This time of year, we just can't get enough of the beautiful tomatoes at the farmer's market, from dry-farmed Early Girls to Brandywines, Green Zebras and Cherokee Purples, it's hard to go wrong (and also hard to buy just a few!)
Tomatoes supply a tremendous amount of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins C, A, and K, as well as the caratenoid lycopene, which has been shown to be protective against a wide variety of cancers.
At Claudina's Kitchen we include tomatoes in just about every salad, salsa, pasta, appetizer, and entrée when they are in season...here are a few of our favorite summer tomato recipes:
- Summer Peach & Cherry Tomato Salsa
- Andalusian Gazpacho with Lemon-Cucumber Salsa
- Grilled Tomato and Pattypan Squash Panzanella
- Pachini e Cece (Cherry Tomatoes & Chickpea Dip)
Although we can't get enough of them while they're at peak of season -- when the hint of winter comes and the tomatoes dwindle, you'll find us hard at work in the kitchen canning and drying these beautiful tomatoes to last us through the winter! Studies show that lycopene absorption is increased when tomatoes are cooked, so it works out nicely that they remain a pantry staple for us throughout the winter months. Stay tuned for recipes throughout the year that remind of these wonderful tomato harvest months, but savor them now while you can!
