Comments on: Dinner With My Family #16: Penne with Cannelini and Tomatoes

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:46:45 +0000

What an interesting idea! I always make a casserole for the day-of and freeze the extra, but I never thought of doing it the other way around (eating the extra and freezing the casserole). Thanks for the idea!

By: Carol Cripps

Carol Cripps — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:01:03 +0000

I love this idea for a meal. Like some of the others who’ve commented, I’d add other vegetables according to availability – kale and mushrooms especially, and definitely some onions and garlic, which I always have on hand.

I agree with those who’ve said that cherry tomatoes are easy to grow. I’ve started several plants, some of which will be planted in a balcony container, the rest going to my sister’s house. Even regular tomatoes are easy to grow in containers – We’re trying heirloom tomatoes this year. You can grow an amazing amount of food on your balcony! I’m sure that many of the tomatoes are going to end up in casseroles like the one Trent just posted. The rest *might* make it as far as a salad bowl, but probably just eaten off the vine.

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:57:44 +0000

Bet this would be even tastier if you sauteed some diced onions in olive oil until they are deep golden brown /caramelized and the stirred them into the mix when you added the beans and tomatoes.

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:54:37 +0000

@Leah – I second that cherry tomatoes are really easy to grow. I had some growing on the windowsill, and they looked amazing! One lesson I learned the hard way: Ensure the pot is secured in some way. Let’s just say that I’m extremely glad there was no-one walking under the window when it slammed shut!

Still, I bandaged up the one plant (of about 5) that survived the fall, and got a couple of very yummy tomatoes from it.

By: Vickie

Vickie — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:25:33 +0000

Thanks for another great meal idea. ☺

By: Lesley

Lesley — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:36:31 +0000

We do this all the time for pasta and leftovers–it freezes very well too. I always load mine with vegetables–spinach, mushrooms, onions, peppers, etc. (Fresh summer squash will make the casserole too watery though.) Sometimes we’ll throw in a little pasta sauce (esp. if we plan to freeze)–just half a can.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:11:27 +0000

I’d increase the nutritional value by adding a whack of spinach or kale.

By: Larabara

Larabara — Sat, 07 May 2011 06:44:36 +0000

Leah@#2, cherry tomatoes are one of the easiest garden plants to grow. If you have a green or even green-ish thumb, and somewhere to grow tomatoes (they are great in containers, too), you can grow your own. I plant cherry tomatoes every year, and when they ripen I am inundated with them. They are sweeter than anything I ever bought at the store. I share what I can, and freeze a ton of them as well, for recipes and sauces in the wintertime.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:19:59 +0000

Thanks for the recipe! I love white beans and pasta together. We’ll have to try this. This is pretty much a traditional pasta e fagioli recipe, only I’ve always heard you just use highly salted water to boil your pasta in. Then you throw a bit of the starchy pasta water in with the beans at the end to thicken it up. But the idea of broth sounds like it would give it even more flavor.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:22:43 +0000

We do all kinds of dishes with pasta – a good way to clean out the fridge or pantry!

#2 Leah – It’s a little early in the season for fresh tomatoes to be at their best price (or taste). My tomato plants here in the sunny central valley of California have just set their first few. I’m also a little cautious about cherry or plum tomatoes right now, what with the recent recalls. Instead of fresh tomatoes I often use a good brand of no-salt-added organic canned tomatoes or our favorite tomato sauce (this year we’ll be able to make some homemade once the tomato plants take off!). This would also be tasty without any kind of tomatoes.

We’ve found we prefer a generous amount of basil & oregano instead of just a pinch. If using canned tomato product, a half teaspoon of sugar helps too.

By: Leah W.

Leah W. — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:33:53 +0000

Can you find reasonably priced cherry tomatoes? I cannot.

By: Sonja

Sonja — Fri, 06 May 2011 22:34:31 +0000

I always look forward to these meal posts. Although I generally like my food spicier than Trent (I’m not feeding little kids, though) these recipes are always a place for me to try something a little different. Loved the breakfast burritos/tofu scramble last week with the addition of hot peppers. Thanks for the recipes.