ON THE HIP: Roasted Cherry Tomato Rigatoni
I’m tiptoe-ing back into the kitchen after three months away…
Even though hubby is a chef and cooked up lots of delicious food for me and the brigade of visiting family and friends, I missed my food, my recipes. Getting back into the kitchen, slow cooking shortribs and ragus, composing beautiful summer salads would relax me, I thought. Clearly, the post-pregnancy hormones were clouding my brain…
New ‘Mommyhood’ and cooking with Parker means I have no time, no hands and no patience. Standing at the stove for hours–with multiple pans going at once–is a thing of the past. Complicated recipes are saved for special occasions. I’ll shop in one grocery store, shove the ingredients under her stroller and hit the cash register before she begins wailing, ready for her next feeding.
Yep, Ms. Gourmet is going a little bit Rachel Ray…
On the Hip Recipes are for my new life and my new way of cooking. The whole point is that the recipes are so easy, they can be made with a baby or toddler on your hip. And the dishes only require as many ingredients as you can fit beneath your Uppa Baby or MacLaren.
My Roasted Cherry Tomato Rigatoni leaves a ton of time to play with Parker, feed her, do her mountain of laundry or sit on the couch with a big fat glass of Nero d’Avola. (Guess which activity I chose?) The onions and tomato almost become a confit (the veggies taking on a jam-like quality) because they’re cooked down, or reduced, to their sweet essence. Finished off with pecorino romano, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, this pasta looks and tastes like it took hours. Sshhhhh…
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
Can’t wait to try your recipe, you should have stepped into my life some 11 years ago! But the fast pace is still on, even though babies have long gone left my hip, and I will enjoy your new approach to cooking. I’ve loved going over your adventures (your life just seems to be one beautiful adventure) through your blog. We are leaving for France very soon, but I hope to catch you on your next visit to P’cola.
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Brooke, I am so proud of you! I still think of you and Alexa as babies yourselves! Enjoy each moment, as the time passes quickly! Keep up the great work. Joan Bullock
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Love this, sounds multo delicioso, i love the picture of you and parker the most! i am loving seeing you as a mom, you are a natural. although i am sure you did not cook this recipe with the red sauce in that gorgeous white ensemble! ha! enjoy your self! xx
July 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I’m so delighted to see you back in the kitchen. And I’m even happier to see some recipes that can be made with a baby on the hip. Because guess what? I’ll have one of those in February and be looking for a way to cook, clean, work and write with a little extra weight on my hip. Thanks for the continual inspiration!