FLOUR.........NOT THIS TIME
Well, there won't be any usage of flour this time. I'm still in a tomato kind of mood. I know it's August and students are getting ready to return to school, etc., but there are still tomatoes out there...good tomatoes. I just want to chime in on a few ways to use your tomatoes.
1.
Cucumbers, Onion, and Tomatoes - I remember when I was very young, standing over a bowl of sliced cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes that had been marinating in a vinegar/sugar/water solution. My grandma caught me and did not say a word (as she was prone to spoil us anyway). She just laughed. I guess realizing that a young child will willingly eat slices of raw tomato and cucumber, not to mention onion was victory enough in the child-rearing department to not tell my mom. Anyway, if you haven't tried this side dish you should. All you do is slice as much cucumber, onion, and tomato that your family will eat. We always used a regular salad bowl as any leftovers will keep a couple days afterward. My grandma taught me to stir together one cup each of vinegar, sugar, and water. You should get the sugar dissolved in the vinegar first before adding the water. Let this sit in your refrigerator at least a couple of hours. As with other dishes, the longer it sits, the better it is.
2.
Okra, Corn, and Tomatoes - When I have told different people about this dish before, a few have replied, "Oh that's Succotash." That is exactly why my family never referred to this dish as such. A lot of Succotash recipes include lima beans and what we made does not. My grandma and mom both made this virtually the same starting with a large pot in which to cook about three or four slices of bacon that has been cut into smaller pieces. When the bacon is done, some of the grease can be removed at this point, even though I must admit I did not see this done when I was a young girl. To the cooked bacon and touch of grease, add your onion and saute briefly. Then next add your cut okra and cook with your onion for a couple of minutes. You will see that the okra will begin to soften and appear slimy. That is okay. Last to add is your corn and tomatoes. Now your quantities can be what you want. After the initial three to four slices of bacon, my mom would chop and add a whole onion, about three to four cups of cut okra, the kernels from five or six ears of corn, and she would peel and chop as many tomatoes to make this a full pot of vegetables. Some salt can be added, but not so much because of the bacon. However, a generous amount of pepper was always included. As you can tell, this method made a lot and we did eat it for days. This recipe can be frozen though and is just as good later on. There loved this so much there were times when we made Okra, Corn, and Tomatoes in the winter with canned and frozen vegetables.
3. Lastly I will tell you about
Tomato Preserves or
Tomato Jam. I have been looking for something different to sell at the Farmers' Market, even though I have heard of this, but never tasted it. The ingredients are simple: tomatoes, sugar, butter, and lemon slices. I made two different recipes. One added a dash of cinnamon. That one did not include Pectin, but took longer to cook. The other recipe did call for Pectin and was finished in less time, but seemed sweeter. I cut the sugar in BOTH recipes as one called for four cups and the other five. WAY TOO MUCH! Anyway, both taste sweet from the sugar and tangy from the lemon slices. What I have read suggests using Tomato Preserves or Jam on sandwiches or mixed with cream cheese for a dip. I am looking forward to trying both methods.
At left is a jar of my Tomato Jam. If you like fresh tomatoes in summer, but reach a point where you believe you can't eat another one the same way, look for ANOTHER way! All you have to do is ask around or search the Internet. The recipes are out there. In the meantime, ENJOY your tomatoes while they are fresh!
& FLOWER
I know we are not alone in having sky high temperatures in the last couple of weeks. High summer temps and humidity call for daily maintenance to make sure all your work does not die during these stressful times. So while I have been out dead heading and watering, I took some photos of a few flowers that have hung on rather well.
You would get the idea that I like the color pink for some reason by looking at the above Zinnias. No, that was just the luck of the draw there as I planted the seeds I collected from last year. With Zinnias and other seed packages, you get what you get. The reward comes in the vibrant colors and many butterflies and moths that the gardener gets to witness as the creatures enjoy what she planted. Zinnias were my very first kind of flower seed I ever sowed.
Another version of pink at right is my Phlox at right. It is kind of mottled from struggling from the recent summer swelter, but still holding on. Intertwined with it is my lavender that is more bush than flower. Rocking the orange color at left is one of my Zinnias again. It's good to clash colors every once in a while. Standing out gets you noticed.
Above is my Pineapple Sage. It has really performed well and smells divine. So far I have only appreciated it for its scent and floral tendencies. I get a whiff of tropical smell when I walk by or brush against it. I am really looking forward to its flowering still to come and its ability to attract hummingbirds.
First I got the pink coneflowers and enjoyed them for a few years. Yes, I believe I have a pink theme going. They return every year at the end of my perennial bed near our driveway. I like the cottage garden sense they bring to our landscape. It wasn't until about three or four years of their existence here that I realized there were other colors. So.....I opted for the off white neutral. I know. Quite a turnaround from pink, but they are on the west side and really pop over there with the wood mulch and green from the nearby shrubs and varigated Liriope.
Ah, Morning Glories! My grandmother always wanted these planted so they would climb the wooden fence that surrounded her backyard. There she could sit inside her screened-in back porch and see them every morning when she drank her coffee in the summer. Later on in the heat of the day the flowers would close until later in the evening when Grandma would go back to the porch. I couldn't resist taking this photo from another yard because it reminded me so much of her. I have Morning Glories planted on the east side, but they were not blooming at this particular time. If you want these climbers in your yard, make sure to keep an eye on them. They are pretty, but also invasive. If you don't have something for them to climb on they will do so on anything nearby, even your prized potted whatever, shrub, or tree!
