Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite heart-healthy recipes – Scalloped Tomatoes. This recipe combines the tangy flavor of tomatoes with the savory notes of green pepper, onion, and garlic, all topped with a crunchy layer of whole wheat bread cubes. It’s the perfect side dish to complement any meal, but it’s also hearty enough to stand on its own. Not only is this dish absolutely delicious, but it’s also good for your heart. The ingredients are simple and wholesome, and the preparation is straightforward and easy. What I love most about this recipe is its versatility. It’s perfect for a cozy dinner at home, a potluck with friends, or a festive holiday meal. Plus, it’s a great way to use up stale bread and overripe tomatoes. So, are you ready to get cooking? Let me walk you through the process.
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz.) can tomatoes in juice, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. minced green pepper
- 2 Tbsp. minced onion
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp. basil, crushed
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- 2 slices stale or day old bread (whole wheat), cut into cubes (1 1/2 c.)
- 4 tsp. margarine, melted
Cooking Method
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In a 1-quart casserole sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, place tomatoes in juice.
- Stir in green pepper, onion, garlic, basil and pepper.
- In a small bowl, combine bread cubes and margarine; sprinkle over tomatoes.
- Bake about 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Makes 4 servings.
Calorie: 200
Total cooking time: 45 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
The Tale of Scalloped Tomatoes
There I was, staring down at a 16 oz. can of tomatoes in juice, ready to embark on a culinary roller coaster. This wasn’t just any cooking experiment, it was the creation of a heart-smart, Scalloped Tomatoes dish. It may sound complicated, but trust me, it’s as easy as pie – tomato pie, that is.
Prepping the Ingredients
Now, if you’re anything like me, you’d be asking, “How on earth do you ‘scallop’ a tomato?” Well, my dear reader, we’re about to find out together.
First, I had to chop up the canned tomatoes. Let me tell you, there’s nothing more therapeutic than hacking away at a bunch of juicy tomatoes. They squished, they squashed, but in the end, they were exactly what I needed.
Next up was the green pepper and onion. Now, I don’t know about you, but I can’t chop an onion without turning into a blubbering mess. But, for the sake of the dish, I soldiered on. The green pepper was much less dramatic – I minced it without shedding a tear.
A Dash of This, A Pinch of That
With all the chopping and mincing done, it was time to make some magic. Into the casserole went the tomatoes in juice, followed by the green pepper, onion, and garlic. Now, here’s where things got interesting. I found myself face to face with the basil and pepper.
Crushing the basil was a fragrant experience that filled my kitchen with a glorious, fresh aroma. It was like I’d been transported to an Italian countryside. I added the crushed basil and a dash of pepper to the mix, chuckling at how I was essentially making a ‘tomato cocktail.’
Bread Cubes: The Unsung Hero
Now, what’s a scalloped dish without a crispy topping? Enter: stale, day-old bread. Don’t be fooled by the ‘stale’ tag. Those little cubes are the unsung heroes of this dish. They were tossed in a bowl with some melted margarine – a spa treatment, if you will.
Baking Time!
With the oven preheated to a toasty 375°, the bread cubes were sprinkled over the tomatoes, like a final flourish on a masterpiece. Into the oven it went, and for about 30 minutes, I was left to my own devices.
The Moment of Truth
The aroma wafting from the oven was mouthwatering. Out came the casserole, hot and bubbly, looking like it’d just stepped off the pages of a glossy food magazine. Four servings of delicious, heart-smart Scalloped Tomatoes were ready to be devoured.
And let me tell you, dear reader, it tasted just as amazing as it looked. The tomatoes, green pepper, onion, garlic, basil, and pepper came together in a symphony of flavors. The crispy bread cubes added a delightful crunch.
Closing Thoughts
So, there you have it. That’s the tale of my Scalloped Tomato escapade. It’s a dish that promises a fiesta of flavors and a journey of culinary discovery. Who knew that a humble can of tomatoes could lead to such delights? With a dash of humor and a pinch of patience, even the most unassuming ingredients can transform into a meal to remember. Happy cooking!
