Hi everyone! Today we have silly post abut tomatoes and green tomato vine scent. LOL, I've been saving tomato stuff all summer. It all started with Trader Joe's Tomato Leaf scented candles last spring. My friend and I went crazy stocking up, discovering our shared love of the weirdly evocative, enchanting ''summer in Daddy's garden'' scent.
Even Mrs Meyer's did a special edition scent. [That has no scent but cleans nicely!]. I ordered a bottle for each of us.
We reminisced fondly about the lovely first time we ever smelled a vine candle. www.afinefarmhouse.com used to make them. Love the label. HERE
Bath and Body Works has the scent this year--but hate the jar, eeew.
So I made a candle, my first ever handmade candle.
A kit I found online. You guys know how I love trying new crafts and esp love a fun kit. I'll add a link later.
This craft is esp cool bec it lets the maker use their own jar or crock. Great way to reuse those endless too pretty to toss candle jars.
90 seconds in the microwave and there ya go, a handmade green tomato vine candle.
*********************
I've also been enjoying the heirloom tomatoes at the farmers market and local grocery.
One made it into my nature journal! [not finished or quit while I'm ahead?]
Inspired by the beautiful work of @laragastinger on IG
*****************
I love these tomatoes on a simple ''rustic tart":
Store bought crusts always in the freezer. Any brand, Iusually get Pillsbury. They come in a roll, you need to defrost and use your own baking tray. Sautee a very large sweet onion until it starts to caramelize.
Meanwhile slice your tomatoes and lay out on paper towels to soak up some of their wetness.
Layer t onions, sprinkles of goat cheese the tomatoes with a few pinches of sugar, lots of fresh black pepper, lots of herbs fresh if poss. More goat cheese on top. If you hate goat cheese use mozzarella or ricotta, or feta, or?
I'm very partial to tarragon and and a little basil, put what you like. Fold in crust edges for that handmade casual look. Bake 375*F about 25min, until crust browns and tomatoes are softened. Near end you can sprinkle on some crumbled bacon, if desired; and a dash of fresh grated parm give a good nutty nuance.
I like the tart served warm with a big green salad and/or buttered corn on/off the cob. Good next day at ''cocktail time'' just bring to room temp.
...........................
And of course, sewing tomatoes! I have missed out recently twice on tomato sales by @inwiththeold. Shop here And these are from another favorite IG person:
A few of mine below
....................................
Do you grow tomatoes? I wish could . Here the wind and salt air make the skins tough as old shoe leather My dad grew them in masses. He'd always pick and save green unripe beefsteaks for me, and wrap them in newspaper to put in my suitcase to fly home after an August visit home to Illinois. Cannot imagine what the travel security folks would think of that nowadays.
It's a beautiful day! A Ten Best Day. Mo and I are headed out to sew bindings on quilts. Back soon.
ps sorry I didn't answer comments last week, I love comments. Was a bit frazzled after IV treatment and real life....
love
lizzy
gone to the beach....
clouds for Nancy and you all.
I don't know what these are called. Just regular old Cirrus?
H Erin pic from a friend. A one point all access to beaches was closed even for walking, due to very high surf and flooding.
.jpg)
I forgot the very best tomato recipe. . Fried tomatoes with cream gravy. Just dredge the sliced tomatoes in seasoned flour. Red or green tomatoes is fine Fry I bacon grease or butter or olive oil. Bacon grease makes best crispy bits for the gravy tho.
ReplyDeleteServe w corn on the cob picked an hour before. Meatless meal. A once a summer treat!
love
lizzy
Your tomato tart looks luscious, is that a bit of cheddar cheese I see in the pre-baked photo? Our tomatoes are just beginning to ripen, and I ended up picking the partially ripe ones to finish on the windowsill, otherwise the deer are likely to devour all of them. It's a battle I tell you! Cool days and cold nights this week. Low tonight around 42 degrees if we're lucky. A two quilt night, which makes sleeping a lot easier for me.
ReplyDeleteYes a bit of leftover cheddar. I put whatever I have in the tarts. I made one w squash instead of tomatoes too. Next week maybe pears or plums?
DeleteThe deer! There's a guy on IG built a 10 foot high fence around approx an acre farm garden--to keep out the deer. Never said later if it worked tho. Indoor ripening will do just fine, I know you're an expert.
Two quilt nights sound delightful! Best I can hope for is 70* and a easterly breeze.
I agree, the tomato tart looks fab. I am currently on a nil by mouth regime but don't feel hungry. I grow tomatoes in my greenhouse and have had a good crop this year.
ReplyDeleteThe tomato/ any veg tart is so good, tho you'd prob make your own crust. I find the frozen ones okay and then I actually make the tart, when no way would I make it from scratch.
DeleteNo one seems to do greenhouses or poly tunnels here, or where I grew up. Not sure why--long growing season, hot temps, not needed? And here, lack of space. But then you got a great tomato crop.
I'm so sorry you have been ill, hope you went home today and feel better.
love
lizzy
Love all the tomato stuff;))) That tart looks sooo good!! My tomatoes that ripened have very tough skins this year!!
ReplyDeleteVery disappointed...;((((
Your sewing tomato pin cushion collection is
so neat!!
49 here this morning--pretty chilly for August...
need that little jacket ,,,
Hugs for a good rest of the week Julierose
Google says tough tomatos are caused by too much intense sun w too much heat. Sounds like this summer. It suggests giving the plants shade in the afternoons.
DeleteTomato candles?? Who knew??! I love fresh grown tomatoes, so get mine at the local produce stand nearby.
ReplyDeleteOh my, all those tomatoes! I don’t grow them because the voles eat the roots but I did buy some beauties this week to make a tomato, mozzarella, basil salad.
ReplyDeleteOh yum! A fave summer treat.
Deletetart looks very yummy...i recently flew home with 2 pints frozen chopped clams...cant get them in maryland...
ReplyDeleteYou are very brave w the clams, even frozen. I hope they traveled well? Carry on or checked?
DeleteThat tart looks delicious - I wonder if Mr. Pickypants would eat one? We have lots of tomatoes and though he helps me can, I think the hubby is getting sick of it. (I still want to do more - use em up!) I planted my garden where the chicken coop was (20+ years ago) and my plants went wild. No complaints. I love tomatoes, but not enough to have candles that smell like the plants!
ReplyDeleteYour tomato crop sounds amazing, I'd be thrilled. Could you freeze the excess tomatoes? That's what my friend did the first year he gardened and had masses of everything, including tomatoes. I don 't think he even blanched or peeled then, just chopped for tomato sauce makings when needed [in the blender on chop cycle].
DeleteI'm so far behind it's awful, but I got a chance to read this after getting granddaughter to school this morning. I often wish I could reach through the internet and snitch a taste of what you've been cooking! That tart looks yummy. I've never made one. Maybe sometime I'll get brave. They look good! I miss garden tomatoes. Store bought just doesn't compare.
ReplyDelete~ Melody
Mel, I emailed but not sure I used the right email. Send me a quick note for me to check, pls.
DeleteNext year you and K & D can grow your own tomatoes! Yum!
Congrats on making your first candle. The microwave made it so easy! One of my memories of candle making involves melting wax in a pan over hot water in a pan could never be used for anything else again. So glad it went so well for you.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm just not a tomato lover, though the rest of my family is. I don't like the flavor or texture of tomatoes or the smell of the vine. Nothing about tomatoes do I like--except tomato ketchup and tomato soup, pasta sauce and pizza sauce. My family all thinks it's very strange. (And, well, I do also enjoy tomato pin cushions.)
Ohh, I love your painting!
summer treat
ReplyDelete