So my garden is currently producing more tomatoes than I can handle. Any ideas what I can do with them?

Question

So my garden is currently producing more tomatoes than I can handle. Any ideas what I can do with them?

Answer 1

How about some tomato ketchup?

Ridiculous, you say? I thought so too, until I made my first batch. Much better than the stuff you can get in a store. Healthier too, by far.

Here goes:

(Makes about 1 1/2 lbs (600 grams) ketchup)



INGREDIENTS:

4 lbs ripe tomatoes  

1 lbs red onion, peeled and diced

2 -3 celery sticks, diced

½ chili pepper, sliced (more or less according to taste)

1 inch ginger root, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

1 teaspoon ground cloves  

Seeds from two cardamom pods  

  (You can usually get this in the ethnic foods aisle at your grocery store, and it adds a nice, special taste, but if you have difficulty finding it, just leave it out)

A pinch of freshly ground nutmeg

A pinch of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 ¼ cups cider vinegar

1 cup sugar (more or less according to taste)

    

PREPARATION:  

Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for a few seconds, and remove skin

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor

Transfer to suitably sized cooking pot and bring to a boil over medium heat, and then simmer on low heat, with no cover, for 45 - 60 minutes

Strain the ketchup into a separate bowl to get rid of all the lumpy bits

Return to cooking pot, re-heat and simmer over low heat, stirring

occasionally until the ketchup reaches the required consistency. This should take about 2 hours, but can vary according to the size of the cooking pot and heat level.

Transfer the ketchup to sterilized storage jars while it is still hot.  

Sealed and stored in an airtight food saver container such as a preservative jar or a ziplock storage bag, the ketchup should keep for at least three months. Once opened, store in a refrigerator

Don't forget to let me know how you made out

Dan

Answer 2

You could can them, make sauce with them or donate to your local food bank.

Answer 3

Give some to family, neighbors and friends.

Answer 4

Make stuff with them for yourself or sell them!

I saw some tomatoe and chili chutney recently, maybe you could try that?

Answer 5

STUFFED TOMATOES

4 beefsteak tomatoes

¾ cup breadcrumbs

¼ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons chopped parsley

Extra virgin olive oil as needed

Salt and pepper to taste

             Preheat the oven to 375.  Cut the tomatoes horizontally near the top to create an opening.  With a teaspoon, scoop out the seeds.  Salt the inside of the tomatoes liberally and turn them upside down on paper towels for 15 minutes or so to drain.  Mix all of the stuffing ingredients except the olive oil.  Once the dry ingredients are combined add the olive oil until the bread crumb mixture is thoroughly moistened.  Fill the tomatoes and place them in an oiled baking dish.  Drizzle additional oil on the tops of the tomatoes.  Bake for 5-10 minutes or until the filling is golden.  

http://www.foodforthoughtonline.net/

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Answer 6

TOMATOE FIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

   you can make sauce, puree, salad,achar, chutney, & delicious soups of these fresh tomatoes.try them &enjoy life.

Answer 8

You can pick them while green, wrap in newspaper, store in dark basement or garage where they will ripen slowly.

Or, pick them green and make fried green tomatoes.

Answer 9

You got friends and family I assume. Based on that assumption I say give them to friends and family.

If no friends and family give them to the salvation army or a food bank.

Answer 10

I have the most incredible tomato soup recipe!! It's a favorite at my house. The best thing about it is that it's best made with the tomatoes that are mushy and will go bad soon. Firm, ripe tomatoes just don't taste good in this soup.  It has some odd ingredients, but I promise you, it is so good and so incredibly healthy!!! Not to mention, easy.

Fresh Tomato Soup-

This version is chunky, but you can puree it if you like. Garnishing ideas: fat free sour cream, fat free plain yogurt, lemon or lime wedges, chopped jalapeno peppers, or croutons. For extra spice, add a dash of hot pepper sauce.

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups vegetable stock, water, or chicken broth

5 large ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

1 stalk celery with leafy top, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon packed brown sugar

juice of 1/2 lemon

salt (optional)

8 large fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

1. Place the flour in a large no-stick pot. Gradually whisk in the stock or water until smooth. Add the tomatoes, onions, celery, garlic, oregano, and brown sugar.

2. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the soup almost comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the lemon juice and season to taste with the salt (if using). Sprinkly with the basil just before serving.

(from the cookbook "Fabulous Fat Free Cooking" by Lynn Fischer

Answer 11

Well, you can do as I am doing, Canning them, make green tomato relish and can it, or make salsa and can it. Or give tomatoes  to your neighbors, and friends at work. Oh..and if you have little tommy toes tomatoes (salad tomatoes some call them) you can put them in a freezer bag and freeze them whole too..they are great to thaw out and add to sauces, or soups!

We planted our garden late and its still doing great!

Answer 12

tomatoe sauce

tomatoe and red peper dip

tomatoe and basil soup

tomatoes stuffed with chesse and chive

try bbc food for idears

Answer 13

make a big batch of sauce and freeze it for up to 3-4 months

stuff them with crabmeat and breadcrumbs and bake them

slice them and make tomatos basil mozzerella salad

bruschetta - chop up and mix with onions and spices and serve on crusty bread

Answer 14

You could donate some to a homeless shelter.  They are always looking for great things like that.  Call first to see if they will take some.

Caprese Salad is perfect with fresh tomatoes.

Salsa Mexicana would be another option.  Make a double or triple batch and give some to your family and friends.  My recipe is at:

http://www.cooking-is-easy-and-fun.com/S...

Answer 15

Give some away to family and friends or neighbors.Put some away to use later in the year.I have included some links below on how to preserve them for later use.

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze/toma...

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/he1...

http://homeparents.about.com/cs/recipesc...