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 Posted By: spiceplace 
Aug 16  # 1 of 49
TOMATOES
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It is tomato season and there is so much you can do with tomatoes! Not only are they used by most cultures because of their wonderful taste, but tomatoes produce lycopene, which is known to fight cancer.

Originating in the South American Andes, tomatoes were once considered to be an aphrodisiac; and in Italy they are called pomo amoris - or "love apple".

Classified as a fruit because of its seeds (like eggplant is also classified) the tomato has got to be one of the most healthy-for-you foods there is!

Tomatoes can be eaten plain, in salads, added to any meat, fish, pasta, rice, bread, soup, stew, etc. recipe. They can be canned, frozen, made into relishes and ketchup and used as condiments. They are even eaten before they are ripe as in Fried Green Tomatoes!

Share some of your favorite recipes/dishes with us so that we can also try them!


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 Posted By: spiceplace 
Aug 16  # 2 of 49
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I had this for lunch today.

For each sandwich:
  • 2 - 3 slices of cooked bacon (I like mine baked at 350 deg for 10 - 15 minutes)
  • 2-3 leafs lettuce
  • 1 - 2 slices of a large, summer fresh tomato
  • 2 slices toast
  • mayonnaise
Instructions:
Toast bread, butter with mayonnaise, then top with bacon slices which have been cut in half, tomato, lettuce. Salt and pepper as desired.

Serve with a pickle and potato chips.
Post
 Posted By: Mama Mangia 
Aug 16  # 3 of 49
OMG those tomatoes look like heaven! I am such a tomato person! How about this:

Tomatoes Stuffed with Couscous


1 cup regular couscous
6 large firm ripe red tomatoes
Salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 clove garlic -- peeled and minced

FILLING
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped orange bell pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
6 green onions -- finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint - I like to substitute basil for mint
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Bring to a boil 2 cups water in a medium-size saucepan. Add couscous and stir. Boil again, lower beat and cover. Simmer until all water has been absorbed. Stir to fluff, remove from heat and allow to stand 5 minutes. Cool in refrigerator.

Cut a 1/2 inch slice off the top of each tomato from the stem end. Discard seeds, remove pulp with a spoon, and chop pulp into small pieces. Set pulp aside for the filling. Lightly sprinkle tomato shell with salt and place upside down on a cookie sheet for approximately 10 minutes to drain its liquid. Mix together olive oil, Tabasco sauce, and garlic. Turn tomato shells upright and drizzle them with olive oil mixture.

When couscous is cold, toss green, orange and red peppers, green onions, parsley, and mint together with couscous. Add reserved tomato pulp, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss again and taste for seasoning. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each tomato to keep them from rolling. Spoon filling into each prepared tomato shell. Garnish with a sprig of parsley and serve.


You can give it some zing by brushing the inside of the tomate shell with some Tabasco. A bit too strong for me!


Make it a meal and enjoy it with some garlic bread!
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 Posted By: Mama Mangia 
Aug 16  # 4 of 49
hmmmmmmm - you made BLT's and didn't invite us????
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 Posted By: KYHeirloomer 
Aug 16  # 5 of 49
Here's a dish that they'll think you slaved over, but it really just takes a few minutes.

Zesty Tomato Shorcakes

2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
3 green onions, sliced thin
2 tbls slivered basil
2 tbls parsley, chopped
2 tbls balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste

6 corn biscuits
Avocado cream topping

Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Set aside, allowing flavors to blend, at least two hours.

Split each biscuit in half. Layer the bottom half with tomato mixture and a dollop of cream topping. Layer with biscuit top, more tomato mixture, and another spoonful of topping.

Avocado Cream Topping

1/2 large ripe avocado
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tbls lime juice
pinch sugar
salt to taste

Mash avocado in a small bowl. Add sour cream, milk, lime juice, sugar and salt and whisk until smooth.