Posts Tagged ‘Tomatoes’

When life gives you green tomatoes… fry them. I’m getting a hunch that most of my beefsteak and heirloom tomatoes will not ripen. You may be feeling this too. We had a slow start to the summer, temp. wise. I remember 4th of July weekend was the first time it hit above 80 degrees. Large tomatoes need time, about 100 days to ripen. It’s likely with the slow start this summer, larger breeds may not make it to cherished red. Tomatoes ripen due to a combination of factors. If the […]

This August heat! Watering our gardens at this point in the season is crucial. We’ve spent months caring for our veggies and now it’s make or break. Inconsistent watering will affect your tomatoes. I’m having a problem with my heirloom tomatoes… I have blossom-end rot. This is a common problem that often affects larger varieties simply because they take longer to mature. But blossom-end rot can also affect cherry, grape, and other smaller varieties. Blossom-End Rot Blossom-end rot is a physiological condition (not fungal) caused by environmental stressors.  Most often […]

I often get my food inspiration on-site at the supermarket. I was in Key Food the other day and saw cute, tiny, orange habanero peppers. I thought it would be tasty to stuff them and make a  spicy treat. Admittedly, I also thought the little peppers would look adorable when photographed for instagram (I know, I know). I made a delicious, unconventional breadcrumb filling with garlic and herbs, more an Italian vibe than Spanish inspired. Long story short, as predicted, they looked amazing on my IG account and the likes […]

It would be completely inappropriate if I didn’t write about tomatoes before the end of the gardening season. I’m hoping all throughout August you’ve had an ample tomato harvest. Nothing compares to a sweet homegrown tomato. The storm a few weeks back damaged some of my plants, but all things considered, I have a good crop. If we don’t get a cold spell or another big storm our plants will continue to produce throughout September. I planted a variety as always. This year there are some heirloom, beefsteak, cherry, and […]

It’s mid October and I still have tomatoes on the vine but they’re not turning red. I’ve noticed a few critters getting to some so I decided to take ’em as is and make fried green tomatoes! It was my first time frying up green tomatoes. The combination of soft, tart tomato with the fried crunchy cornmeal coating was delicious. And when you add in a creamy creole dipping sauce you end up with the perfect comfort food. And the perfect snack to eat while watched the classic… Fried Green […]

I’ve been making this tomato salad for a decade, at least. Gosh, that sounds like a long time doesn’t? The weather is getting colder and my inclination is to eat cheese, bread and meat but I’m really trying to keep the veggies in the forefront this fall.  I over-bought  tomatoes last week and thought this was the perfect dish to make with them. This salad doesn’t take much time to prepare. I like making it in advance so when I’m hungry and looking for something  to eat, it’s ready to go. […]

The Beach 91st Street Community Garden is in full season. I wanted to share some photos of the delicious foods growing inside. But first, note the beautiful new fence that has replaced the plywood, which was barely standing for quite some time. Before… After! The group organized a go fund me to help with the cost and members installed the fence last weekend. Thanks guys! So what’s growing? A few garden members are growning corn! And red leaf lettuce. Beautiful purple tomatoes… I believe these are indigo rose? Japanese greens – I had to […]

Y’all, its too damn hot to cook!! My mom gave me a bunch of tomatoes and basil on Sunday and I thought “how can I eat all of these without turning on the oven?” Here are some simple recipes I came up with. I hope you like it and I hope you are not forced to use your oven too much in this heat! You can add anything of your preference to these recipes, some cured meats in the pasta salad, cucumbers to the salad, whatever your heart desires! Let […]

If I haven’t mentioned, I have a plot in the Beach 91st street community garden.  It’s across the street from our house. There’s been two potluck garden dinners so far, where members bring dishes with food they’ve grown from the garden. It’s been fun to meet everyone and talk shop over supper. I’ve been meaning to take some photos of what’s growing and what’s going on behind the gates. We keep bees! About a month and a half ago we adopted a bee hive from NYC beekeepers. I love seeing how everyone […]

This photo sums up our new life – cats, construction and food. We’ve been making pit stops on our way home, “food shopping” for delicious tomatoes and other vegetables  from Maureen’s garden. (No judgement please; we’re on a budget now!)  This sheetrock container has come in handy. Reuse, recycle, right? Even thought I’ve been laboring at the house daily, It feels like I’m on vacation. I’ve been body boarding after I’m done working at the house, biking, and enjoying the beach. Shore living is relaxing by nature, I suppose. I’ve also […]