What's for Dinner? Flounder with Linguine and Tomato Sauce!

We've been on vacation in Charleston for the past week, and let me tell you, we had some AMAZING food!  Charleston does not disappoint in the culinary department.  But one thing the food isn't...healthy.  We were traveling with a vegetarian, and it was particularly hard finding something that didn't have some sort of pig product in it (it is the South, after all!).  At one restaurant, the homemade buttermilk rolls were actually served with "pork butter".  So, needless to say, after last week, we are looking for some healthy meals again.  This dish is something my mom made growing up.  It is extremely fast (good thing, cause the in-laws are in town!) and very healthy.  And it is pretty cheap, because you can use any thin white fish that they have at the market, and tilapia is usually always there and super inexpensive. I made this tonight with flounder because I really like the flavor of it (and it was also on sale at the 'Teet). Hopefully after eating a few healthy dishes like this, some of that pork butter will start magically melting off of my hips.  Enjoy!

Flounder with Linguine and Tomato Sauce
Serves 4

1 TBSP olive oil
5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1, 28-oz can good diced tomatoes in juice (I use San Marzano)
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 large handful basil, chopped
2 TBSP capers
1 lb flounder fillets
8 oz linguine, cooked to specifications
parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, heat olive oil and add garlic.  Saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add tomatoes with juice and simmer about 5 minutes.  Add lemon juice, basil and capers and simmer 5 minutes more.  Add flounder in one layer over tomatoes.  Cover.  Cook for about 4-5 minutes until fish becomes opaque and flakes easily (don't overcook...we don't like mushy fish!). Serve fish on top of pasta and spoon sauce on top.  Garnish with Parmesan.

Download PDF of Recipe

What's for Dinner? Fresh Tomato Sauce with Pancetta over Pappardelle!

Yesterday, when I made my gazpacho, I went ahead and prepped all the rest of my fresh, garden tomatoes for this sauce that I was making tonight.  It is such a simple, fresh sauce that tastes almost as good if you use a good quality, San Marzano canned tomatoes than if you use fresh tomatoes (but you didn't hear me say that!). If you use fresh tomatoes, you need to core them, cut an "x" in the bottom and drop them in boiling salted water.  Let them blanch for a few seconds (15-30) and remove from boiling water.  Let cool and peel off skin.

Now for the pasta.  I have discovered this dry pasta that I am in love with.  It is Cipriani Extra Thin Pappardelle and it is amazing.  It tastes ALMOST like fresh pasta.  Now, it is very pricey.  At the Teet, an 8 oz box is $7.99.  I KNOW!  It is expensive, but, in my eyes it is so worth it. When you think that it serves 4-5, that is less than $2 per serving of pasta.  You'd pay way more at a restaurant, and it is better! Ok, so enough about that.  If you can't stomach the price, fine...just use a regular old dried pasta.  Be that way.

I hope you make this sauce...with or without fresh tomatoes and with or without the best pasta ever!  :) It is such a simple, flavorful sauce--it has become a Sullivan house standard. Buon appetito!

Fresh Tomato Sauce with Pancetta
over Pappardelle
Serves 4-5

1 TBSP olive oil
6 oz, pancetta, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced

2 lbs of fresh tomatoes, cored, blanched and peeled OR 1, 28 oz can San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt and pepper to taste
10 leaves fresh basil, rolled and cut in a chiffonade
8 oz Cipriani Pappardelle, or other dried pasta


In a large sauce pan over medium heat, add olive oil and saute pancetta for 5 minutes, until it starts to brown.  Add onion and saute until soft.  Add garlic and saute 1 minute more.  With your hands, squeeze tomatoes into the pan, breaking them up (do this whether using fresh or canned).  Add all sauce from fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes.  Simmer for 10 minutes, further breaking up tomatoes to desired chunkiness with a wooden spoon. 

Boil pot of water and add pasta.  Cook to directions and drain.


Add red pepper to sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer 10 more minutes.  Right before serving, add fresh basil and stir. Serve over pasta and top with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.  Enjoy!


Download PDF of Recipe

What's for Dinner? Gazpacho!

It has been over 100 degrees here (with the heat index) for over a month.  It's been brutal!  So, when thinking about dinner tonight, something light and cool sounded good.  We have a ton of tomatoes in the garden and gazpacho sounded perfect!

I have two friends that sent me gazpacho recipes the same week a while back, so I kind of combined the two and the result was fantastic!  My friend Erin sent me her recipe...something special she made her dad for Father's Day.  And my friend Holly also sent a recipe. That recipe was created by a wonderful private chef her and her husband, Bill, so generously hired when several of us came to visit them in Chicago.  We had an awesome meal, that was like 10 courses, and this gazpacho really stood out.  She also served it in these adorable little hollowed-out cucumber cups...but I will stick to serving it in a good old-fashioned bowl!

Garnish the soup with whatever accoutrements you like...the more the better (I served it with sour cream and avocado...and the avocado really made it!).  And when served with a big crusty piece of bread...YUM!  Enjoy and stay cool!

Gazpacho

Serves 6-8

• 4 Roma tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• ½ cup good olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine or Sherry vinegar
• 2 cups low sodium vegetable juice cocktail (like V8)
• 1 cup diced, toasted or day old baguette
• 2 English cucumbers, seeded, peeled and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• 1 large handful cilantro
• ½-1 jalapeno (seeded if you desire less spicy)
• juice of half a lemon 
• 2-3 tsp hot sauce (to taste)
• Salt and pepper to taste  

In a food processor, combine oil, vinegar, and tomato juice.  Add all other ingredients and puree until smooth (you may have to do this in two batches and stir together).  Season to taste.  Chill for at least 2 hours. Serve with sour cream, avocado slices, croutons, boiled shrimp, chopped fresh cilantro, and/or fresh basil. 

Download PDF of Recipe