An Abundance of Tomatoes

Our tomato crop (before distribution to the neighbors)

Early this spring I brought two six packs of very small tomatoes plants.  I think they cost $1.25 each.  One six pack had cherry tomatoes, the other six pack had regular sized potatoes.  Don't ask me what kind of tomatoes they are.  I only know "big and small tomatoes."  I planted these tomato seedlings wherever I could fit them into little nooks and crannies in my backyard flower beds.  Now they are coming on STRONG!  We're being buried in tomatoes!

Bill and I both love fresh tomatoes.  I make a fresh tomato thyme soup; skin, seeds and all (I throw nothing out). I also make fresh tomato salsa.  I don't like the soupy salsa that restaurants usually serve.  To me fresh salsa is made with chopped red onion, diced cherry tomatoes and a "touch" of jalapeño pepper.  Oh it is SO GOOD.  No salt, no cilantro; just fresh tomatoes and onion and a kick of jalapeño pepper.

Bill likes his tomatoes raw.  He quarters them and puts them in his cereal bowl with a dollop (or two) of mayo.  That's his breakfast, lunch and dinner during the season.  In fact, he's eating some now.

Today we reached the point where we can't keep up with our backyard tomato harvest.  Today we start giving away tomatoes.  Yes, we are those folks who unload their overabundance of garden produce on their neighbors.

I even called our former neighbor Alan, who has since moved to the pricey environs of the houses along Rehoboth Bay and arranged to dropped in visit him at 10 this morning ostensibly to see his new digs but we're BRING ALONG THE TOMATOES!  Truth be told, I did call him earlier this morning and ask him if he and his wife would like some tomatoes and he said he loved them.

I've called my other neighbors but no one else has answered their phones.  Maybe they know what I'm calling about.  Or maybe it's just too early in the morning.

Thus, yet another benefit of living in our new home here in southern Delaware, we can actually grow our own tomatoes.  We tried that at our home in Pennsylvania but the deer always ate the tomato plants before the blossoms even fell off.

Now to look up that new tomato sauce recipe.

Herbed Tomato Soup Recipe

Angry Ron this morning - I'm going to take it out on these tomatoes

This morning I was finally going to succumb to my pent up rage and vent about the selfishness and stupidity of the Republicans in Washington holding this country hostage (refusing to authorize the debt limit increase) unless the Obama administration begins the process of cutting all the social safety net programs since the New Deal so the millionaire and billionaire owners of those Republicans can have even more tax cuts.  But no, I won't go there.  Ummm, I think I just did "go there."  Oh well.

Instead I will post something nice today that won't offend anyone, especially my Republican friends, the poor brainwashed, shortsighted souls.  I love them all the same.

I spent this morning making a fresh vegetable pasta salad and my first homemade herbed tomato soup recipe since we moved down here in 2006.  I'll be having some of that soup right after I post this blog.

So here is my recipe for a nice a spice herbed tomato soup:

Herbed Tomato Soup

• In a large saucepan heat 1/4 cup butter till melted
• Add 2 medium onions, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
• Cook till tender but not brown
• Peel, core and coarsely chop 6 medium garden ripe tomatoes (about 4 cups)
• Add to saucepan
• Stir in one 12 oz. can tomato paste
• Add 1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil (I go overboard and add A LOT)
• Add 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (I go overboard again and add A LOT)
• Add 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Add 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Add a dash or two of red hot pepper if desired (I like my tomato soup just this side of HOT)
• Stir in 4 cups chicken broth
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat and cover
• Simmer for 40 minutes
• Remove from stove and cool
• Place half at a time in a food blender
• Cover and puree until smooth
• Return to saucepan and heat
• Enjoy!

I have a home for these tomatoes - my stomach!

Magnifico!

Tomato Harvest

Ron and Bill's fresh tomatoes

The tomatoes are on!

Each year I buy a couple of six packs of tomatoes at my favorite local garden spot, Peppers in Milton.  I buy one six pack of small tomatoes and one six pack of regular size slicing tomatoes.

Then I plant the individual plants around my flower beds in my backyard.  I also have oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, chives, dill, and fresh basil plants planted throughout my raised beds are the far end of our backyard and the flower beds next to the house.

This is the best time of the year, harvesting our own tomatoes and herbs.  I love it!  Nothing like your own herbs and veggies.  Bill loves the tomatoes.  He cuts them up in a bowl and puts a couple of dollops of mayonnaise and that is his lunch.  I use the tomatoes, basil, and oregano in my fresh pasta salad (which I'll post the recipe in a future post).

We couldn't grow tomatoes or many other vegetables at our home in Pennsylvania because of the deer.  We don't have that problem here.  So instead of growing salads for the local deer population we're growing the good stuff for ourselves.

Summertime, I love it!