Ratatouille of Roasted Vegetables

Set oven racks at the two lowest levels; preheat to 450 degrees F. Peel away as much of the papery skin from garlic as possible and wrap the head loosely in foil. Roast until the garlic is very soft, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, lightly coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Arrange tomatoes, eggplant slices, zucchini, squash, onion and red and yellow bell peppers on the prepared baking sheets. Roast, turning once, until just tender and browned, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees .

Separate the garlic cloves and squeeze the soft pulp into a large heavy saucepan or Dutch oven. Slip skins from the tomatoes and peppers. Roughly chop the roasted vegetables and add to the pan. Stir in basil, oil, thyme, oregano, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Cover and bake, stirring occasionally, until heated through and thickened, about 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasonings, and serve hot or at room temperature.