The Taste of Summer
Stories from the Yellow Notebook
Nothing says summer like a window sill full of ripe, juicy tomatoes. Just sitting there, soaking up more sun. Waiting. Now that’s anticipation.
Yes, my friends, peak tomato season has arrived in my backyard. Tomatoes are at their very best now. So juicy, so colorful, and most importantly…so flavorful. The summer gardens have finally given up their best fresh, ripe, fabulous tomatoes. It’s a regular tomato fest and I, for one, cannot get enough of them. I guess it’s my Southern roots but eating a tomato, plucked off the vine, still warm from the sun, is a little slice of heaven for me.
And don’t even get me started on all of the varieties available now. Heirlooms, Brandywine, Cherry, Cherokee purple, Roma, Early Girl, Better Boy, Yellow Pear, Beefsteak, Plum, Green zebra…dozens and dozens to choose from, and I just can’t wait to sample each and every one I can get my hands on.
They are so versatile and there are so many ways to prepare them. There’s the Southern favorite…a good, ole Tomato Sandwich on white bread or the classic BLT…but this curious cook has a few favorite recipes to share starring her favorite summer treat. Here’s five delicious recipes for you to try:
Now you know I love a good jam and I’ve been busy this year making all sorts of jams and jellies. With all the summer’s abundance of tomatoes, making one of my all-time favorites Heirloom Tomato Jam is a delicious way to savor the intense flavors this variety brings to the table. This recipes combines all the savory taste sensations like onion, garlic, and spices to make a rich, flavorful jam that can be used in all sorts off ways. Try serving it on your next cheese board. It also pairs perfectly with a toasted crostini, and be bold…try it on a grilled ribeye or burger.
Having a summer gathering…maybe a few friends over for a drink after a long, busy week? Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? But don’t stress over a menu. Having a quick and easy recipe to prepare takes all the worry out of it. My Tomato Jam & Herbed Cheese Crostini is the perfect bite for an enjoyable evening with friends. Pair a crunchy crostini and herb cheese with a smear of tomato jam. Add some nuts, a few olives and you’ve just created an Italian cheese board. How simple is that?
Red, ripe, juicy cherry tomatoes fresh off the vine are perfect for another quick, easy appetizer. My Cherry Tomato Crostini uses only a few ingredients but packs a delicious, powerful punch. Use the very best olive oil, snip some fresh basil from your herb garden, slice up the ripest cherry tomatoes, top with a little kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and there you have it!
So simple. So flavorful. So yummy. Marinated Tomatoes are always a big hit. Think caprese salad minus the mozzarella…. This is a great side dish for a summer gathering or it can stand alone as an appetizer. The longer the ingredients hang out together, the better it will taste…so make it early and let it chill…literally.
Summer just wouldn’t be summer without Tomato Pie. This is a recipe that takes me back. During summers home from college, my Mom and I spent our evenings enjoying a nice summer breeze on the patio, seranaded by a chorus of summer crickets, and looking through magazines and cookbooks for new recipes. Mom had magazines subscriptions to all the fabulous cooking and entertaining favorites…and the back issues were always kept close at hand. One of our favorite summer recipes was for Tomato Pie. She always kept a bounty of tomatoes in a bowl on the counter. Her recipe, which she passed along to me in “the notebook” calls for a store-bought pie crust so it was always a quick dinner recipe for her to make after work. My recipe is similar but naturally takes on a curious twist and, of course, a homemade crust. Extra, extra.
There are so many uses for these sweet, juicy summer specialties…even in a cocktail. Not letting a single, solitary bit of my tomatoes go to waste, I experimented making a flavorful water that was so delicious, I knew it needed a splash or two of vodka or gin. Check out my Tomato Water Martini for a refreshing, summer concoction. What is tomato water? It’s the flavorful liquid released from ripe tomatoes when they’re sliced or chopped…it’s the stuff that ends up all over your cutting board. It’s truly the most flavorful part! Give it a try.
Always be curious!
MK
