PASTA TART WITH ROASTED SEASONAL VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a large pot, cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain and rinse.
• Cut pasta into three 9-inch circles to fit into a 9-inch removable bottom tart pan. Brush with olive oil; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Scrub eggplant; do not peel. Slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds and arrange in single layer in a baking dish.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and saute mushrooms until lightly golden brown. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to pan and saute onions and garlic until soft and golden but not brown. Season with salt and pepper, thyme, oregano and pepper flakes.
• Gently stir in mushrooms.
• Place mixture evenly over the eggplant rounds and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until eggplant is very soft and onion mixture is lightly browned. Check occasionally so onions do not burn. If they brown too rapidly, cover pan with foil.
• Coarsely chop roasted eggplant rounds and stir them.
• Roast peppers either under broiler or over open flame until the skins are charred.
• Place hot peppers in plastic bag and allow to sweat, making skin easier to remove.
• Peel peppers, cut in half, remove seeds and stems. Try to clean peppers without running them under water, which removes some of the flavor.
• Toss peppers with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon oil and cut into julienne strips.
• Stir in tomatoes and basil.
• Arrange one of pasta circles in bottom of tart pan.
• Arrange a layer of eggplant-mushroom mixture on pasta, and cover with second pasta circle. Arrange pepper mixture evenly over second circle and top with remaining circle.
• Wrap tart in plastic and place in a baking dish. Place another tart pan or skillet on top of wrapped tart and place a sack of flour or something similar in it to weigh down. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
• To serve, slice while still cold, then allow to return to room temperature - about one hour. Decorate with basil leaves and sprinkle with pine nuts.