Looking for Tomato Recipes

[Debz]

Hi Biters, My tomato plants are as tall as I am (5'8") and I'm expecting a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. I've decided to start a Jersey Tomato Cookbook and would love your input.

If you have a favorite fantastic recipe that features our Jersey Tomatoes and would like to share, I will be sure to credit you as the source. I'm looking for everything from appetizers, soups, salads, sauces, pizzas, salsas, main dishes, sides and yes, even desserts if you have one. I did find a tomato soup cake that I'm going to have to try.

[karen ann]

I use this as an appetizer, a side and even sometimes as the meal. Use your own taste as far as amounts because I do not even own a measuing spoon or measuring cup:( anyhow...
Slice your tomatoes very thick and set in a baking dish
sautee onions in butter(don't skimp on the butter) with a bit of fresh minced garlic, stir in an amount equal to your onions of seasoned bread crumbs, add oregano (dried or fresh) to taste.
Spoon that mixture over the tomatoes, then top with thick sliced munster cheese (mozz will work as well), bake until cheese is bubbly. YUM

[Bill]

This sounds extremely awesome!

Bill
http://househubbie.blogspot.com
http://nodinghome.blogspot.om
http://meghansfriends.blogspot.com

[Bill]

Hey Deb,

We were talking by e-mail about the tomato book. I am looking foward to collaborating on this. I just posted a recipe for ratatouille that I used canned tomatoes in since my tomato crop is not in. However, this recipe is much better with peeled, seeded and diced plum tomatoes from the garden. Also, I have a couple of ideas for the book. How about instructions on how to peel, seed and dice tomatoes, how to grow giant tomatoes (I love your tomato cage idea and am going to get my organic son to try it next year), how to make sundried tomatoes, can tomatoes, pickle green tomatoes, how to ripen green tomatoes in a paper bag, and finally ideas on how to use green tomatoes.

Bill
House Hubbie's Home Cooking
Nana and Pa's Place
Meghan's Friends

[Debz]

Love all the ideas Bill. We'll have to talk.

[Joe]

Hi Debz,
Absolutely nothing is better than a Jersey tomato, still warm from the sun, sliced thickly, and served with some mayo on fresh baked bread, and just a prinkle of sea salt.
Now, here's where it gets weird. I sometimes use peanut butter instead of mayo, and even occasionally slice some jalapenos.
Before anyone gets disgusted, the Jersey tomato is a fruit. Grape jelly, strawberry jam, apples, and even bananas are used with peanut butter. Please sacrifice one sandwich to New Jersey's best fruit.
Now onto a more normal use for tomatoes. A really nice appetizer is sliced tomatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. If you'd like, alternate with some slices of fresh mozzarella.
Another good use is a tomato salad. Chunk up some tomatoes, add some chunks of onions, mince a clove of garlic, and mix in a bowl. Season with some oregano leaves, balsamic, and extra virgin oil. It's best if it sits a day. By the way, I'm sorry I don't give precise measurments. I just keep adding ingredients until it looks and tastes good.
Just ball parking it, but 6 large tomatoes, one small onion, one pepper (bell is fine--jalapeno if you like them) one clove of garlic, and maybe a dozen oregano leaves.
Last, but not least, is my balsamic trick, because balsamic works well with tomatoes. I buy balsamic at Trader Joes or any place as long as it's the real balsamic. It should be real stuff, but just regular vinegar colored brown. I then simmer the balsamic down to half volume. This turns balsamic that costs maybe 10 bucks into a vinegar that tastes like the 100 dollar for a very tiny bottle stuff. It makes 8 year old balsamic taste like 30 year vintage.

[Debz]

Oh, Joe, Peanut Butter and Tomato? I don't know if I'm daring enough for that. We'll see. This morning I had a fried egg with tomato on toast. One of my favorite breakfasts. Cook the tomato with the egg in the frying pan. No need for ketchup and so much better for you.

Thanks for the balsamic vinegar tip. I will definitely be trying that.

Deb

[Joe]

I love some fresh tomato chopped up into an omelet with onions and peppers. It's like the taste of summer in NJ.
And be adventurous, have a PB&T. :)

[Partybluprints Girls]

There is nothing better than a fresh tomato sandwich ! - I agree, Dawn

[Partybluprints Girls]

I love using fresh cherry tomatoes and basil from the garden to do what I call, Red & Green Tortellini.

Use the fresh basil, some oil and garlic to make a homemade pesto. Mix with warm cheese tortellini and sprinkle with pine nuts and fresh shaved Parmesan cheese. Then cut cheery tomatoes in half and toss into the tortellini.

Serve up in a large, shallow bowl with fresh bread and a bottle of Chianti, yum!

[Padma]

Hey Deb,
I can suggest some Indian recipes if you are really interested, like chutneys and Dals

I am envying you right now! I live in an apartment and there is not much room to grow your won garden. Wondering what you will be doing with those loads of tomatoes from your garden.

[Debz]

Yes, Padma, please submit a favorite recipe. I would love a guest blog post for JerseyBites. We give our guest bloggers a graphic to display on your website. Just email me at [e-mail]. I'm going to do a general email to everyone about guest blogging today too.

[Chef E]

I am about to blog one tomorrow on my website, and you can have it after that. I would love to discuss publishing a cookbook, have you done it before? -E