Provencal Cherry Tomato Gratin

Provencal Cherry Tomato Gratin was a recipe that I picked from Ina Garten's Foolproof cookbook for the Sweet As Pie Cooking Club.    I love tomatoes and they usually take over my countertops during the summer.   This is why I chose a tomato recipe so I might find a new yummy way to eat them!  Unfortunately, this wasn't such a good year for tomatoes, but I managed to have enough from my brother's garden to make this dish.  

It's very simple and SO tasty!  I took it to a potluck lunch and every.bite.was.gone.  And afterwards several friends asked for the recipe!   I used my own dried thyme and since I never buy country style bread I used whatever bread I had in the cabinet including the crusts. 

The dish doesn't look so appetizing in my photo.   Turns out 40-45 minutes in my oven is a tad too long and the bread crumbs got too brown.   I almost didn't take it to the potluck for that reason, but it didn't seem to stop folks from trying it.

I made it again a couple of weeks later and used dried basil instead of thyme.   Of course tomatoes and basil go good together so it was just as good.

I never would have bought Ina's cookbook for myself, a friend gave it to me.   I've always had the impression that what she calls simple is still over my head and took way too long.  But not this one!!   The more I look at her recipes the more I run across something that looks appealing to try.

These Jalepeno Cheddar Crackers were the first recipe from the book that I tried last year.   

I think the jalepeno and cheddar got my attention, because the thought of "making" crackers did not!!   They're similiar to cheese straws, except better.   Everyone tried one and then I ended up eating the rest....

Ina may have ventured out of the uppity Hamptons and into good ol 'Bama.