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tomatoes

maryjay51
maryjay51 Posts: 742
edited December 2024 in Recipes
i went over board and built a huge garden this year for the first time in way over a decade.. i planted 27 tomato plants . you have no clue how many tomatoes i have .. i been cutting them up and putting them in freezer bags .. i dont do that canning thing..giving them away and eating them every single day..trying to figure out some different ways to use tomatoes now ..anyone have any creative tomato ideas out there?

Replies

  • domgirl85
    domgirl85 Posts: 295 Member
    Sauces and soups (you can freeze them for later).
  • bump
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    We LOVE tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches!
    You can make tomato sauce or soup and freeze it without having to do all that canning rigamarole.
    Bruschetta is awesome, too.
  • Drussander
    Drussander Posts: 266 Member
    try canning them.
  • Ravenesque_
    Ravenesque_ Posts: 257 Member
    chutney?

    Stuff em full of things and roast em?
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    Don't freeze them, tomatoes turn to mush when thawed. Best to can them, make tomato sauce, or give them away to someone who could use them.
  • lorelei105
    lorelei105 Posts: 39 Member
    I need to hear the answers to this question, I am in the same boat! I have about 30 tomatoes as well as many cups of cherry tomatoes sitting on my counter now! I just bought some cilantro and serrano peppers to make some salsa; I thought it would probably be fine to make a huge batch and freeze it. I would love to hear some ideas on what to do with the rest!
  • lorelei105
    lorelei105 Posts: 39 Member
    Don't freeze them, tomatoes turn to mush when thawed. Best to can them, make tomato sauce, or give them away to someone who could use them.

    So I'm guessing my idea to make salsa and freeze it is a no-go? bummer.
  • AMHouse85
    AMHouse85 Posts: 285 Member
    I have been using the tomatoes and peppers from my garden to make Shakshuka.

    http://www.katherinemartinelli.com/blog/2012/shakshuka-israel-to-go/
  • TinaBaily
    TinaBaily Posts: 792 Member
    Canning isn't all that difficult if you have the basic tools for it. But, you aren't asking about that, so I'll offer up an idea or two for your tomatoes.

    zucchini tomato casserole: alternate 1/4 inch thin slices of zucchini and tomatoes and finely diced onions in a casserole dish until it's filled to the top. You can microwave it or bake it, and top with your choice of cheese when done. Scrumptious, and uses your zucchini as well as tomatoes.

    broiled cheesy tomatoes: slice the tomatoes thickly (about 1/2 inch thick), put on a pan with cooking spray, top with mozzarella and Italian seasoning, place under broiler until cheese browns. Enjoy! I could easily eat 3 or 4 whole tomatoes this way.

    Tomato cucumber salad (you'll have to look that up)

    Someone above said sauces--it takes a lot of tomatoes to make a good sauce, so you could do that. I bought 3 cases of tomatoes last year and canned a lot of them. I also canned spaghetti sauce and tomato soup. You could always freeze it if you prefer not to can it.
  • I did this, lol my garden is about half an acre(didn't have time for it this season, but will next!) and I always plant too many tomato plants, but y'know what ? I freaking LOVE tomatos(except if I eat too many the acid in them gives me a problematic skin rash) but I put them on everything! Dice them and put them in an omelet, slice them and put them on sandwiches or just next to sliced meat, you can put them in salsa or tacos, wraps and salads!
  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    Don't freeze them, tomatoes turn to mush when thawed. Best to can them, make tomato sauce, or give them away to someone who could use them.

    So I'm guessing my idea to make salsa and freeze it is a no-go? bummer.

    Have a fiesta! Make someone else bring the HUGE bag of chips :)
  • TinaBaily
    TinaBaily Posts: 792 Member
    Don't freeze them, tomatoes turn to mush when thawed. Best to can them, make tomato sauce, or give them away to someone who could use them.

    So I'm guessing my idea to make salsa and freeze it is a no-go? bummer.

    If you don't mind soft salsa, it's okay to freeze it. I froze 3 gallon sized baggies of roma tomatoes cut in half last year when I ran out of ambition and jars when canning 3 cases of them. LOL I use the frozen tomatoes in soups and stews. I just toss in a few halves and the heat cooks them for me. It's added nutrition and tastes good, too.
  • marsellient
    marsellient Posts: 591 Member
    I freeze tomatoes, the San Marzano or Roma types, but others would freeze too. They're fine for stews, soups and sauce. When you thaw them the skins slip off easily. Use them before they totally thaw and if you do thaw them, use the liquid. For sauce I just throw them in a pot frozen and cook them down, then put it all through a food mill to remove the skins and seeds, return to the pot and add whatever I want.
  • MILFdoesabodyGd
    MILFdoesabodyGd Posts: 347 Member
    bruschetta

    salsa

    tomato & hard boiled egg sandwiches (sounds odd but it's good)

    caprese salad (fresh mozarella, fresh basil, tomatoes, balsamic glaze and/or olive oil)
  • KarenAnnne
    KarenAnnne Posts: 190 Member
    #1 Is I have to say congratulations:) My husband and I are avid gardeners and have been planting at least 30 varieties of tomatoes a season for years. Normally we get many many tomatoes. We share them with family and friends. We make salsa, tomato sauces and just can them for winter.

    #2 can you send me some???

    Back story: we live in Missouri and have suffered from a severe draught. Even though we watered everyday, cultivated, weeded and did all of the things we were successful in the past, our tomatoes were cr@#!

    Count your blessings:)
  • oh wow you guys are awesome..im grabbing some great ideas .. freezing them i use them for soups , sauce and other cooking ideas.. LOVE salsa party idea! i have zucchini too so i will definitely be doing some of these ideas
  • lorelei105
    lorelei105 Posts: 39 Member
    oh wow you guys are awesome..im grabbing some great ideas .. freezing them i use them for soups , sauce and other cooking ideas.. LOVE salsa party idea! i have zucchini too so i will definitely be doing some of these ideas

    Yes, lots of great ideas thank you! I think this actually gave me the motivation to do some canning this year. So instead of being a lazy bum and freezing my tomatoes and ending up with soggy salsa, I am off to foodgawker.com to get some good ideas for sauces, soups, and salsa. I'll post back if I find any good recipes.
  • lorelei105
    lorelei105 Posts: 39 Member
    http://www.henryhappened.com/recipe-how-to-make-sun-dried-tomatoes.html

    ^ guys, this recipe looks pretty awesome. It's a tutorial on how to make sun dried tomatoes in the oven. So cool! I didn't even know you could do that.
  • yes i forgot i have a food dehydrator ... you just reminded me to bring it out to dehydrate tomatoes
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    I will eat tomatoes until ill! Dry them, stew them, share them!
  • SuffolkSally
    SuffolkSally Posts: 964 Member
    Fresh tomatoes won't freeze well, but you could make batches of sauces and salsaa, and make lots of plain tomato puree by putting them in a pan and reducing, then straining and reducing again. Freeze in usable size portions. That will be a great base for soups, stews, chilli's, bolognaise etc.

    What about bottling rather than canning - make your own chutney and ketchup, which apart for your use you could give as Christmas gifts.
This discussion has been closed.