What to do with excess tomatoes (part of the Tomato Threads) SEE edited version: Tomatoes, Ideas for Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 From: Ellen Rains Harris Subject: Re: Two Years of Folly -- gardens I buy them at Sutton Place Gourmet here. With a little fresh basil and some fresh mozzarella, a little balsamic vinegar, a few rings of red onion, nothing, NOTHING is better. They overcharge for them horrifically, but I don't care. I made a rainbow tomato salad for the dinner we had at Renee's house when Tony Boom Boom came to visit, and as I recall, it was well received. I tried to grow some, but I don't have enough direct sunlight on a big enough patch of ground to do them justice. I may borrow a patch of ground from friends with Real Houses next summer. I never thought I'd wax poetic over tomatoes. -------------------------------------- From: Soonersntx This sounds delicious! I love chilled tomatoes, almost but not quite overripe, diced, with bits of feta cheese and chopped pecans, tossed with balsamic vinegar. I will definitely be amending my tomato salad to include red onion and basil, now! -------------------------------------- From: Ann Markle And this is the first year where I have to say that I'm sick of tomatoes. I have about 8 productive plants, and I cook sauce as fast as I can. They're currently rotting on the vines. Next year I'll have maybe 4 plants. But sauce made out of the yellow ones is really amazing. And I LOVE lemon basil, even more than sweet basil. YUM. Ann The Rev. Ann Markle Crossville, Tennessee -------------------------------------- From: pineden My tomato crop was pretty much the pits this year. Why, I don't know. I had my usual 4 plants. When they are really producing, I don't cook sauce but I do skin, quarter, and freeze them They are perfect for spaghetti, chili, soup, etc., and if I want to I can always make sauce in the winter when I have nothing better to do. I like lemon basil too, but the purple is my absolute favorite. Makes funny-looking pesto, though :-) Jay -------------------------------------- From: "Heather Angus" It may be sacrilige(sp?), but when I've got too many tomatoes in the garden, I dry them on this handy-dandy fruit/veggie dryer than a friend gave me. I love the taste of the dried tomatoes in my omlets all winter. But these salads sound wonderful too. I wish I were more of a cook; maybe someday. I have four tomato plants this year, have done nothing whatsoever to them, and have more tomatoes than I can eat, so it's time to fire up the dryer again. Heather -------------------------------------- From: "Bethany K. Dumas" If you have never eaten tomato preserves, you have a treat in store - make some! Bethany -------------------------------------- From: Soonersntx > If you have never eaten tomato preserves, you have a treat in store - make > some! Oh, now that does sound good. Do you make them in the same way as fruit preserves (equal parts sugar and fruit)? Joy -------------------------------------- From: "Bethany K. Dumas" >(equal parts sugar and fruit)? Sounds right - I have not made them for many years. They are delicious. I grew up on them. Bethany -------------------------------------- From: "Maryaurelia Lemmon" tomato chutney is one of my favorites, sorry no recipe, this is something a friend makes and when I try something is always missing lip-smacking- Lee -------------------------------------- From: "sally.mullock" Subject: Tomatoes was:Re: Two Years of Folly -- gardens Following Jeffry's comments and now Mrs H's, I must chip in to say that I as I picking yet more tomatoes from the plants on the patio yesterday, I idley wondered whether to ask for suggestions what to do with the glut I always buy little plants (as opposed to seeds) from the Christian Aid Fair in early May and am always amazed how huge they grow in fairly small pots and just how much fruit we get! I have made tomato tarts, salads, soups etc. but refuse to make chutney as we just wouldn't eat through it and it is a waste for good, tasty, homegrown ones. Indeed, I think we shall have some roasted tonight! Love SallyM