Catherine Love~ Ramblings from my Heart and Home

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes

I love tomatoes!  I've picked a few tomotoes from our raised beds and containers, and I've got lots of green ones on the vines.  I'm waiting expectantly for the Viva Italia variety to ripen- I've got some recipes just waiting for paste tomatoes. 

On Saturday, my Mother-in-Law brought me a big bag of tomatoes.  A co-worker sold her a whole box of homegrown tomatoes for $4.00.   

We've been eating tomato sandwiches (my favorite), sliced tomatoes, pizza topped with fresh tomatoes, squash, green bean and tomato saute....cherry tomatoes by the handful.......yummmmmmm! 

Today I've got a big pot of Basil Tomato Sauce cooking on the stove.  It smells wonderful.  I saw a recipe for Chunky Basil Pasta Sauce, or something like that in one of my preserving books; I didn't have everything the recipe called for, so I just made up my own recipe of sorts.  I hope it tastes as good as it smells!

Here's what I did:

Peeled and roughly chopped about 2 quarts of tomatoes into a large enamel stockpot; added 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 1 chopped onion, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 Bay leaf, 1 small sprig of Thyme, 1 small sprig of Marjoram, 1/3 cup or so of chopped Basil, and some chopped parsley.  I brought it to a boil, lowered the heat and now it's simmering away and smelling so good. 

I'm thinking I'll make Turkey Meatloaf with Tomato Gravy for dinner.   

Tomato Gravy?

10:51 PM, Monday, July 23, 2007 .. Posted by MrsQuilty

Ummmm! Tomato gravy, sounds yummy! But how do you make it? Just wondering...... Sure would like to find another use for all those tomatoes! :o)