Ratatouille

Food and Fun

A Little Chef Cooking Birthday Party

Stephanie Keeping of amazing party site Spaceships & Laserbeams designs creative events just for little guys — seriously, if you're a mom to boys, you have to check them out — but we're betting both sexes would be equally smitten with this "Little Chef"-inspired birthday party, which would definitely appeal to a Ratatouille fan.

Stephanie Keeping of amazing party site Spaceships & Laserbeams designs creative events just for little guys — seriously, if you're a mom to boys, you have to check them out — but we're betting both sexes would be equally smitten with this "Little Chef"-inspired birthday party, which would definitely appeal to a Ratatouille fan. Full of awesome and adorable food (we're loving the marshmallow chef's hats) and cute printables, this party is perfect for any birthday boy or girl who loves spending time in the kitchen. Keep clicking to check out all the details.

Source: Spaceships & Laserbeams

Ratatouille

5 Riffs on Ratatouille

'Tis the season for ratatouille.
Ratatouille's Ratatouille

'Tis the season for ratatouille. This traditional French recipe, made with eggplant and zucchini, uses end-of-season produce in a comfy, cozy cooking method. It's usually prepared as a stew, but we love the flavors so much, we've found five more ways to riff on the classic dish.

Source: Smitten Kitchen

recipes

Ease Into Fall With Easy Ratatouille

Ratatouille may be the perfect Summer-to-Fall transition dish.

Ratatouille may be the perfect Summer-to-Fall transition dish. It savors the heartiest of late Summer's vegetables, namely eggplant and zucchini, but offers the warm, slow-cooked comfort you need in cooler weather. It's traditionally prepared as a stew on the stove top, but this simple recipe roasts the vegetables in the oven along with bell peppers and plum tomatoes, then serves them over polenta.

The recipe calls for fresh shucked corn stirred into creamy polenta, but since corn is on its way out of the farmers market, I left it out and opted for oven-baked polenta instead. Also, I subbed in Greek yogurt for the ricotta, just because I thought it would be interesting, and it was. Ease into Autumn with this easy recipe after the break:

recipes

Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Ratatouille With Ricotta

Traditionally, ratatouille is a slow-cooked vegetable dish that can simmer on the stove for hours.

Traditionally, ratatouille is a slow-cooked vegetable dish that can simmer on the stove for hours. However, this recipe takes the basic elements and makes them accessible to the busy home cook. Instead of combining the zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers in a large pot, the vegetables are individually charred on the grill. A generous shaving of salty cheese and a chunk of toasted bread slathered with chopped olives makes this a hearty, yet healthy vegetarian meal. For the recipe, keep reading.

recipes

Go French With Savory Crepe Ratatouille

After making a scrumptious ratatouille sandwich, I couldn't get the tasty French dish out of my mind.

After making a scrumptious ratatouille sandwich, I couldn't get the tasty French dish out of my mind. This time, I opted to serve the cooked vegetables in a more traditional way: in a classic French crepe. Considering the prep work, ratatouille is a time-consuming dish, but once the veggies are cooking it's pretty fast and effortless. For the ratatouille, it's important to use your largest pan — I actually used a wok as it holds a larger volume. Each bite of the final dish is a complex and delicious combination of eggplant, onions, bell peppers, squash, tangy goat cheese, and crisp crepe. If you don't have time to make ratatouille, be sure to give the crepe recipe a chance. Crepes are simple to make and easy to customize — try adding herbs and cheese for a different take on the savory version. Or do what I did with the extra crepes and create a sweet crepe with strawberries and a thin layer of Nutella. To get started on your own French dinner, read more

recipes

'Wich of the Week: Open-Face Ratatouille Sandwich

Sometimes even a sandwich lover needs a serious serving of vegetables, so the other night, I turned my nutrition attention to these yummy open-face ratatouille sandwiches, made with roasted eggplant and red pepper, among other hearty things.

Sometimes even a sandwich lover needs a serious serving of vegetables, so the other night, I turned my nutrition attention to these yummy open-face ratatouille sandwiches, made with roasted eggplant and red pepper, among other hearty things.

Initially, I made the sandwiches according to the recipe, and they were perfectly delicious with just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a dusting of herbs. But I thought they needed something to close up their open-facedness, so I also made a version with melted provolone, which I preferred. For more details and to get the recipe, read more

Movies

Which Oscar-Winning Film Do You Want to See Next?

Well, the results are in, and we now have movies that will forever be known as Oscar-winning.

Well, the results are in, and we now have movies that will forever be known as Oscar-winning. A lot of you said you go see the films once they're nominated, but if you didn't get to all of them before Sunday's show, maybe now's the time. Some people were so smitten with Marion Cotillard's acceptance speech that they want to rush out to see La Vie En Rose for her performance. Others want to check out There Will Be Blood so they know why everyone is talking about milkshakes. What about you? Which Oscar-winner is next on your list of must-sees?

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