Don’t wait too long, serve it while it’s still warm (and therefore dreamy).
Why ricotta cheese deserves a spot in your kitchen
Bringing ricotta into your kitchen is about discovering a little spark of joy that makes cooking, eating and life itself feel richer.
Health-wise: Ah yes, the classic myth: “Cheese or dairy makes you fat.” Well… not really. Ricotta does contain some fats, but fats are not the enemy. They’re the good guys, giving flavor, protecting your organs and nourishing your body with energy. Ricotta also contains quite a lot of protein, vitamins, and minerals. All there to help your body stay healthy.
Taste-wise: The taste of easy comfort. Light, soft, a whisper of sweetness and a trace of salt. The more you taste, the more comfortable it gets, making life delicious and soothing.
Life-wise: It’s sweet, savory, salty… Opening up to flavors just as they are gives you incredible moments of closeness. Closeness with yourself, your intuition, and your environment. Enjoy wonderful encounters with different foods and eat without proving anything.
The art of cooking: feel free to do it your way
We all learn cooking in our own way. From our mothers, our grandfathers, a holiday abroad or an accident at home. These moments shape your taste, and your taste shapes your style. But neither is fixed; they move with the rhythm of your life.
So a meal is never just a meal. It’s a memory.
A here-and-now moment. Your moment.
Don’t treat recipes (mine or anyone else’s) as strict rules. Think of them as gentle directions, little suggestions along the way. And it’s entirely yours. So play with food. Dance in your kitchen. Trust your senses. Because nobody tastes what you taste.
And if it doesn’t turn out perfect? Congratulations, you’ve just cooked like a human being.
0 comments