Pairing the vibrant and healthy Veggie-Stuffed Tomatoes with Colson Whitehead's "Harlem Shuffle" and a refreshing cocktail like the Aperol Spritz offers a delightful and thought-provoking experience. The colorful and flavorful dish, combined with Whitehead's richly textured storytelling and the zesty, vibrant notes of the Aperol Spritz, create a perfect culinary and literary synergy. Both the dish and book offer a deep dive into vibrant settings and themes, enhanced by the refreshing cocktail that complements this engaging experience.
Ingredients
- 6 large ripe tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small zucchini, finely diced
- 1 small bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa, rice, or couscous
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Tomatoes:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the tops off the tomatoes and carefully scoop out the insides, leaving the outer shells intact. Chop the scooped-out tomato flesh and set it aside. Lightly salt the inside of the hollowed tomatoes and place them upside down on a paper towel to drain while you prepare the filling. - Cook the Vegetables:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the diced zucchini, bell pepper, and the reserved tomato flesh. Cook for another 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and any excess moisture has evaporated. - Mix in Grains and Seasonings:
Stir in the cooked quinoa (or rice/couscous) and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper, mixing well to combine. If using, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. - Stuff the Tomatoes:
Place the hollowed-out tomatoes in a baking dish. Spoon the vegetable and grain mixture into each tomato, filling them generously and mounding the mixture on top. - Bake the Tomatoes:
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the tomatoes are tender but still hold their shape and the filling is heated through. - Serve:
Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired. Serve warm as a main dish or a colorful side.
Harlem Shuffle
A novel set in 1960s Harlem, following Ray Carney, an upstanding furniture salesman who gets caught up in a criminal scheme that changes the scope of his business and life.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, this gloriously entertaining novel is “fast-paced, keen-eyed and very funny … about race, power and the history of Harlem all disguised as a thrill-ride crime novel" (San Francisco Chronicle). "Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked…" To his customers and neighbors on 125th street, Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably priced furniture, making a decent life for himself and his family. He and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child, and if her parents on Striver's Row don't approve of him or their cramped apartment across from the subway tracks, it's still home. Few people know he descends from a line of uptown hoods and crooks, and that his façade of normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger all the time. Cash is tight, especially with all those installment-plan sofas, so if his cousin Freddie occasionally drops off the odd ring or necklace, Ray doesn't ask where it comes from. He knows a discreet jeweler downtown who doesn't ask questions, either. Then Freddie falls in with a crew who plan to rob the Hotel Theresa—the "Waldorf of Harlem"—and volunteers Ray's services as the fence. The heist doesn't go as planned; they rarely do. Now Ray has a new clientele, one made up of shady cops, vicious local gangsters, two-bit pornographers, and other assorted Harlem lowlifes. Thus begins the internal tussle between Ray the striver and Ray the crook. As Ray navigates this double life, he begins to see who actually pulls the strings in Harlem. Can Ray avoid getting killed, save his cousin, and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs? Harlem Shuffle's ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It's a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem. But mostly, it's a joy to read, another dazzling novel from the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning Colson Whitehead. Look for Colson Whitehead’s new novel, Crook Manifesto!
Discussion Questions
- How does "Harlem Shuffle" explore the concept of duality in the community of Harlem?
- What role does Ray Carney's family history play in his decisions and actions throughout the novel?
- How does Whitehead depict the societal and economic factors affecting Harlem in the 1960s?
- Discuss the symbolism of furniture in Ray Carney's life and business.
- In what ways does the heist plot drive character development and thematic exploration?
- How does Whitehead balance humor and drama in the narrative?
- What does "Harlem Shuffle" suggest about the idea of the American Dream?
- How do the supporting characters contribute to the ethical dilemmas faced by Ray?
- What impact does the neighborhood setting have on the mood and plot of the novel?
- Discuss the significance of deception and appearance in the novel.
Authors:
Colson Whitehead
ISBN: 0385545131
Publisher: Anchor
Published Date: 2021-09-14
Aperol Spritz
A classic Italian cocktail, refreshing and light, with notes of orange and herbal bitterness, perfect for pairing with savory dishes.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Prosecco
- 2 ounces Aperol
- Dash of soda water
- Orange slice for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Fill a wine glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in 3 ounces of Prosecco.
- Add 2 ounces of Aperol.
- Top with a dash of soda water.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately.