Sunday Night Spaghetti

Boxes of tomatoes keep showing up at the farm. It seems as though every time I stop out there I find another box or two filled with Romas and Big Boys. They're coming from Dave, a family friend who apparently has planted his entire property in tomatoes. Even though the shareholders take a few every time they come out to the farm, there are still tomatoes coming out of our ears. Dad brought out an amazing contraption called a Squeezo that skins, seeds, and sauces the tomatoes with the turn of a crank, and sent me home with a gallon of tomato puree. So, when it came time to think about dinner I knew we'd be seeing a little red.

We had a surprisingly busy Sunday, also, so we were looking for something that wasn't too involved. In other words, tonight was a definite spaghetti night.

I recently discovered a bulk food store run by Mennonites a few miles from Manchester, out in the middle of the country. They carry all sorts of great stuff, including organic whole wheat pasta. As long as we're here, we'll have a lot of that on hand. For the sauce, I wanted to use up the rest of the ground beef left over from our hamburgers last night (still raw) and some green peppers that I picked from the garden a few days ago. I also had garlic and onions from the farm, as well. I must admit, I'm more comfortable cooking from recipes--even when it comes to putting together a simple spaghetti sauce--so I sort of impressed myself when I just started putting one together. I soon realized that I was creating a hybrid of Mark Bittman's spaghetti and meatballs recipe from How to Cook Everything (a meal we had last week) and Cooks Illustrated's Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce (which I've been making to freeze). Another spinach salad with a vinaigrette by Kira and thick slices of the display miche from the farmer's market and it was time for dinner.

While we ate, Kira pointed out that I may not have been completely clear in my intentions for this National Eat Together Week segment of our blog. My hope is that you all will post a few words about your nightly meals (and perhaps some photos). In a way, then, it's like we're sharing in each other's meals. It might be a little annoying if it's just us doing it. If we all join in it might be...a little less annoying?

So, what did you have for dinner? Sam and Marja, how was the soup (it looks great, Jane!)? What time do we eat tomorrow?