What do you do with tomatoes?

[mamab]

I've seen lots of tomatoes at the local fruit/vegetable stands, and the prices are pretty reasonable ($5.00 a box). I'd love to get some and try some new things with them, but have no ideas what.

They talked about tomatoes at www.familyfoodnetwork.com today, and I actually learned some things.

Do you have recipes that use tomatoes in a different way that just canning them or making sauce?

[Bilby]

I like tomatoes in salads: diced tomato, diced cucumber, with finely chopped onion, parsley, before putting a bit of french dressing in (I drain the tomato juice off before fr dressing).
Salsa as per above really (omit the cuke and fr dressing) but cooking/simmering first, adding tomato past herbs and tobasco or chillies, for dips or add some processed baked beans and use in nachos or over whole potatoes (boiled or baked). Add creamed corn and make a sort of easy relish.
I like them cut in half and grilled with cheese and herbs on top. OR
Scoop out the centres and stuff with a cooked rice mix or a stuffing mix or cheese bacon and the chopped tomato flesh and put on a baking tray and cook until tender.
I slice tomatoes across the top of a meat loaf and top with cheese
Or on top of crumbed/pan fried chicken : when you turn over to the second side to cook add thin slices of tomato and cheese of your choice with some chopped shallots
Mmmm that's all that comes to mind at the moment, any help? I love it when tomatoes are cheap.

[cat lover]

I like to make a large pot of homemade stewed tomatoes; basically chopped tomatoes, diced green pepper & onions and some sugar and cook down some then add crushed saltine crackers to absorb some of the liquid, but not all of it.
We love tomato sandwiches on whole wheat bread!
Stuff with chicken or tuna salad.
Just in different types of tossed salads
I also freeze bags of chopped tomatoes and use them through the winter in recipes instead of bought canned tomatoes.
Take some small slices of a hard bread, sprinkle with olive oil, a slice of mozzarealla cheese, slice of tomato and broil just till cheese melts; makes a nice appetizer

[strmywthr3]

This recipe from Eatingwell.com sounds yummy. I'm going to try it soon. I've got lots of tomatoes ripening in the garden.

http://eatingwell.com/recipes/parmesan_tomato.html

[strmywthr3]

this is another good one from eatingwell.com. I used basil instead of parsely, omitted the peas and used white onions. very very delicious!!

http://eatingwell.com/recipes/search.php?id=994

[ajrsmom]

Chop a couple into large chunks and mix with 1/2 of a lg. eggplant that has been chunked. Drizzle liberaly with Olive Oil and spread out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle Italian seasonings all over.

Bake until eggplant is semi soft , then slide pan under the broiler to brown.

YUMMY!!

I also take this same mixture and pour a red wine vinegarette recipe of mine on top of it!! :)

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I am such a tomato-a-holic! I like them stewed, raw, fried and green, and any ol way. Just this week, I made some ratatouille, which is very tomato-ey.

[echos]

I just blanch all the xtras and throw em in a bag and <freeze>, These make great sauces in the wintertime.

[tater03]

Thank you for asking this question. There are some great suggestions here. I have tomato's coming out the ying yang. I planted some and the neighbors keep dropping some off on our doorstep when we are gone. It seems everyone that planted some around here are getting a ton this year.
I love to make just your basic tomato sandwich but that is not getting rid of them fast enough.

[echos]

I forgot to say , every year I dry my Roma tomatoes. These are just the thing on my pizzas in the winter, I love em.

[Bilby]

How do you dry your tomatoes Echos? How do you store them?

[tater03]

I would like to know how you dry them also? That sounds like a great idea and I bet they are great on pizza. Thanks

[cat lover]

Hmm, I dry some tomatoes and store them in glass jars, but how do you use them on your pizzas? Do you place them on it dry or rehydrate them?