Tomatoes, their red, succulent and the juicy taste you can only get from our Harvest Home Farmer’s Markets. Fresh, locally grown, ripened on the vine, and picked the day before you get them. Full of taste and loaded with nutrition. From now until mid- October, you can feast on tomatoes that taste like tomatoes. Different from what you’ll get in the supermarket.
A Mouth-watering treat: Eat them plain or with a bit of olive oil, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. Mix them with fresh peaches for a new twist on salsa (see below). Make your own no-cook fresh tomato sauce; serve it cold, hot or freeze it. Learn to freeze some tomatoes by visiting this LINK.
No-cook Fresh Tomato Sauce: Serve it cold or make lightly cooked and warm (see tips).
Ingredients
5-8 very ripe tomatoes (plum, roma, round etc.)
1-2 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
1 and ½ teaspoons oregano
¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
6-8 leaves fresh basil, chopped
¼ cup of onion finely, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
To Make:
Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic and oil in a large bowl. Toss to mix well.
Add oregano, basil, salt. Toss again. Then season with salt and pepper to taste
Mix in pasta and sprinkle with cheese
A Boost for the Body: Tomatoes are bursting with lycopene which helps prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes; full of beta carotene which is important for eye health and potassium to help maintain healthy blood pressure. Plus, vitamins A and C which are essential for overall body health.
Enjoy summer perfection NOW and AGAIN in January!
Recipe: A new twist for Salsa
Tomato/Peach Salsa
INGREDIENTS
1 lb tomatoes, diced
1 bell pepper (4 oz), seeded and finely diced
2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 ½ lbs. peaches, diced
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 ½ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
TO MAKE:
Chop tomatoes and transfer them to a large bowl.
Finely chop seeded pepper, jalapeños and onion and transfer to bowl.
Dice the peaches. No need to peel them. You won't notice the peels and the color is prettier with the peel on. Transfer peaches to your bowl.
Add cilantro, lime juice, salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Mix well and enjoy.
Tips and Tricks: Recipe Variations
"Slightly Cooked" Fresh Pasta Sauce:
Heat olive oil in a skillet and add tomatoes, onion and garlic. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until tomatoes are as soft as you want. Stir to avoid sticking. Add a little water if needed.
Remove from heat, add the rest of the ingredients and let sit for 15 - 30 minutes for flavors to mix.
Other ingredients for a different taste: Use the basic sauce recipe (see video) and be creative
Add an orange or yellow peppers for a sauce with a stronger tomato flavor.
Add ¼ cup of red onion
Try adding cilantro instead of basil for a new taste
Don’t forget to add fresh summer tomatoes to salads, soup, stir-fry or stews.
How to peel a tomato: Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Drop in fresh tomato for about a minute until the skin splits. Remove with fork or slotted spoon. Let cool a bit. Skin will slide off easily.
Video of the Week: