Ratatouille's Ratatouille

One of my favorite things to do is entertain and cook for friends. This has become even more enjoyable since my gluten free needs arose and eating anywhere but home can be a challenge and end in pain despite the best efforts.  A good friend of ours that knows my love of cooking, has been asking about ratatouille for quite some time and when he, his wife and their three kids came to visit this weekend I decided to prepare the dish he had built up in his mind for so long.  I had a feeling that he was not interested in the authentic dish, but rather the colorful pretty one that had been featured in Disney's movie Ratatouille that the family had watched and fell in love with. After some searching, I found a beautiful version created by Smitten Kitchen and with a few slight modifications our Ratatouille's ratatouille was prepared and graciously gobbled down by kids and adults alike (well, some kids).  Though it is not authentic, it is delicious and visually appealing and went wonderfully with the smoked chicken, roasted potatoes and wonderful company we shared.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. - Proverbs 15:17

Ratatouille's Ratatouille

as adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients:

1/2 Onion, Finely Chopped
3-4 Garlic Cloves Garlic, Minced

1 ½ cup Tomato Sauce or Puree

Olive Oil
1 Eggplant
1 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
1 Red or Orange Bell Pepper
Italian Seasoning Blend (fresh herbs are best of course)
Salt and Pepper

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

• Spread tomato sauce in the bottom of a round or oval baking dish and add the onion and minced garlic.
• Using a mandolin, slice the egg plant, zucchini, yellow squash and bell pepper in thin medallions.
• Toss the vegetables in a large bowl with olive oil, herbs, salt and pepper.
• Layer the vegetables in a pattern, circling the baking dish. 
• Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 40min
• Remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle parmesan cheese.
• Enjoy!