Ratatouille

From Martha Stewart.  I made this years ago (and think one tub of it is still in the freezer) and it is wonderful.  And, guess what?   I have everything on the counter--from my garden.  Tomatoes (yes, I have a handful of tomatoes), eggplant (small round ones from an Indian customer who came by work to give me four plants back in June), two peppers (my plants are struggling), onions I grew, two zucchini  (I have exactly two).  I even have marjoram growing out on the deck.  And I have garlic that I pulled a bit too late.  I even have a bay laurel plant for the one bay leaf in the recipe.

28 ounce can of whole tomatoes (or fresh ones) roasted on an oiled tray with 2T good olive oil in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes until dry and thick.  Stir every 10 minutes. Just dump the can on the tray break up the tomatoes a bit and then start baking them.

One pound of eggplant, diced and salted for 20 minutes and then squeezed dry.

Two large yellow onions diced in large chunks.  Same with the zucchini and the bell peppers.  The bigger the chunks the longer it cooks.  I cut things smaller than it is pictured here.

One head garlic, peeled and crushed.  I will be using only one clove.  I am NOT a fan of garlic.

Salt and pepper, one Bay leaf, 1T marjoram.

Heat a large Dutch oven and add 4 T olive oil and saute the onion.  Then add the garlic.  Then add everything else.  Season with salt and pepper (Ina Garten always adds 1 teaspoon salt to everything and 1/2  a teaspoon of pepper).  Simmer gently until everything is soft, about an hour. You can cook it longer if you like it all soft and mushy--which I do.

Eat it as a pasta sauce.  Eat it piled on a toasted baguette.  Eat it as a vegetable with any grilled meat (best with hot Italian grilled sausages).  I have a few pieces of breaded, fried eggplant left and I think this would be fantastic piled on top.  Just eat it.

I am reminded that I wrote here that I would like a nice small amount of produce coming out of the garden so I could enjoy it and not have piles of it going to waste.  I am very happy to actually see this happening.  There is only what I need for this recipe--no extra.  Fate.  Kismet.  Whatever.  I collected what I need for ratatouille.  A good day.

And some green beans, 2 cucumbers and enough blackberries for tomorrow's yogurt.