1000 pizza doughs: Simple Summer CSA Meal - Zucchini Basil Pasta and Tomato Cucumber Salad

Simple Summer CSA Meal - Zucchini Basil Pasta and Tomato Cucumber Salad

CSA veggies used: zucchini, basil, tomato, cucumber, berries (for the not-so-simple pie)

Sometimes in the summer I just eat whatever vegetables and fruits I have on hand as dinner. Plain and raw, with maybe just a little salt or olive oil. That's what I did today, for instance (a cucumber and a peach). Today I had an ulterior motive, however, as I was planning to consume a large piece of blackberry pie shortly thereafter.

Generally, at least for me, it's the complicated recipes that tend to go horribly awry. The simple ones become my go-to dinners for busy nights, or those sweltering days when the last thing anyone wants to do is stand over a flaming gas range.

One of my favorite such meals is a simple zucchini and basil pasta, with tomato and cucumber salad on the side.

For the pasta (yes I mixed bow ties and small shells, because I didn't have enough of either), I sauteed the zucchini with some sliced garlic in about 1 tbsp of butter mixed with 1 tbsp of olive oil. then I mixed in the cooked pasta, turned off the heat and added some parm-reggiano and torn basil leaves from my container garden. Rocket science? No. Simple, fresh and delicious? Yep. (If you're really anti-butter, it would be fine with just olive oil, but I like the flavor a little butter adds here.)

For a side dish I made a recipe my friend Amy taught me in college. She learned it from her Italian grandmother. The herbs are dried in this recipe, but it works, and I'm sure fresh would be great too. Here's the approximate ratio:

1 large fresh tomato, cut into large dice
1 large cucumber, sliced (and peeled, if you wish)
1-2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. oregano
1 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Just mix it all together and serve immediately. It's OK the next day, but not the same--all the juices kind of congeal in the bottom with the oil in the fridge. Best to make only as much as you plan to eat right then. It's also good with red onion and/or fresh mozzarella chunks. (We used to make this with pierogies in the dorm... good times.)

My daughter loves this bowl. It has bees, ladybugs and various critters on it. Now if only that would convince her to eat a cucumber or tomato...

And just for fun, here's my first-ever successful blackberry pie! (Note, not the first attempt, by far.) Made the crust (my mother was horrified when I told her I put two sticks of butter in it!), and even pre-baked it with weights (OK, not real pie weights... used some dried orzo of indeterminate age). Burned my forearms twice in the process... but it was worth it. (Anyone know where I can get potholders that go to the elbow?) It's not going to win any beauty contests, but it brought back memories of home.