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.
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!