I'll be completely honest with you. I haven't been a fan of sun-dried tomatoes. I'm not even sure I've grown to the level of "fan", yet. For years now, I've read restaurant menus carry on about sun-dried tomatoes in their dishes. And for years now, I haven't met a sun-dried tomato dish I liked.
You already know I'm slow on picking up on the latest fads. But you gotta know something else about me.
Even when I try a new food or dish for the first time and I don't like it, it's not enough for me to declare, "I don't like it." I will continue trying that fruit, vegetable, dinner recipe - cooked at different times by different people/restaurants/myself, before I'm completely convinced that I don't like it.
Foods that I didn't like as a teen-ager, I have grown to love them cooked differently from the way they were introduced to me. All the legumes - grossed me out as a kid. Now, I can't go a week without making a batch.
SWEET POTATOES- could not stand the texture as a kid through adulthood. I was 30 before I started to appreciate sweet potatoes. But every Thanksgiving meal, every year, I always took a bite to see if I still didn't like them.
Ok so now you know. You understand that I don't get the sun-dried tomato thing, but I'm searching out, trying different ways to enjoy them. I'm trying to figure what all the hub-bub is about. If they're SO good, why don't I like them?
Well I finally broke down and bought Classico's Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto (SDTP). I already keep their Basil pesto on my frig door and completely love it. How did I like the sun-dried? IT'S PRETTY GOOD! It's rich and I like the strong tomato flavor. I also like the tomatoes being pureed. The dried skins have always messed with me. I don't always want chewy bits with my pasta, you know?
HERE'S WHAT I DIG SO FAR
- SDTP generously slathered on a pizza crust, topped with grilled chicken, sliced onion, large shavings of Romano & mozzarella cheese, and chopped fresh tomatoes, salt & pepper.
- SDTP loosened up with a little tomato sauce and poured over cheese ravioli, topped with crumbled goat cheese.
I don't have a photo for the next idea, you'll have to take my word for it.
- Goat cheese and sun-dried tomato pesto mixed together and spread on crackers or toasted baguette slices.
So that's as far as I've gone.
What's up your sun-dried tomato sleeves? What can you share with me that will help me grow to appreciate them more?
Oh my gosh… these all look so good, but that pizza? YUM!
That pizza looks delish! Can’t wait to try the goat cheese idea though. Yum!
I LOVE Classico’s sun-dried tomato pesto!!! Like you, I’ve never been any kind of fan of sun-dried tomatoes in years past. But this stuff is AWESOME! We will dip crusty, multigrain French bread in it for a quick snack. We put it on pasta of all kinds (thinned with a little bit of pasta water). We also make pizzas of all kinds with it — but I must admit that yours looks particularly scrumptious. No matter what meat we put with it (chicken, pork, pepperoni, roast beef, turkey), it ALWAYS makes a terrific sandwich spread. I was distressed when my local Meijer where I’ve alwasy purchased it stopped carrying it. But I believe Wal-Mart has it, too — crisis averted! This stuff is the best kept secret out there!