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Soup's On: Cream of Fresh Tomato

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:07 -0700

While shopping at Berkeley Bowl, I came across the bargain section of fresh produce. Most of the time I won't glance at this section, but a two-pound bag of ripe red tomatoes caught my eye. At only $0.99 per bag, I couldn't pass them up since I had a hankering for a bowl of fresh tomato soup.

The recipe calls for seeded and peeled tomatoes; however, I didn't want to waste time or lose a bunch of juice - especially because the tomatoes were really meaty. Also, once the soup makes its way through the blender, the seeds and skin are virtually undetectable.

Rather than use the conventional basil and thyme, I opted for lime basil and lemon thyme in the soup. Each spoonful of this comforting classic is fresh and flavorful. If you have some end-of-season tomatoes on hand, get started on this soup. You won't be disappointed! Get the recipe after the jump.

A Tasty Way to Start the (New Year) Day

partysugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:00:52 -0800

Last week, I woke up (no surprises here) slightly hungover. It seems I had played ~~one~~ three too many rounds of beer pong. As I lay in bed, my head pounding, I suddenly realized I was in the best place in the world to be hungover: my parents' house - where the fridge was always stocked! Sure enough there was bacon, eggs, an assortment of cheese, and bread. It was time to make the ultimate breakfast sandwich - Thomas Keller's cheesy BLT with a fried egg. You may recognize this sandwich from the movie Spanglish. And if you've never made it, treat yourself to one today (especially if you are hungover!).

The combination of crisp bacon, oozing yolk, and melted cheese is scrumptiously sublime. The sandwich features simple ingredients in a magnificent way that is balanced in both taste and texture. Although it's extremely messy to eat, the dish is surprisingly hearty and beyond delicious. To check out this egg-cellent sandwich, read more.

Cheesy BLT With Fried Egg
From Thomas Keller

Ingredients

4 thick slices of bacon
2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese*
2 thick slices of rustic white bread, toasted and hot
1 tablespoon mayonnaise**
4 tomato slices
2 leaves of butter lettuce
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 large egg

Directions

In a skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, turning, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
Set the Monterey Jack slices on 1 piece of toast. Spread the mayonnaise on the other slice of toast, then top with the bacon, tomato and lettuce.
In a small, nonstick skillet, melt the butter. Add the egg and fry over moderate heat, turning once, until crisp around the edge, about 4 minutes; the yolk should still be runny.
Slide the egg onto the lettuce; close the sandwich and eat right away.

Makes 1 sandwich.

*We didn't have Monterey Jack on hand, so I substituted another mild, good-melting white cheese, fontina.
**I left out the mayonnaise and didn't miss it. The runny egg provides enough moistness.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: BLTs with Avocado and Spicy Mayo

partysugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:01:33 -0800

I love making a classic sandwich - in this case, the BLT - more exciting. I almost always add avocado to my BLTs and I jazz up the mayonnaise with herbs or spices. For this kicked up BLT, the mayo is mixed with garlic, fresh lime juice, and chili powder. The recipe has you cook the bacon on the stove, but for a mess-free variation, bake it in the oven on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper for 15 minutes at 375°F. To make this filling and comforting sandwich tonight, get the recipe, read more.

BLTs with Avocado and Spicy Mayo
From Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine

1 large garlic clove, crushed
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus more for sprinkling
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
One 12-ounce package center-cut bacon
8 slices of hearty, white farmhouse bread
1 large or 2 small ripe Hass avocados
2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
8 lettuce leaves, torn into pieces
8 dill pickle spears

Chop the crushed garlic with the salt and press it with the side of the knife until mashed.
Scrape the garlic into a small bowl and stir in the chili powder, 2 tablespoons of lime juice and the mayonnaise.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon in 2 batches until crisp. Pour off the fat between each batch. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
While the bacon cooks, toast the bread. Slice the avocado and sprinkle the slices with a few drops of the lime juice.
Spread 1 side of each piece of toast with the spicy mayo. Arrange the avocado slices on 4 of the toasts, pressing them firmly against the mayo. Arrange the bacon, tomatoes and lettuce on the avocado slices. Top the sandwiches with the remaining toast. Cut the sandwiches in half on the diagonal and serve with the dill pickle spears.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Basil-Tomato Meatloaf Sandwich

partysugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:13:33 -0800

One of the reasons I love making meatloaf is for the scrumptious leftovers. A meatloaf sandwich with all the fillings is just as tasty as the original meatloaf! For extra flavor, jazz up store bought mayonnaise with chopped basil. Although the recipe doesn't call for it, I would definitely add some shaved Parmesan to this sandwich. It's delicious served cold for lunch and divine when warmed up for dinner. To get the recipe please read more.

Basil-Tomato Meatloaf Sandwich
From Southern Living magazine

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
8 hearty white bread slices
8 (1/2-inch-thick) cold meatloaf slices
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
2 plum tomatoes, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

Stir together 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil.
Spread 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise mixture on 1 side of each bread slice.
Top 4 bread slices, mayonnaise sides up, evenly with meatloaf slices, shredded lettuce, and tomato slices; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Top with remaining bread slices, mayonnaise sides down.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

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Yummy Link: Fennel and Cherry Tomato Tartlet

YumSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:58:19 -0700

Ladies and gents, start your drool engines! I've been looking for an excuse to make a tomato pie for a while, and these fennel, cherry tomato tartlets are going to push me over the edge. - La Tartine Gourmande

Northeastern Tomato Blight Caused by Home Gardening

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:50:39 -0700

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 blight, that has wiped out 70 percent of this year's heirloom tomato crop. He argues that there are three contributing factors that caused the intense blight. First, a rainy Summer, moderate temperatures, and lots of humidity; second, infected tomato starter plants sold to home growers; and third, the explosion of home gardeners.Ironically, the very community that's engaged in eating locally has set the stage for one of the worst heirloom tomato harvests in history. Barber argues that, despite what Slow Food believers might advocate, future farming must involve nonheirloom plant varieties bred to resist diseases.

The blight isn't limited to new home gardeners; even seasoned pro Martha Stewart has lamented that she lost 70 percent of the 50 different tomato varieties in her garden this year. Have you fallen victim to this year's tomato travesty? What do you think of Barber's argument?

Summer of Salads: Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

partysugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:15:42 -0700

Whenever I'm cooking for a crowd and need a recipe that's portable, I always consider pasta salad. It's filling and easy to make a large batch. While sometimes I assemble a Mediterranean pasta salad with orzo and feta, I also like to make this recipe with tomatoes and mozzarella.

What provides this salad with incredible flavor is the sun-dried tomato dressing - it's so good I've enjoyed it with fish! Made in a blender or food processor, the dressing is a mixture of tomatoes, capers, and garlic, thinned with oil and red wine vinegar. A generous handful of parmesan cheese and fresh basil finish off the satisfying salad that only tastes better the next day. To make it before tomato season is over get the recipe now

Know Your Tomatoes

partysugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:08:39 -0700

Whether they're from your own garden, purchased at the grocery store, or picked from a farmers' market stall, tomatoes are summer's most beloved ~~vegetable~~ fruit. When they are in season, nothing beats enjoying the simple tomato in all its fleshy, red, ripe glory. When choosing tomatoes look for locally grown, fragrant, heavy, tomatoes with skin that yields slightly to pressure. Bright colored ones are best flavored. It's best to store tomatoes at room temperature rather than in the fridge because the harsh coldness will affect the taste of the fruit. When using a recipe that calls for a certain type of tomato refer to this helpful glossary. read more

Beefsteak: The biggest of the tomato family with a meaty texture - good for salads, grilling, and burgers.

Plum: Also known as Roma tomatoes, these babies are oval shaped, good for cooking, and used frequently in both Italian and Mexican cooking.

Cherry: Small, round like a cherry, and bite sized, these are perfect for salads, roasting, and tossed with pastas.

Salad: Also known as vine or round tomatoes, these are excellent for eating raw in salads or sliced and used in quiches or gratins.

Grape: Like the cherry tomato, these are small, oval shaped tomatoes that are super sweet and kid friendly. Use in salads or for snacks.

Green: A tart, yet ripe variety perfect for frying or for adding color to a tomato salad.

Heirloom: A variety that has been grown for over 100 years with the seeds being passed down from generation to generation. There are many different heirloom varieties that come in many different shapes and sizes.

Know another type of tomato? Please fill us in below!

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Penne With Triple Tomato Sauce

partysugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:30:14 -0700

If you love the taste of vine-ripened tomatoes, you'll enjoy this fuss-free vegetarian meal. Three (fresh, sun-dried, and paste) types of tomatoes are combined in the blender to create a quick, no-cook sauce. Tossed with piping hot pasta, the sauce coats each and every cranny.

For extra decadence, grate on some Parmesan cheese. Pair it with a simple green salad, crusty garlic bread, and glass of white wine, and you've got an ultimate Italian meal. Check out the recipe when you read more.

Penne With Triple Tomato Sauce
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

1 pound penne
2 medium tomatoes (5 ounces each), cut into 1-inch dice
4 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 large basil leaves
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne until al dente.
Meanwhile, in a blender, combine the diced tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, garlic and olive oil. Puree until smooth. Pour the tomato sauce into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Drain the pasta, add it to the sauce and toss well to coat. Serve the pasta piping hot.

Serves 4.

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Soup's On: Roasted Tomato Soup

partysugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:46:18 -0700

I knew that this week's soup recipe would have to be tomato. Not because I was in the mood, but because I realized the end of tomato season is quickly approaching. I make tomato soup often during winter and simply use canned tomatoes. However when it's early fall and the tomatoes are still bountiful, it's nice to make a puree with fresh tomatoes. Roasting the tomatoes first releases their juices and enhances their natural flavor, and this soup tasted even better the next day for lunch. I served it with a grilled goat cheddar cheese and mushroom sandwich, but you can enjoy it alone or with a glass of Chardonnay. Check out the recipe now, just read more

Roasted Tomato Soup
From Bobby Flay

10 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeds removed
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 Spanish onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
3 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Place tomatoes in a large baking dish and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle with the garlic, season with salt and pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft.
Heat the remaining olive oil in a medium stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
Add the roasted tomatoes, garlic, and the juices that have accumulated. Add the stock and fresh thyme and cook for 20 minutes.
Place the cream in a small saucepan over medium high heat and cook until reduced by half.
Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth, strain into a clean saucepan over low heat, add the reduced cream, and cook for 5 minutes.

Serves 6-8.

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