Spaghetti With Tomato and Basil

This recipe is a variation of a dish we have enjoyed at Scarpetta, a fabulous Italian restaurant on Madison Avenue in New York City.  We're inspired by the tomatoes on our backyard vines (arriving late in the year as we planted late in the spring).

Backyard tomatoes

We start by making tomato sauce:  core the tomatoes with a knife and carve an "X" into the bottom of each.  Boil the tomatoes in water for 15 seconds, transfer to an ice bath to cool, peel, slice lengthwise, and remove the seeds.  For variety, we add some additional canned San Marzano tomatoes with the seeds removed.  We then heat olive oil in a pot, transfer the tomatoes to the pot, add a pinch of salt and chili flakes, and cook for 30 to 45 minutes using a potato masher to help break down the tomatoes.

While the tomatoes are cooking, we prepare basil-garlic oil over low heat with 1/4 cup of olive oil, whole garlic cloves, two stems of basil with the leaves, and a pinch of red chili flakes.  We removed this mixture from the heat when the garlic is lightly browned (about 25 minutes), strain the oil, and combine it with the tomato mixture.

Tomato sauce

We cook spaghetti to just shy of al dente, add the pasta to the sauce along with a bit of pasta water, and finish cooking, with the sauce lightly coating the pasta.  We then remove the pot from the heat and add chiffonade-cut basil, grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, unsalted butter, and a drizzle of olive oil.  We plate and serve.

Pasta and sauce

Plated

Served for everyone (with salad and wine)

Hiking the Indian Beach Trail in Oregon

Indian Beach Trail, part of the Oregon Coast Trail, is located near Cannon Beach, Oregon, and stretches from Ecola Point (just north of Cannon Beach) to Indian Beach, several miles up the coast and one of the two beaches in Ecola Point State Park.  We initially drive to and explore Indian Beach and then follow the trail south to Ecola Point and return.  The tide is out when we arrive and Indian Beach offers exposed sand for great walking and exploration.

Indian Beach

Indian Beach demonstrates  the rugged grandeur of the Oregon Coast, a place where old-growth conifer forests cover wave-buffeted cliffs.  The beach is bow-shaped, sitting in a notch carved from Tillamook Head and a chain of sea stacks dot the shoreline, rising from the ocean and delighting us as we walk along the exposed sand (the tide is out).

We spot the trailhead marker just above the beach and start up toward Ecola Point.

Starting up the trail

Glimpses back at Indian Beach

Continuing up

The trail leaves the coast and loops through the forest around the back side of the hills, returning to the coast as we approach Ecola Point.

Passing through the forest

Along the trail, not bothered by us at all

We start to descend to the water and are offered glimpses of the ocean and the beaches near Ecola Point.

Returning to the ocean

Looking back at Indian Beach

The path continues descending to Ecola Point and we walk out to find more beautiful views up and down the coast.

Views from Ecola Point

We return to the trail and head back to Indian Beach to find that the tide has come in and the beach is much smaller.

Hiking back through the forest

Returning to Indian Beach

At the trailhead, a board tells us of some of the films shot nearby, including Point Break, Twilight, the Goonies, and Kindergarten Cop.

Filming here

This has been another great Oregon Coast stop and we need to explore more on another day.

Cannon Beach in Oregon

After walking through the park and viewing the waterfalls in Oregon's Silver Falls State Park, we head over to the Pacific Ocean and stop at Cannon Beach, named one of the world's 100 most  beautiful places by National Geographic.  The stunning coastline, fabulous sandy beaches, and views of Haystack Rock offer an incredible experience.

First views of the beach

Haystack Rock is one of the most recognized landmarks on the Oregon Coast and is known for its fabulous natural landscape, abundant wildlife, accessible tide pools, and use as a filming location for movies such as The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop.  The rock is a nesting area for many seabirds, including the tufted puffin.

Haystack Rock

Walking the beach

Tide coming in

As the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean, the sky lights up, Haystack Rock stands out, and visitors build fires on the beach to counter the crisp evening air.

Sunset

Beach bonfires

After sunset, we wander down the street to find dinner of baked halibut and seafood stew, then return to our hotel to sleep and stroll the beach again in the morning.

Baked halibut, seafood stew

Morning stroll on the beach

What a great place!