With our fresh tomatoes from the garden this year (Better Boy and cherry tomatoes), as well as basil that we grew, I thought I’d share a few ways of using these delicious treats.
Many of you may very well do all of these, but here are some easy ways to use the fresh bounty and it’s all oh, so yummy. This is the kind of lunch I’ll fix for myself, if left on my own without a hubby to feed. I love a simple meal like this. Toasted English muffin, topped with a slice of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes from the garden, and fresh basil. This is SO good! I added a little chicken salad with almonds from Publix (one of my fave treats too) and some fresh Bing cherries.
Totally my kind of lunch.
And for dinner many times during the summer, I’ll mix up fresh tomatoes with chopped basil, cucumber and diced Vidalia onion, with olive oil and Balsamic vinegar drizzled all over, as well as salt and pepper to taste. Very fresh and tasty little salad.
And one of my alltime faves is Bruschetta, which I first had in Italy about 20 years ago. Love this stuff. You can do many variations on this wonderful treat, but I think the key is some good crusty bread. I picked up a loaf from Continental Bakery down in English Village and made this one. Drizzle olive oil over chopped tomatoes, basil, and fresh garlic, add salt and pepper.
And pile it on top of some toasted crusty bread. If you try it once, you’ll be hooked. It’s also good with a little Parmesean cheese sprinkled on top and there are many variations in restaurants on this Italian favorite.
Last, but not least….salsa! What is better than fresh homemade salsa? Not much in my book. We had SO many cherry tomatoes this year, I mixed up a big batch of this, so they wouldn’t go to waste.
Now, I did cheat a little and used this salsa packet from Walmart that my sister told me about, all you do is add fresh tomatoes and onion, stir this packet in and let it chill for about 30 minutes. It would be really easy to do it all from scratch, but this works great too. I had a little bit of fresh cilantro in the fridge and threw that in too. We like it HOT!
And boy, was it delish! We love chips and salsa. I could eat them for a meal, in fact I did just that one night.
However you do it, you just can’t beat fresh tomatoes and basil. We certainly enjoy growing our own and look forward to next year’s bounty. Do you love tomatoes and basil too?
Linked to Jen’s Tasty Tuesday.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh Rhoda these all look delicious!!
Tomatos and basil are two of my all time faves! The smell of fresh basil, alone, sends my senses into overdrive. I also love bruschetta with some kalamata olives thrown in there. And pesto made from basil is soooooo yummy.
Everyone of these looks delicious! I also like to make open face BLT’s with my tomatoes and add avocado and some feta cheese on top and it is heaven!
Love it! We have tomatoes out our eyeballs here! Last week picked probably around 120. I did make pasta sauce and put that up for the winter. We eat fresh sliced tomatoes and cukes almost every night – sometimes for lunch too!
I love to cut up big chunks of tomato, cucumber, purple onion, and zuchinni. Top with parmesan cheese and italian dressing. YUM! Lots of fresh salads around here too with all the produce. We had grilled chicken salads just last night.
tina
I have a glut of tomatoes right now myself…..always looking for ideas on ways to use them all. I love this time of year!
~Patti
YUM, I never get tired of tomato and basil. I’ve been doing mine all summer with grilled portebello mushrooms!
I am going to look for that salsa seasoning mix. That looks handy. Send your sister a thank you from me!
Looks yummilicious, Rhoda! Every single bit of it!
Mmm… thes all look scrumptious! I too am enjoying TONS of my parent’s home-grown Creole tomatoes & basil from my own, overflowing, pot! I’ve been trying to get creative with all that I do. A new favorite is grown-up grilled cheese…
Make a fresh Pesto sauce with all that great basil, them schmear it onto a nice, crusty slice of bread ( I used Chibatta) then place some fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes ( seasoned with S & P of course) top it with the second slice of bread & grill it in a panini press, or cast iron skillet, pressing down on your sammie ot make it extra gooey & crunchy – it’s DELISH!!!! Seriously.
Enjoy : – )
We live on fresh homemade salsa during the summer, but I discovered bruschetta this summer and can’t get enough of it! Your pictures make me want to go pick my garden!
The English muffin looks to die for!
I have a bunch of roma tomatoes…I posted about my interesting canning experience today. I like all of your tips. Next year, cherry tomatoes are on my list for the garden! 
My tomatoes are coming in now! You’ve given me some nice ideas. Everything looks so scrumptious! Your pictures are so crisp and clear. I love Salsa and the same chips you show. When I start eating it, I can’t stop. In fact, this past weekend at our summer lakehouse, I made a batch of fresh salsa and was it ever so good. Nothing better. I’ll have to try the package mix. Thanks for sharing.
Yummm…. Such a fantastic combination! Love It!!! =) Thanks for highlighting all of the wonderful things you can do with these simple ingredients. Doesn’t get much better than these recipes on a warm summer night! =)
Rhoda…
Looks sooo yummy! You had quite a nice crop didn’t you?
Blessings….
That knocking sound you hear is me at your door. I came for lunch.
Yummy! I’m so bummed that my basil didn’t grow this year. I was so looking forward to that delicious combination like you have. Now I have to shell out money at the grocery store for basil.
They all look so good. Now I am very hungry.
I’m just wondering who is going to eat all your yummy recipes? I LOVE tomatoes and basil, love, love, love. In fact, once I had a fabulous pasta dish with just fresh tomatoes, basil and angel hair at a restaurant that was amazing and I’ve never been able to copy it. Probably some wonderful olive oil in it. I make salsa quite a bit that’s really wonderful, it has tomatillos, g. pepper, onion, jalapenos, cilantro, etc. . . And, and, bruschetta is my standard at Italian restaurants. I order the appetizer for my main course all the time. I have a great recipe for this too. So, you posted about some of my favorites! Thanks!
Karen
http://www.elderberrystreet.blogspot.com
Boy that looks good. I was telling Marc just the other day about yalls neat garden….maybe giving him a hint hint…didnt work~ Have a good visit with your family~
Rhoda,
If you love tomato and basil you have to try Ina Garten’s Goat cheese and tomato tart. I made it last night and it’s to die for. Here’s the link:
http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/recipes/recipes-goat-cheese-tarts-0507
A yum feast. I’ll take some of each. You just can’t beat tomatoes and basil.
thanks for the info on the salsa. Your post made me hungry for Mexican food
One of my favorite appetizers is a cherry tomato with a basil leaf and a chunk of mozzarella cheese on a toothpick.
Mmmm, mmm.
This all looks fabulous! Yummy! I will definitely be trying them.
Hi Rhoda,
Looks yummy! I love to slice tomatoes thinly, slice red onion thinly and slice red and green and yellow bell pepper thinly and toss with vinegar, oil, salt & pepper and eat as a side dish or top a hot dog with it…mmmmmm!
Hi Rhoda! Gosh everything looks yummy! I have basil growing a pot so i’ll definitely have to make everything you did! I have jalapenos in my garden too and make salsa all the time. Have a great day!
Blessings,
Sandra
I’m starving now!
So yummy!
Yes, that salsa mix is fabulous…as is the Guacamole mix too…yum!
Rhoda they all look delicious! I’m definitely trying the salsa!
oh. thank goodness it’s lunch time. Your recipes look divine. I think I will make a little salad. right now! Thanks, Rhoda.
xoxo Lidy
mmm thanks!
I super love the combo of tomato and basil! We’ve been making margherita pizzas on the BBQ. So yummy!
I just licked my screen!! YUMMY!!
We are an Italian family so YES – I know much about tomatoes & basil
& YES – it IS a winning combo!!
Boy that salsa looks delish!!
these look mouth watering good!
Hi Rhoda, You have gone and made me oh so hungry again! I have a neighbor who brings me lots of tomatoes and cukes. I love all your versions and can’t wait to try them all.
Nancy from OHIO
I love, love, love the combination of tomato, basil and especially mozzarella. I make a fabulous appetizer that is SO easy and always gets a TON of compliments. There is something about melted cheese on toasted baguette that gets people every time! I wrote about it a while ago here, if you’re curious: http://livinglifegratefully.blogspot.com/2009/06/girls-night-in.html
We love it but it is coming out of our ears! I’ve been bringing bags of both into work for the past few weeks…the tomatoes have been so plentiful this year and the basil just keeps growing like a weed!! Cucumbers too! ACK!! BUT it all is fresh summery tasting goodness!
Thanks for sharing your pictures of these favorites! Ours are definitely the same recipes with slight variations!
Rhoda,
I was drooling just reading this post! But it’s too late to eat tonight. Will have to wait til tomorrow.
Hattie
Hi Rhoda,
These look wonderful!! I have used up extra tomatoes by making fresh tomato sauce for pasta. Chop the tomatoes, add garlic, onion, basil, a bit of olive oil and maybe some balsamic, and whatever else you want to throw in there. Toss with cooked pasta and it is good to go. No need to cook or even heat it up, if it is at room temperature. If it is cold, just nuke it for a few minutes. Add some parmesan or feta. Then EAT!!
By the way, I LOVE your blog. It is my favorite.
Tracey
There is nothing better than home grown tomatoes! Especially the early girls! You made me want to make a tomato/basil/mozzarella salad for dinner tomorrow! yum!
Yes! I LOVE tomato and basil – one of my favs is to make a salad with chopped tomatoes, garbanzo beans and cucumber, oh and mozzarella and of course, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt. Yum.
These pictures made my mouth water! I recently had a caprise salad w/ a baugette, fresh tomatoes, mozzerella & basil w/ olive oil, it was so yummy!
Beautiful post! I LOVE tomatoes and never tire of them this time of year. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!
We use our tomatoes and basil to make a tomato/mozzarella salad using fresh mozzarella, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, with oregano and flat parsley I also grow. So yummy by itself or over pasta.