So we shopped the local the farmer's market.
We had one sad little tomato from our garden. It was only partially pink, and had a mushy spot on one side and a brown spot on the other. What leaves the bugs and rabbits had left were wilting and turning yellow. (I guess I should have sprayed. It was an heirloom tomato, not resistant to much of anything.) It tasted wonderful, though.
The tomatoes in this picture looked wonderful on the back of that pickup at the farmer's market, but ended up a big disappointment. They were ripe red and beautiful, but just like grocery store tomatoes, had no taste. Next time I'm buying the ugliest ones I see.
Everything else was good though.
Young Yukon Gold potatoes, mmm. Cut up, mixed with a little olive oil and herbs, then roasted at 350°F (177°C) for about 45 minutes. I used McCormick's Italian Herb Seasoning Grinder because I was in a rush. But just plain thyme or rosemary with a little salt and pepper is good too. (Stir 3 or 4 times during cooking.)
Eggplants, mmm. I like the smaller ones. Slice and marinate in Italian dressing for about 30 minutes. (I like Newman's. All his stuff is great and is made with fresh ingredients.) Then coat with a mixture of corn meal, parmesan cheese, and salt & pepper. Bake at 350°F (177°C) until browned on top. (This will vary depending on how thick your slices are. But in general it takes 15 - 20 minutes.) Normally I like real shredded parmesan cheese instead of the powdery stuff in a can, but the powdery stuff actually mixes better with the corn meal.
12 comments:
Send summadat rain up Roundrock way! Also: vegetables.
Sorry to hear about the rain's havoc on your garden. Isn't it amazing how even Farmer's Market tomatoes look so good and yet have no taste whatsoever? it's true of broccoli too. Our homegrown broccoli is so flavorful. It does sound like you had a delicious veggie meal. Will have to try that eggplant dish-- especially like that it is baked. Yum.
Pablo I'd love to send you some of the rain. I feel like we've been averaging an inch a day. It's not really quite that bad, but almost. The other day, some areas got 6.7 inches in under an hour. Yow.
RD a lady at the farmer's market gave me that eggplant recipe last summer. They'd be smart to hand out recipe sheets with purchases I think!
BTW I've never managed to be successful growing broccoli. Maybe it just gets hot too fast here...? Or maybe it's my brown thumb. :)
Omigosh....now I'm hungry. I live in an area with lots of Italian grocery stores. Well, let's just say they're within 40 miles. HA. So I love the hard-as-a-rock and aged to perfection Parmesiano Reggiano cheese. Oh to die for. I think my cheese gene comes from living so close to Wisconsin. Did you hear that Farmer John?
Please, please send some of the rain our way. I'm afraid that much of the corn crop is already beyond hope, maybe not. There's a nearby field that would bring a farmer to tears. It's made worse by the fact that we haven't had any discernable snow for a couple years either. :^{
My tomatoes are in the same shape as yours- at least what few have been left by whatever critters are getting to them before we do, or haven't been beaten into the ground by rain and wind. BUT- we've been gatting the most wonderful tasty tomatoes at our farmer's market, along with beautiful okra, tiny little potatoes, absolutely the most mouth-watering peaches ever, hydroponic lettuce (I love getting freshly harvested leaf lettuce in the middle of summer). Your eggplant recipe sounds delish, but I can't get DH to eat eggplant no matter how I cook it....
The chipmunks usually get my tomatoes as they are ripening on the vine. I hope that my plants produce enough for all of us. Right now they are carrying a lot of green fruit, so I have been eating them fried. I haven't tried growing heirloom tomatoes- too afraid of failure, I guess, since the regular kind is difficult enough with all the pests after them. I placed some marigolds at the bottom of each plant this summer - maybe that will help with bugs.
oh YUM!!! eggplant is one of my very most favorites. also haven't had a good tomatoey tomato since i left the east coast.
My sister in law read our tomato woes here and brought us some nice tomatoes! :)
I love roasted Yukon potatoes. I simply must try the eggplant recipe. YUM!
Of course, we haven't had any rain for weeks until this past weekend when we went camping! If tomatoes had faces, ours would be sad. (And dehydrated.)
oh now that looks yummy!
Hick I tried for more potatoes at the FM this weekend, but we got there too late I guess. No joy.
Trix it must be like the old washing the car trick! I think we've gotten the last of our tomatoes for this year, unless they surprise me and put on some more leaves.
Thanks Jenni.
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