Leek and Tomato Gratin

• 2 pounds leeks, preferably slender
  
• 3/4 pound tomatoes
  
• ¼ cup olive oil
  
• Salt and pepper
  
• Optional: Parmesan cheese
  

Preparation

1. Heat the oven to 350. Trim the leeks of the hard green parts and outer skin, and wash them well. If they’re fat, quarter them the long way. Chop the tomatoes and put them in a gratin dish long enough to hold the leeks but narrow enough so that everything is snug. Add the oil and nestle the leeks in there; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
   
2. Bake, checking and stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes become saucy and the leeks are very, very tender, about an hour. If you like, sprinkle with Parmesan and raise the heat until the cheese melts and browns a bit.