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Ricotta and Roasted Pepper Tartine

DSC_6637

Exhibit A:

Exhausted woman's attempt at fancy girl food after putting baby to bed, cleaning kitchen for the third time in one day (what the hell, baby?), answering one percent of the emails glaring at her in her inbox and putting fourth coat of paint on New Year's Resolution No. 6.

Required:

Slices, as needed, of nice, toastable bread.

Ricotta (the plain old grocery store stuff, because I am only human).

Roasted peppers (bossy instructions here), torn gently into shreds.

Olive oil, flaky salt, dried oregano.

Execute:

Toast bread and put on plate.

Spread with ricotta.

Top with roasted pepper strips, entwined artfully.

Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle liberally with salt and oregano.

Eat, then repeat with remaining ingredients until full or asleep at the dinner table, whichever comes first.

…

Speaking of which, how early is too early to go to bed at night? Is 8:30 pm pushing it? Asking for a friend.

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49 responses to “Ricotta and Roasted Pepper Tartine”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Sometimes going to bed at 8:30 is glorious. One time boyfriend and I were grumping at each other for no good reason, and suddenly realised that we were just exhausted. Going to sleep felt as luxurious as eating caviar whilst wrapped in sable. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but it was pretty darn good.

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  2. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Luisa, a tartine is a respectable meal on any day, baby or not.
    Re: your meatball post from after Hugo’s birth – a friend of mine gave birth not too long ago, and I’m bringing her some meatballs this weekend for sure.

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  3. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    There is no shame in an early bedtime. My babe goes to bed around 7 and I often hop in bed with a book right after! I love it! Plus, you just never know how much of that precious sleep you’ll get that night, so may as well get an early start.

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  4. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Haha, loved this short little post. I don’t have a baby and yet I wish I could have a dinner this good tonight! (Laziness is a sneaky thing, is it not? Enter thrown together salad.)

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  5. Jennifer B Avatar
    Jennifer B

    Not pushing it, at all! This post made me smile, a lot.

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  6. Charlotte Avatar
    Charlotte

    Sometimes 8:30 is luxury and sometimes necessity. Speaking as one who routinely naps between 8 and 10 when I”m “helping” the child go to sleep…

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  7. Karin - The F Girl Avatar
    Karin – The F Girl

    Oh, when our babes were still.. well, .. babes we often went to bed the same time as they did. Just to get through the night, with all the nursing in between all the sleeping etcetera. Sometimes we brought a book or even a laptop. I don’t think we ever opened either of them though.
    No need for excuses. If you want to go to bed, you go to bed. Even if it’s the middle of the day. Who cares?
    hugs for you

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  8. Karey Avatar
    Karey

    I just happened to go to bed at 8:30 last night and it felt amazing. Like I gave myself a gift, or something like that. And, like Katie who just commented before me, your meatball recipe was enjoyed recently by a new-mom friend of mine. Apparently, I hear, new daddies seem to love them, too. 🙂 I love a good tartine and this one sounds delish!

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  9. Honeybee Avatar
    Honeybee

    8.30 p.m. is perfectly fine. I’m off to bed now. First, the baby had a crying fit when trying to fall asleep, then the toddler took FOREVER to settle and now I probably only have little time left until the baby needs to be fed again. Looks like you had a great dinner.

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  10. Claudia Avatar
    Claudia

    This is so much more elegant and delicious than the things I concocted with wee ones! Kudos! (And you got the kitchen clean???)

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  11. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Sometimes you just have to call it a day. Last night I laid down for a minute next to my hisband after tucking my boys in. All I have to say is that it’s a good thing I had the alarm set. Rest when it feels good & necessary!

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  12. Marcia Avatar
    Marcia

    OLD, OLD, Old-Timey advice, but still holds true..Sleep when the baby sleeps!

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  13. Lori @ In My Kitchen, In My Life Avatar
    Lori @ In My Kitchen, In My Life

    This is just the kind of thing I love to eat when I am on my own in the quiet house, especially if I fix myself a little tray of food to take to our bedroom. Bliss!

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  14. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Loved this. I subsisted on toast and eggs the first six months of my son’s life, and went to bed whenever I felt like it! 8:30 sounds far too normal–especially in winter. 6:00 is pushing it.

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  15. Katrin Avatar
    Katrin

    Some days I would just fall asleep on the sofa right after dinner (with the kitchen not cleaned) – and my kids weren’t newborns any more 🙂 Hang in there!!!

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  16. NantucketDaffodil Avatar
    NantucketDaffodil

    Fabulous…and as for the kitchen, it gets no better as they get older:)

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  17. C Avatar
    C

    Dammit, woman. You have a baby. You sleep whenever the hell you want/can and you don’t feel guilty about it, you hear me?

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  18. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I think 8 pm is an acceptable hor to go to bed if needed

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  19. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    I am middle-aged with no kids and I go to be at 8:30 sometimes. Usually with a book, but it falls out of my hands by 9, latest. Sleep is good!

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  20. elena @3greenonions Avatar
    elena @3greenonions

    Would love to trade your 8:30 with my midnight! 2 year old’s bedtime makes me think he’s ready to hit the clubs or something…through some sort of fog (amnesia?) I can’t remember if I managed to eat off a plate until he started walking! Regardless…great effort on the fancy food front:)

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  21. Renae Avatar
    Renae

    My baby is 22 and living 6 hours away and I still love to go to bed “early”! Especially during the winter months when it gets dark as early as 5. Sometimes it’s a struggle to make it 8:30 🙂

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  22. Karey Avatar
    Karey

    I have a 1 year old and am expecting my second this summer – in my book any time after 8 is acceptable for bedtime!

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  23. Lauren K Avatar
    Lauren K

    i don’t even have a baby and i go to bed at 8:30 all the time. i got in the habit after years of getting up a 4 am in the summer for archaeological and conservation work in the desert (work before it gets too hot). now i’m a graduate student and i welcome as much sleep as possible. never feel bad about getting some good sleep!!
    i loved your book, it was an awesome break from dry academic articles!

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  24. Janice Avatar
    Janice

    Chin up, the baby will grow up in a flash and you will have all the time you want to resume your cooking:)

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  25. Sissy Avatar
    Sissy

    More pics of cute baby Hugo — just seeing him makes me smile. If I were your neighbor or friend I would gladly help so you could get more breaks…

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  26. Sarah G. Avatar
    Sarah G.

    Not pushing it at all. In fact, sounds downright BRILLIANT. I bet you wake up feeling a bit rejuvenated, jump in the kitchen at first chance, and make something out of this world… for Hugo. 🙂 Sweet dreams.

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  27. Denise | Chez Danisse Avatar
    Denise | Chez Danisse

    It’s never too early if you are tired. I say 8:00PM, if this is at all possible. As many days as needed. Sweet dreams.

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  28. Luisa Avatar
    Luisa

    Folks, I was in bed by 9:30 (early for me!) and then woke up at 4:15 am. For no reason AT ALL. Baby didn’t wake up for another hour and a half. Sigh. Silly mommy. Onward!

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  29. Sasha Avatar
    Sasha

    This is why toasted was invented!

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  30. Sophie van Wijnen Avatar
    Sophie van Wijnen

    oooohhhhh German bread! German Sauerrahmbutter… count me in….
    And sure, going to bed at 8.30 is sensible. We still do (occasionally), and our youngest is 7 years old. Sorry!

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  31. Ena Avatar
    Ena

    I love all of your plates!

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  32. Top Cuisine avec Lavi Avatar
    Top Cuisine avec Lavi

    Looks delicious! Great recipe!

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  33. emily Avatar
    emily

    yes, but it’s called a tartine! and that must be fancy food no matter how simple it is to make. right? (830 is good. 8 is better.)

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  34. Leslie Avatar
    Leslie

    Yes, if you manage to call it a tartine and share it with us, that’s an achievement! I shall have to try that on my man. I suggested something similar yesterday with leftover roated eggplant, but I made the mistake of calling it “Leftover Eggplant Stulle” which completely failed to tempt him. And sleep whenever you need to & can! There are just some days when there’s nothing one looks forward to more.

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  35. Zoe Alexander Avatar
    Zoe Alexander

    Ricottta is so versatile! Great recipe! So quick & easy! Many thanks!
    Zoe xxx

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  36. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    I have a three month old. There is no such thing as too early a bed time for momma.

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  37. Eileen Avatar
    Eileen

    This is exactly the kind of thing I eat for lunch three days a week. No shame! Cheese and veg on bread is one of the finest pleasures in life. 🙂

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  38. TheLovelyBits Avatar
    TheLovelyBits

    I think that looks so delicious! As others have said, don’t feel bad about going to bed early. My daughter goes down at 6 every night and I’m usually tucked in myself by 8. haha. It’s just exhausting to look after a baby all day and you never know how much sleep you’ll actually get. Thanks for the recicpe. I think this would be great for lunch tomorrow:)
    http://kristaandmichele.com/

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  39. Allegra Avatar
    Allegra

    ha! I just pondered this same question as I put my 4 year old to bed tonight – I could feel myself slipping off the edge of sleep next to him, and wondered how bad it would be if I just went right to my bed…(this was at 7:30 pm). well, I’m still up, though my computer says it’s 8:21, so I could make the 8:30 deadline…as others have noted, you don’t know how much sleep you’re actually going to end up getting.

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  40. Electronic Cigarettes Avatar
    Electronic Cigarettes

    Now that looks really spicy and yummy. The colour is so eye catching and bet it taste good too.

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  41. Nuts about food Avatar
    Nuts about food

    Well, my kids go to bed at 8.30. You will get to a point where you want the extra couple of hours all for yourself, despite how exhausted you are. Trust me ;o)

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  42. Luisa Avatar
    Luisa

    Have been at that point for quite some time! 🙂 I’m lucky that Hugo goes to bed at 6:00.

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  43. Vidya Avatar
    Vidya

    I went to bed at 6:45pm last night for a “quick nap”. Of course it wasn’t actually a quick nap. Oh, and I’m just a heat-exhausted college student. So no. 8:30pm is not pushing it. Go to sleep already.

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  44. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    I went to bed at 8:45 the other night. I have a bit of a cold, but I mean, it’s really only stuffiness – but it felt SO good.
    Roasted sweet peppers with creamy french feta is one of my favorite things – with ricotta? SO right up my alley. YUM.

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  45. Anja (from Savorychicks) Avatar
    Anja (from Savorychicks)

    There’s nothing better than quick and easy, yet delicious recipes when you have a little child. As a mother of an almost-three-year old I’ve been through that, and I remember that a nice warm meal at the end of an exhausting day would feel so damn good. But quick and easy it had to be. I think during these months I found most of my quick and easy recipes that I still cherish today. Good news, it will get so much easier for you in no time. I know it sounds almost impossible now, but in just a few months Hugo will likely eat whatver you like. No more extra cooking for him, just let him try whatever you cook for yourself… My daughter refused her baby food the moment I offered her “real” food. I was so relieved, no more vegetable steaming just for her… So, hang in there, it will soon get better. And until then, turning in at 8:30? Pure luxury!!!

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  46. Sarah G. Avatar
    Sarah G.

    Has Hugo started nursing a bit less or changing his nursing habit in some way? It sounds like some hormonal changes, perhaps?

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  47. Sally Avatar
    Sally

    That looks delicious. I also like Molly Wizenberg’s Pomodori al Forno.
    I make soup at least once a week, usually twice — and three times this week. It’s my regular lunch. I’ve been known to have it for supper, too, often accompanied by the pomodori al forno or at least good bread, cheese and some fruit. As long as there’s soup in the fridge, it’s pretty much a no effort meal.
    My babies are about your age and they don’t have babies. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to think about feeding a baby. But I think we Americans might do our kids a huge disservice by starting them on bland (rice cereal) and sweet (fruit) foods. I do think that what we feed them is more important than how.
    Interesting article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/too-good-to-spit-up/article48272/

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  48. Sharon Whyte Avatar
    Sharon Whyte

    Sounds good and oh so easy. I am teaching my gkids how to cook and they love ricotta! This looks like an easy one. Will have to give it a try! Come visit me http://cookingwnana.wordpress.com/.

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  49. S M J Avatar
    S M J

    Eight-thirty may a little bit too early for someone who cooks delicious and fancy food, maybe you could try with brushing your teeth, putting your pyjamas on, turning off the kitchen lights, and dragging the whole thing out until 8:45pm? Quarter-to-nine sounds very more adult.

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