154 replies to this topic

[SLBunge]

ah, the joys of small-town life. all these tomatoes from our tiny farmers' market today for less than $10:

Did you ask about the Russian blacks?

I was at the Mill City market this morning and the purple Cherokees have are out in force. I bought a few for salads this week.

[mongo_jones]

ah, the joys of small-town life. all these tomatoes from our tiny farmers' market today for less than $10:

Did you ask about the Russian blacks?

I was at the Mill City market this morning and the purple Cherokees have are out in force. I bought a few for salads this week.

none of the local farmers have planted them this year--i hope to convince a couple of them to plant some next year. they're available at the co-op down the street from the market, but after paying $2/lb for the others at the market, i'll be damned if i'll pay $6/lb at the co-op. how much are heirlooms generally at the st. paul market?

i got some great sungolds yesterday as well.

[SLBunge]

At Mill City they were $3.50/lb for the heirlooms. The standard stuff was about $2/lb. Saint Paul is cheaper, in general, but I wasn't there last weekend or this weekend so I don't know how much they are going for this year.

[Merlin]

I am completely and totally overwhelmed with tomatoes. Last weekend I canned a batch of "Suvir's" tomato chutney. Have to say it is delicious even tho I couldn't find the "hing" it calls for. Saving it for the winter months.

Have to figure out something to do with the rest of them...

What are people doing with cherry tomatoes? I dried a batch of them in the dehydrator and froze them but it seemed like a lot of effort for not much result....they shrunk to almost nothing.

[mongo_jones]

more of my recent adventures with local heirlooms:

see how beautiful those large yellow tomatoes (german striped, is what the lady referred to them as, or maybe striped german) are on the inside:



from last week:







this was lunch by itself some days ago:



if you'd told my mother when i was growing up that a time would come when i would eat meals comprised primarily of raw tomatoes she would have laughed at you.

some of yesterday's haul made it into salad at lunch:


and some at dinner:

(this was tossed with arugula)

[SamanthaF]

Lovely pictures. Thank you.

[mongo_jones]

[CheeseMonger]

Love this thread- I'm up to my eyeballs in beefsteak tomatoes from the garden here. I'm pulling at least 30 a week from the patch. When I lack inspiration, I roast and freeze them, unwilling to risk them turning. Sometimes I "super-roast" them, and I end up with tomato chips, a bit chewier than potato chips, but a fun snack food.

So, thanks for reminding me if all the fun ways to eat them fresh.

[mongo_jones]

here you go:

[rancho_gordo]

here you go:

Try a layer of refried beans under the toms, add some chiles and lime juice and now you've got a real snack!

[mongo_jones]

i don't suppose rancho gordo sells beans and chiles that could be used for this purpose.

[rancho_gordo]

i don't suppose rancho gordo sells beans and chiles that could be used for this purpose.

What a coinky-dink! We do!

[SamanthaF]

A variation on a recipe found on the BBC website thats great for pasta.

1lb cherry toms peeled
2 crushed garlic cloves
1 shallot finely chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 tbsp brined capers
2 tbsp EVOO
S & P
parmesan

fry off the garlic until golden, then remove and discard, add the shallot till softened, roughly chop the toms and add to oil, cook gently for 10 mins. Add capers and chopped mint and cook for a further 5 mins. Add S & P to taste.

Add to pasta, sprinkle with grated parmesan.

Enjoy - Scott did last night!

[mongo_jones]

life's too short to peel one pound of cherry tomatoes. other than that, it does sound good.

[Daniel]

Will you be driving or someone else?

Gorgeous photos Mongo.. I have those same striped striped guys given to me yesterday..