Oven-Roasted Tomato Pesto Recipe for Fresh, Flavorful Pasta

This Oven Roasted Tomato Pesto is a quick, flavorful stir-in for pasta and an easy way to elevate weeknight meals.

I can hardly believe how fast summer has gone. My oldest son spent the season working in the city, and this is his last week there. It was his first taste of city life and a good way to see whether he’ll want to stay. We missed having him at home, though he made several trips back to Connecticut.

There’s something special about having all four boys together — the family dynamic just clicks when everyone is under one roof. After our oldest left for college and we had three boys at home, the interactions shifted as each of them adjusted to new roles. I suspect birth order plays a part in how those dynamics change.

Before long the twins will head off to college as well, and we’ll be down to one son at home. It’s all part of life, and while the household will change again, I hope the brothers keep the close bond they’ve built over the years.

This Oven Roasted Tomato Pesto began as a jar of oven roasted tomatoes I picked up at Costco earlier in the summer. I found a jar tucked in the back of the fridge and turned it into a fast pasta dinner one night. Tossed with hot pasta and a splash of reserved pasta cooking water, spooned over grilled chicken, or spread on a turkey sandwich, this pesto is versatile, flavorful, and ready in minutes.