The tomatoes are still producing but not as prettily as in the height of summer.
With the cool weather they are ripening more slowly and unevenly, with splits on the shoulders.
Some have stopped completely… The Ananas never got started; it only produced one tomato.
And the Noir de Crimea, with it’s dark greeninsh black shoulders, has given up.
I got lots of Romas, enough to fill my freezer, but the last few succumbed to blossom-end rot.
I’m still picking these:
Top row, from left: Coeur de Boeuf, Orange Queen, Summer Cider.
Middle row, from left: the mystery green that was supposed to be a green cherry, White Beauty, Green Zebra, Red Russe.
Bottom row, 2 Tigerella and a white cherry.
The Tigerella are the best find of the year – they’re striped, like the Green Zebra and small. The plant produces like a cherry tomato (well, not quite…) and the flavor is wonderful. They were the first with ripe tomatoes this summer and are still producing like crazy.
My problem is trying to eat them all.
Way back in the beginning of time we used to have stewed tomatoes as a vegetable in summer.
I’d forgotten….
Now I remember how much I liked it.
Stewed Tomatoes
Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 4 – 6 tomatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 – 2 onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp celery salt
- 1 tbs olive oil
Instructions:
- Sauté the chili powder and paprika in olive oil for 1 minute.
- Add onions, peppers and sauté until tender
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomatoes, salt and bring heat to simmering
- Cook, uncovered, until tomatoes are soft and juices are thick.
We’re taking another wee break.
We’re off to Spain for the weekend.
It’s the Ryder Cup. (Europe V U.S. golf tournament for those that don’t know.)
Mon mari decided he needed a more competitive environment to watch it. Our friend in Spain is one of the most competitive sports enthusiasts we know.
The girls are looking forward to playing with their brother again….
Sadly, their mom is no longer around.
She took off after a deer with the other dogs when they were walking at a friend’s house, about 10 miles from where they live.
Misty never came back.
Our friend says that she was the fittest and the fastest of his four dogs so she could have just run too far, gotten confused and lost.
She’s chipped and he’s alerted the world and put up posters everywhere but nothing…..
It’s been over a month.
We’re all very sad.
The girls are convinced she found a new home up in the mountains with lots of sheep and bunnies and deer.
I think I’ll think that, too.
We’ll be back Monday
Have fun!
Dogs have been known to find their way home from greater distances. Let’s hope. Have fun, too!
Misty will be like Lassie – dogs are so clever !!
Katie – I hope some how the dog returns…it could still happen! I love your stewed tomatoes. We always just used them in other dishes, but I would love to eat this on it’s own as a side dish – yum!
Zoomie, thanks…
Christine, we can only hope….
manningroad, that would be wonderful.
Ina, there have been phone calls of sightings but always at night…. hard to track down. I’m so glad I remembered these!
I like the new home in the mountains theory. I’d like that myself.
As for the stewed tomato recipe, thank you. I’ve been thinking about that myself.
A tomato called “Summer Cider” – now that sounds sweet!
I would go with the happy home in the mountains as well!
My plants never produced much this year but a local farmer had plenty of heirlooms this year so I bought a lot from them. In the end I had so many that I slow roasted them and preserved them for the middle of winter when i am desperate for a nice tomato flavour!
I would love to believe Misty is well fed and happy in some tucked away mountain cabin. Hope your weekend is going well. I loved your dinner party post. I remember that was the way it was done shortly after I got married in the early 70’s. Dinner Parties were all about impressing your guests, remaining gracious, and pulling your hair out in the kitchen. I am enjoying a much more relaxed style of entertaining today.
Mimi, I bought the Summer Cider because of it’s name…. and it was delicious!
JDeQ, the heirlooms did really well for me this year. Heirlooms are only starting to be available here.
Penny, I try to relax and still impress – not succeeding terribly well though, LOL