With Labor Day around the corner I thought this week would be a great time to share some recipes that would be perfect for any type of get-together celebrating the end of summer.
These little caprese skewers couldn't be any easier! You'll need:
Mozzarella cheese (I use fresh)
Any type of cherry or grape tomatoes
Your favorite Italian salad dressing
Fresh basil, cut into thin slices
Toothpicks
Cut the mozzarella into cubes about the size of your tomatoes. Marinate in the dressing for 30-60 minutes. Cut your tomatoes in half (unless they are already very small). Skewer a tomato and cheese cube on a toothpick. After arranging on your serving platter, sprinkle with the basil.
Delicious!
This is an easy salad and always a crowd pleaser. Balsamic glaze is so concentrated and sweet. The perfect accent to tomatoes. I simply cut up my tomatoes and toss with extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle or two of balsamic glaze. Add some kosher salt and black pepper, give it one more toss, and you're done! The glaze is also good on bruschetta or a caprese salad.
Like everywhere else, it's been a hot, dry summer. Keeping the plants watered and happy has been tough. But we're starting to see lots of red, ripe cherry tomatoes. We just had some tonight, roasted in the oven with olive oil and garlic, then tossed with angel hair pasta. Topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese... yum! Easy and delicious.
I'm anxiously awaiting for the Beefsteaks and Big Boys to ripen. I can't wait to have a BLT or slice one and sprinkle with some salt and pepper.
Check these roma tomatoes out! They're a hybrid variety named Big Mama Hybrid. They look like peppers with their pointy bottom:
Happy Gardening ♥
I try to plan our most of our meals for the week on Sunday. It makes it easier when I come home from work knowing that I have what I need. And now I'm planning my meals around tomatoes. I thought I'd share a few of my favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes ~ nothing too fancy here, just good food with fresh ingredients! I'd love to hear your favorites too!
- Pasta with Garlic and Tomato - heat light olive oil in a pan and saute fresh chopped garlic until fragrant (be careful not to let brown). Add in cherry or grape tomatoes which have been cut in half. Saute for a few minutes until tomatoes start to wilt a bit. Add in cooked angel hair pasta. Toss with your favorite cheese - we like either feta or parmesan. This is also good with canned artichokes added in too.
- BLT - I can't resits making a BLT with fresh beefsteak tomato slices. It reminds me of a diner up in Rogers City, Michigan that we used to go to when visiting my Aunt. They made the best BLTs and hashbrowns. Nothing beats comfort food at a diner!
- Caprese Salad - layer slices of fresh mozzerella and tomato. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle kosher salt and black pepper. Top with a few sprigs of basil. Perfect on a hot summer day! Or, just a big tomato slice sprinkled with salt and pepper. Yum!
