Tomatoes
General Information
Eating tomatoes warm from the field can be heavenly. Many people like things made from tomatoes (like pasta sauce, ketchup and pizza) but they dislike eating a plain tomato. There are probably many possible reasons, but I think the two biggest are texture and grocery store tomatoes. The gelatinous texture can be off putting at first, but soon the incredible flavor takes your mind other places. As for grocery store tomatoes, they are poor imitations. They are planted and picked with shipping and shelf life (not taste) in mind. Most of the varieties we grow wouldn't work for shipping because the skins damage easily.
Storage Information
Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature. Putting them in the refrigerator causes them to become mealy and lose flavor.
Cooking Suggestions
Eat in salads or on sandwiches.
Slice onto toast and broil for a few minutes until the tomato starts to become soft, then cover with fresh basil and cheese and broil again to melt the cheese. This makes the most incredible grilled cheese sandwich.
Slice a variety of different colored tomatoes onto a serving platter with fresh basil and cheese and serve with crackers as an appetizer.
Use in soups, stews and stir-fries.
Chop tomatoes and cucumbers and toss with your favorite dressing for a quick summer side salad.
Recipes
Bowtie Salad with Tomatoes and Zucchini
Braised Bok Choy with Tomatoes and Gruyere
Cucumber Tomato Salad with Zucchini
Greek Stewed Green Beans and Summer Squash with Tomatoes
Green Beans with Tomatoes and Basil
Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Stacks
Indirect Grill Eggplant Rounds
Mediterranean Couscous Cabbage Rolls
Moroccan Style Stuffed Tomatoes
Ratatouilli a la Casablancaise
Savannah Beans and Greens Soup
Southwestern Salad With Black Beans
Stewed Tomatoes with Butter Toasted Croutons
Stir-Fried Eggplant with Tomato and Parmesan Cheese
Sweet and Sour Chinese Cabbage
Tandoori Chicken with Tomato Cucumber Raita
Tuscan White Bean and Spinach Soup
White Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad