It’s that time of the year when my kitchen counter is filled with ripe tomatoes.
That’s what it’s like being from Jersey…you’ve gotta whole lotta juicy red buddies hanging out in your kitchen from your summer garden.
Well, that’s what it looks like at my family’s home in Jersey- not so much here in Manhattan, however I did purchase a few heirloom beauties this weekend at the Union Square Farmer’s Market.
I bought 5 and honestly ate 3 of ’em walking home on Saturday afternoon.
Yep, that’s right. I ate ’em just like you would an apple.
A little wash, a little rub and a few big bites before they were gone.
But I’ve been doin’ that way too much lately and needed to get those tomatoes to a plate, stat!
So, I thought of a few fun ways you can use your tomatoes in your lunch, snack or dinner.
Whenever you choose to bite into these ruby red suckers- they’re sure to bring a little sweetness to your taste buds.
Go ahead, don’t just sit there.
Get your tomatoes on, people.
Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes. Stuff 4 large beefsteak tomatoes with 2 cups of cooked quinoa, 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh sage, 1 Tbsp. honey, 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Sweet Salsa. Combine a pint of grape tomatoes, 1 tsp. powdered stevia or sugar, 1 diced cucumber, 1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon zest, 1/4 tsp. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper.
Simple Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Slice tomatoes in half (cut out bruises and remove seeds). Slice each tomato into thin slices; lay flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 150 degrees F or place outside in the sunshine. Cook until water has been removed from all tomatoes and they have a flexible texture and dark red color.
Savory Tomato Soup. Combine 4 large beefsteak tomatoes with 2 cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil, 1 chopped Vidalia onion, 4 cups of vegetable broth, 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a large pot over medium heat, cook for 20 minutes.
BCT (Not BLT) Basil, Corn and Tomato Salad. Toss 2 large chopped tomatoes with 2 ears of grilled corn kernels, 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh basil, 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh mint, 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper for an easy lunch or dinner salad.
What do you do with fresh tomatoes?
I just discovered your FB page today & I’m really loving the recipes. I am def gonna try out the Sun Dried Tomatoes & the BCT. I’ve always wondered how to get Sun Dried Tomatoes. I think they’d be fantastic in a spread for a vegan BLT sandwich. Thank you for sharing!
Awe; thanks so much Crystal! So great to hear from you. I buy the sun-dried tomatoes in a jar at Whole Foods Market; they’re delish!
Hi,
Great;)
I just wonder where do you buy those ultra tech pans?
I use all clad totally unhappy with them.I steam or cook veggies a lot and I somehow cannot get rid of the coloring at the sides of the pans and pots.
Ultra tech seems so light too is it?
Thank you
I LOVE these pans; seriously they are amazing, Burta. I can’t even describe how happy they make me. They are not as heavy as so many other pots n’ pans I’ve used before. You can call Alisa Alterman at (201) 421-0823. She is fabulous and she is the woman who sold me the pans. Hope you like them; have a great weekend! xoxox
I am going to make this savory tomato soup this weekend for friends. Thanks, Amie!!
Awe thanks Stacey; hope you enjoy it! Let me know how it turns out.
HI AMIE,
JUST WANT TO TELL YOU I MADE THE APPLE CRISP IT IS WONDERFUL I ATE IT SEVERAL TIMES BREAKFAST WITH YOUGART AND ALSO SERVED IT TO MY GUEST WITH CREAM. THE TOMATO LOOK SO GOOD I MISS THE JERSEY TOMATOES, AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. I AM HAVING FRIENDS FROM FLA VISIT FOR THE WEEKEND AND WILL TRY SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT WAYS OF ENJOYING TOMATOES. THANK YOU EACH TIME YOU SHARE WITH US.
Thank you Beverly; hope you enjoy these fun tomato ideas!
When I was younger I never really liked the taste of tomatoes.. the squishy factor kinda made me feel ill. But as I’ve gotten older and starting to enjoy healthier food I just love them!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TOMATOES!
Growing up as a child, I will never forget visiting my grandmother’s home in Iowa every summer and running out to the garden for a fresh snack. It is too funny that you eat them like apples, because I have the tendency to do the same thing whenever I visit the local farmer’s market.
My favorite thing to do with tomatoes, besides devour them or simply slice them with a little bit of sea salt and black pepper, is to bake them in the oven with a little bit of fresh local goat cheese or mozzarella and then top with fresh basil from my garden and drizzle with an amazing Italian aged balsamic vinegar (that I am addicted to!).
Saving them for a recipe is sometimes hard, but your salsa recipe, as well as your quinoa stuffed tomatoes are something I will be trying this week! I also cannot wait to try the tomato soup, since it is one of my favorites, once it starts to cool down outside. Thank you for the great shares!
The quinoa stuffed tomatoes sound DELISH! 🙂
Gonna have to give them a try…
I can’t wait to try these recipes!!
Fresh tomatoes are the highlight of the summer for us.
I wait all summer for fresh tomatoes out of my garden. I love them on sandwiches and in salads and just sliced and drizzled with balsamic vinegar with dinner.
I love all the ideas you listed. One of my favorite tomato dishes is with mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. I could eat that for days!!! 🙂
I love tomatoes, but the drought has, unfortunately, left us with few this year. We are part of a CSA. I think we’ve only received tomatoes three weeks of the entire summer so far. However, the recent rains that have reached Illinois have caused the plants to bloom once again. We may see a small bounty of tomatoes if frost doesn’t get them first.
My mouth is watering after looking at all of your gorgeous photos!