Easy Tomato Sauce
Tomatoes are often the "candy" of the garden. With a myriad of bright colors, ranging from yellow to orange to brownish purple and green and different sizes and shapes, there is literally a tomato for every purpose. Although most often thought of as a vegetable, they are actually fruit. Originally from South America and brought to Europe by discoverers, tomatoes were first thought to be poisonous and then later used as "peasant" food by people in Italy. Then the enthusiasm for tomatoes took off. Whether fresh in salads of sliced, or in soups, salsas, pastas, or processed to make concentrates, ketchups and juices, tomatoes are very healthy with only 32 calories in a chopped cup. Tomatoes provide vitamin C potassium, vitamin K and folate.
When selecting tomato types for your garden, you'll want to focus on each of the seven versatile types of tomatoes and match the ones that grow best in your climate as well as suit your personal culinary tastes. Tomatoes flavors are based on their ratio of sugar to acid as well as their aroma. Sweet tasting tomatoes, such as cherry tomatoes, contain more sugar and less acid - hence why so many of those little fruits are actually eaten in the garden while harvesting as opposed to making their way to the dinner table.
For ideas as to how to use all these, bite size cherry tomatoes are lovely in salads and on skewers and kababs. Grape tomatoes are excellent for snacking. Harvest larger tomatoes on the vine to preserve longevity and continues to provide nutrients, are perfect for slicing and eating as is, or perhaps with a pinch of salt and, sometimes, pepper. These are also great for sandwiches and burgers. Puree them and use them in sauces for pizzas, pastas, meat loafs, chicken and eggplants.
We discovered a simple way to start heirloom tomato plants for your next season by feeding them to chickens. After some time, clean out your coop and remove the debris to an area where the chickens do not have access, but has adequate light and moisture, it is not unusual for your next season's plants to germinate and grown on their own. You can then relocate the plants to your preferred sites.
Easy Basic Tomato Sauce
For a quick, versatile sauce that works well as a base for pizza or pasta, simple puree, or slice tomatoes and place into a sauté pan with olive oil, garlic, and a bit of salt. Use a non-reactive spoon for smashing the tomatoes. Once the tomatoes have reduced to a sauce, add in preferred seasons such as pepper, oregano, thyme, basil or whatever else you'd like your dish to reflect. Taste your sauce occasionally and correct the flavors as desired. Adding a pinch of sugar will help balance acidity.
When selecting tomato types for your garden, you'll want to focus on each of the seven versatile types of tomatoes and match the ones that grow best in your climate as well as suit your personal culinary tastes. Tomatoes flavors are based on their ratio of sugar to acid as well as their aroma. Sweet tasting tomatoes, such as cherry tomatoes, contain more sugar and less acid - hence why so many of those little fruits are actually eaten in the garden while harvesting as opposed to making their way to the dinner table.
For ideas as to how to use all these, bite size cherry tomatoes are lovely in salads and on skewers and kababs. Grape tomatoes are excellent for snacking. Harvest larger tomatoes on the vine to preserve longevity and continues to provide nutrients, are perfect for slicing and eating as is, or perhaps with a pinch of salt and, sometimes, pepper. These are also great for sandwiches and burgers. Puree them and use them in sauces for pizzas, pastas, meat loafs, chicken and eggplants.
We discovered a simple way to start heirloom tomato plants for your next season by feeding them to chickens. After some time, clean out your coop and remove the debris to an area where the chickens do not have access, but has adequate light and moisture, it is not unusual for your next season's plants to germinate and grown on their own. You can then relocate the plants to your preferred sites.
Easy Basic Tomato Sauce
For a quick, versatile sauce that works well as a base for pizza or pasta, simple puree, or slice tomatoes and place into a sauté pan with olive oil, garlic, and a bit of salt. Use a non-reactive spoon for smashing the tomatoes. Once the tomatoes have reduced to a sauce, add in preferred seasons such as pepper, oregano, thyme, basil or whatever else you'd like your dish to reflect. Taste your sauce occasionally and correct the flavors as desired. Adding a pinch of sugar will help balance acidity.
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