What better time to reconnect and visit with family than during the holiday season, right? After talking with some of our dear friends in South Carolina one evening, we decided we would make a quick trip from Florida to South Carolina and throw a dinner party.

Well, now that the decision was made to have the party, it was time for the next big decision, “What’s for dinner?” Since we were driving in on Friday and hosting the party on Saturday, it had to be something which didn’t require extensive preparation time or work. So, what do you prepare that will be elegant, delicious, and easy to prepare? Lamb! So, there it is, I’ll prepare my parmesan encrusted rack of lamb, but what to go with it? As everyone who knows me is aware, I never do the obvious, so after thinking of what would have not only a great appearance to accompany the lamb but also taste good without overpowering or completely fading away, I finally had it…my stuffed, baked tomatoes! The party was a success, and the ten of us enjoyed the time together discussing the fun times we had in Piemonte and the Amalfi Coast in 2008, and looking forward to Venice, Tuscany, and Umbria in 2009.

The baked tomatoes are great for a multitude of reasons. It will give your plate a blast of color, your produce doesn’t have to be the perfect, vine ripened tomato, and the filling is bursting with a savory blend which complements the sweetness of the tomato. This is also a simple dish which can be prepared in as little as 15 minutes and is great for an elegant dinner as well as an every night vegetable. Enjoy! – Debbie