Few things excite a summertime farmers market crowd more than a spread of vividly-hued heirloom tomatoes. Unlike mass-produced tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes are breed with unique characteristics that have been passed down for generations. There are countless varieties that differ in color, shape, and size, as well as maturation times. They range from the hefty, irregularly shaped, explosively Read more

What could be more gratifying on a sweltering day than a platter of fat and juicy tomatoes, fresh off the vine? I ask that question each year when the season rolls around and, without fail, come up with nothing for an answer. At this weekend's farmers market, when I spotted heirloom tomatoes by the crateful in a rainbow of colors, I couldn't help but bring several pounds home. I used my loot Read more

The minute tomatoes appear at the farmers market, I eat a Caprese salad nearly every week. It is one of those dishes that exudes Summer flavor. Recently, I was thrilled to find a new twist on the classic that incorporates parmesan crisps and heirloom tomatoes on a bed of herbed salad. This salad is very simple to make and could easily be prepped in advance for a dinner party; then, quickly Read more

This photo of the season's first glorious tomatoes was shared by Lauren in the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community. With the crappy weather here in California, tomatoes have taken forever to make their debut at Berkeley bowl but they finally took center stage! Taken by their beauty I bought ten pounds, yummy! What should she make with the tomatoes? Offer your ideas in the comments and Read more

A fast-spreading fungus has ravaged tomato crops across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, wiping out this year's crop and causing the price of heirloom tomatoes to skyrocket by 20 percent. But the cause of the pandemic is something that's much more innocent than you might think. In a recent New York Times column, renowned farm-to-table chef Dan Barber discusses the aggressive disease, known as late Read more

You can do pretty much anything with the succulent, summery caprese salad concept, from caprese skewers to caprese nachos. So when heirloom tomatoes started showing up at my farmers market, I whipped up a sandwich featuring the classic combination of fresh basil and mozzarella cheese. I'm almost embarrassed by how easy it is to make, but that's why this sandwich is perfect for the season. At Read more

With Spring in full bloom, there's no better time to inject the aniselike flavor of chervil into a tired recipe for a new taste of inspiration. Closely related to carrots and parsley, this herb has been around for thousands of years. But while its flavor has been a longtime staple in European cuisine, chervil is a relatively new herbal pleasure in most American kitchens. Sometimes called "the new Read more

You've heard how meatless Mondays are good for the planet. Now, look to Cooking in Pajamas for a fast and easy vegan chili recipe. Meatless Monday is back baby!  It never actually went anywhere, I just kept forgetting to blog about it. In my quest to get healthy and lose a few pounds before my 20th anniversary trip in April, I have been testing out a plant based diet. I keep going back and Read more

Thanks to GraceDickinson for sharing this shot of a variety of gorgeous heirloom tomatoes! Want to share dishes from your kitchen? To do so, join the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community. Yours may be featured on the site! Read more