A Recipe for Success - For Dinner and Marriage!

Back in October I was lucky enough to marry my best friend.  He is such a wonderful guy and is always supportive, especially when it comes to my cooking!  I have been known to whip up some interesting dishes that many might not be as open to trying, but he is always there with his fork and a compliment.  This type of support is great because it gives me the freedom to experiment but there is something to be said to sticking to a recipe. Lately when I am looking for healthy and accessible, weeknight recipes I have been turning to a cookbook we received as a wedding gift. It's called Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, and it's by Deborah Madison, a wonderful chef and longtime friend of Oldways. Beyond loving her recipes, I love her food philosophy, which is all about connecting people to the food they eat.  Since our wedding, my husband and I have enjoyed several of the recipes from her cookbook, one of which is this simple – yet satisfying – recipe for tomatoes stuffed with herbed grains.  After the Thanksgiving holiday this dinner was an especially welcome treat.  I think these tomatoes would be a great side with chicken or fish but I served them as the main meal with a salad and enjoyed every last bite. Deborah offers suggestions for grains in her recipe as well as the selection of herbs and nuts you can include. I chose quinoa and paired it with parsley, fresh basil and pine nuts. INGREDIENTS: 4 ripe but firm tomatoes (medium to large) 1 cup cooked rice or couscous or quinoa or other grain (preferably whole) 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
 or chopped toasted almonds 2 garlic cloves -- minced 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill or basil 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan Salt and freshly milled pepper Extra virgin olive oil DIRECTIONS: --Preheat the oven to 375°F. --Cut the tops off the tomatoes (see photo). --Scoop out the pulp, chop it, and mix it 
with the quinoa, nuts, garlic, herbs, and cheese. --Season mix well with salt and 
pepper and fill the tomatoes with it. --Replace the tops, brush them with oil, and 
set the tomatoes closely together in a small, oiled baking dish. --Bake until the filling 
is hot, about 25 minutes. Carefully remove the tomatoes with a spatula to 
a serving plate. Enjoy! --Rachel