323.454.2888 

The Last of the Tomatoes

Cracked TomatoesThe summer to winter transition in our members' gardens means that some tomato jungles are still producing right next to the tender yet strong vine of the new pea shoots. If you're still getting some tomatoes, odds are that they're "ugly" by most supermarket standards - they may be splitting, show signs of pest damage, or still green when they show up in your harvest baskets. These, by far, get the most requests for recipe ideas, so here's a few to see you through to the very end of the summer season.

This recipe for calls for marinating green tomato slices, grilling them, and then toppingt them off with a ripened tomato salsa - a perfect way to use both types of tomatoes! (Sunset, May 2006)

I wish I still had some green tomatoes to make these Fried Green Tomato BLTs - yum! (Bon Appetit, August 2003)

No one will care about the "ugly" skins of the tomatoes in a delicious gazpacho. Try Mark Bittman's recipe for a final taste of summer! (How to Cook Everything)

If you need a great tomato sauce recipe, look no further than this basil-garlic marinara sauce from the folks over at Ball. If you don't have 10-20 lbs of tomatoes, you can scale down the recipe and skip canning. (www.freshpreserving.com)

Here is a recipe for a green tomato relish that also includes instructions for canning. Holiday gifts, anyone? (www.farmgirlfare.com)

Are you looking for suggestions on what to do with a particular crop? Leave a comment below or send me an email at jhejl@farmscapegardens.com, and I'd be happy to help!