Monday, June 4, 2012

Gratitude Monday --Tomatoes

Tomato-Onion Salad my way.

It's almost summer and that means tomatoes. Sure, it means a great many other things, but today it means locally grown, damned good tomatoes.
They're toothsome and firm without being veritable baseballs and they're packed with flavour. Hot house grown, they're allowed to ripen on the vine. I know this for a fact because years ago I did a story on the growers, Hilltop Berry Farm.

I am grateful for fresh produce and especially for tomatoes   as they go in salads and sandwiches and anything else one cares to try, and they are great on their own with a bit of salt.

This time of year I am especially grateful as I can make fresh pico de gallo or dishes like the one above. It's a South American Tomato Onion Salad to which I've added corn.
Chop equal amounts onion and tomatoes, add olive oil and red wine vinegar, salt, fresh chopped jalapeno or crushed chilies, and allow to chill for an hour. I throw in a cup or so of corn, and add black pepper and basil as well.

 It's tasty, refreshing, and healthy. For that, as well as tomatoes, I am grateful.


12 comments:

Laurita said...

Tomatoes! I wish we had a better growing season for them.

Tabor said...

Our tomato plants are only a foot high but we also can by fresh tomatoes from local truck gardeners.

Wayne Kernochan said...

They go great on pizza :)

Leah J. Utas said...

Laurita, their brief moment in the sun makes them that much more precious.

Tabor, it's good so many people have them available.

Wayne, so very true.

messymimi said...

And i'm grateful for the delicious sounding recipe!

Enjoy!

Leah J. Utas said...

You're welcome, Messymimi. If you give it a try,(esp, if with my variation)please let me know what you thought of it.

Red said...

Tomatoes are certainly a favorite of mine. I like home grown tomatoes best. I'm with you about the store bought...they're not worth eating.

the Bag Lady said...

Your salad sounds very tasty - must try that when my tomatoes grow!

Hilary said...

That sounds yummy. I love tomatoes but in this house, I'm the only one. I don't know where my son got the notion that they're "wrong" but his girlfriend (who also lives here) feels the same. More for me!

Leah J. Utas said...

Red, a home-grown tomato is a treat.

Bag Lady, corn and tomatoes are great mates.

Hilary, it was once that tomatoes were scorned, shunned, and thought poisonous. It's unfortunate your son and his girlfriend won't eat them, but you've got a great personal bright side going.

Reb said...

I just can't get past the texture. I like tomato soup, sauce, ketchup or juice, but I just can't eat a slice of tomato! Or oranges or most berries. Yes, I am strange that way. I am glad you enjoy your tomatoes though.

Leah J. Utas said...

Totally understand. I'd have to be on the point of starving to eat a dumpling just because of the texture.