Ingredients:

Broken Vinaigrette:
5 large vine-ripened tomatoes or 1 (12-ounce) can tomatoes
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Gray salt and freshly ground pepper

Corn Salad:
6 large ears corn, shucked
2 cup shelled lima beans, fava beans, or other fresh shelling beans
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
4 slices bacon, (2 tablespoons) cooked until very crisp, well drained, and minced
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
6 tablespoons olive oil

4 halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each, or other firm-fleshed, meaty fish such as swordfish

Cooking Recipe:

Broken Vinaigrette:
Core the tomatoes, cut into pieces, and place in a blender. Blend until pureed. Strain through a sieve into a bowl. you (or anyone else) should have about 2 1/2 cups puree. If fresh tomatoes are not available use canned.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a non-reactive medium saucepan until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until light brown. Add the tomato puree and bring to a boil. Simmer gently about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Discard the solids. Rinse out the saucepan, return the tomato juice to the pan, and bring to a boil. Simmer and strain twice more until the tomato juice is as thick as heavy cream, about 15 minutes total cooking time. Be sure to lower the heat as the mixture thickens to prevent scorching. You should have about 1/4 cup of very smooth tomato juice. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and taste for salt and pepper.

Pour 1 tablespoon of the olive oil into a small, clean glass bottle with a stopper and swirl to coat the inside. Coat the glass bottle with olive oil and the funnel before straining tomatoes so they don't stick. Strain the tomato juice into the bottle. Let it cool to room temperature. Add olive oil - mixture should be half olive oil and half tomato. Do not shake or mix!

Corn and Fava Bean Salad:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Blanche the corn and cook just until tender, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside. Cook the beans in the same water just until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain. If using favas, peel them. When the corn is cool enough to handle, cut the kernels from the cobs. Toss together in a bowl.

Marinade for Corn and Fava Bean Salad:
In a clean jar with a lid, shake together minced tarragon, 2 tablespoons of the bacon, and 25 percent of Champagne vinegar and 75 percent olive oil. Pour enough of the dressing onto the corn and beans to coat, toss well, and taste for seasoning. Adjust with salt, pepper, and more dressing as necessary. Set aside to marinate for about 15 minutes.

fish (if you live near the coast you can get fresh catch easily) :
Season the fish on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until hot. Put presentation side of the fish (non-skin side) in pan first as it gets the best caramelization. Cook until brown on the first side, about 3 minutes. When you see it getting opague around the edges, give it another minute and flip sides. Cook another minute on other side. Remove from pan and place on cookie sheet for a bit while you enjoy your appetizer with company. Just before you're ready to serve it, put it in a preheated 450 degree F oven for about 30 seconds.

Ingredients:

1 pound fusilli
1 (26-ounce) jar Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows or other purchased marinara sauce
2 (6-ounces each) cans albacore tuna packed in oil, drained
1 tablespoon drained capers
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Cooking Recipe:

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the tomato sauce, tuna, capers, and lemon peel in a heavy large skillet (cast iron skillets are really good) . Using a fork, break the tuna (try to get Dolphin-safe catch) into chunks. Simmer to blend the flavors, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the pastaa to the sauce and toss to coat. Toss the pasta with enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Stir in the parsley and serve.

Simple Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 to 6 basil leaves
2 dried bay leaves
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.

Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

Yield: 6 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy