Vanessa Contessa Project: Dinner Spanakopita & Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Found some gorgeous plum tomatoes in July at the Farmer’s Market, and they made this soup the best I think I’ve ever made. The spanakopita was so light and flaky with a slight sweetness. The mixture of spinach, onions, and feta was just right.

Vanessa Contessa Project: Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts & Pappa al Pomodoro

My cousin and her then-fiance were in town. It was chilly outside, and we wanted something warm and tasty. These tarts were flaky and full of good pesto flavor. I will admit that the tomatoes would have tasted better in the summer, but it didn’t stop us from pairing it with this beautiful, hearty soup:

A chunky, rustic tomato soup with a toasted topping of ciabatta bread, pancetta, and basil. Really comforting on a cold night in Nashville. My lovely guests  seemed to like it pretty okay too. It was so great to have them here! Wouldn’t mind having more guests in the future…hint, hint!