Monday, May 31, 2010

Tasty Tuesday: Tantalizing Tomatoes

Summer in the South

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(Lovely patriotic centerpiece by DD#1)

Heat, fresh tomatoes, field peas, sweet corn.

More heat.

(Fortunately, we no longer live below the gnat line, where our list would read heat, gnats, heat and tomatoes. And more heat.)

Anyhoo, for the first cookout of the year on Memorial Day, I used some early tomatoes from the farmer’s market for Marinated Tomato Salad, one of those wonderful make-ahead recipe that gets better the longer it sits.

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The super-easy dressing is from a veggie salad my mom used to make.  Alas, she loves raw onions and used them plentifully in that dish.

Ick.

So one day I poured the dressing over sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and let them soak in the fridge for a few hours.

Oh my.

Yum.

Marinated Tomato Salad

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar (mix it up with some balsamic, red wine vinegar, or any other flavor you’ve got stashed in the pantry)

1/4 cup canola oil

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 tbl water

1 cup sugar

salt to taste

Dump all this in a pot and bring it to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.

Slice  tomatoes, cucumbers, and/or bell peppers (or, yes, even onions, if you are into those) in shallow dish (like a 8x8 baking dish) and pour dressing over all.

Refrigerate until serving, the longer the better.

I like to add basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, and any other herb growing on my deck (except the mint) to the mix for a little sass.  Big Red laces his liberally with Tabasco.

Talk about more heat.

Stay cool!

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Blessings,

Ginger

Linking up at Tasty Tuesday

7 comments:

  1. I know what you mean about being stressful to change up the blog! I caught up with your blog (as many as were visible by just stopping by). I so enjoy your posts. You have had a ton of stuff going on. I am so glad (Praise God) that you got through the cancer scare and the fear. We simply have no idea what God is up to - and it's not always like wondering what's in the package, but wondering how we'll get through something. I am so glad HE is the faithful One. And to be His. I love the growth but sometimes it hurts, that's for certain! Shifting gears, wonderful ball! I learned the Virginia Reel and other dances in elementary. I love your recitation about it and what it meant. (Feels like I should say, Amen!) Ooooh, tomatoes...yummy. We have gnats. They seem to be coming out of the potted plants I fixed up. So, they're even in the house! The saying here is "Gnat gonna do it, as in wouldn't be prudent" ...Elder Bush-ish. Seems like I'm missing something I was going to say. I thank the Lord for you. Take care! SO glad things worked out over the health issue. Never give up. Never quit. Love, Jenn

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  2. Mama,
    the tomatoes and cucumbers were delicious! I told you that last night, but I wanted to brag on your culinary skills for all the world to see. You did an AWESOME job!
    Posted by DD#2

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  3. YUM!!! I love tomatoes so I bet I would LOVE this. My dad makes something similar, but just with onions and cucumbers... it's good, but a little too onion-y.

    Mmmm

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  4. Summer tomatoes are one of my very favorite things. Your recipe sounds yummy!

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  5. That sounds delicious! Going to give this a whirl.

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  6. Yum!! Sounds wonderful and I share your sentiments about onions. ICK!! You've got quite a way with a camera too, by the way!!

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  7. Your centerpiece is beautiful. I'm a tomato lover and your recipe sounds delicious!

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