10 Things to do with Tomatoes
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With tomatoes coming in more and more every day around my house, I thought I would share some ideas on what to do with them with you today.
I hope you planted tomatoes this year! I strongly encourage you to grow however much of your own food as you possibly can and in many parts of the country it is not too late to get a late summer garden in. You will be glad you did this fall when you see how high our food prices will be going (yes, in addition to the heights they have already reached).
Are Tomatoes Fruits or Vegetable?
Well it depends on who you ask. If you ask a botanist who knows the criteria regarding what makes a fruit a fruit, then tomatoes are actually fruits, not vegetables.
Bottom line (I guess) is fruits contain seeds, while vegetables typically don’t have seeds and consist mainly of roots, stems and leaves.
For me it really doesn’t matter much… I just want to enjoy these little beauties with a lovely meal. Now go get you some tomatoes and enjoy them in these 10 different ways…
Here are a few of my favorite things to do with tomatoes:
Freezing Tomatoes
Freezing tomatoes is an incredibly simple way to put them up. It’s fast, easy, and requires no special equipment. You will be rewarded with garden fresh taste when you use them in soups and stews this fall. There is nothing like it! Try my family’s chicken stew, my chili, this phenomenal goulash, or even add them to store bought spaghetti sauce to liven up the flavor!
I have been making tomato chips almost daily for several weeks now because we eat them just as fast as I can get them made! This simple method yields a deliciously crisp chip that can be eaten as a snack or tossed in soups and stews to rehydrate and serve like you would traditional stewed tomatoes.
This is a very common lunch for me during tomato season. I slice fresh tomatoes, add a few simple ingredients, and eat until I’m floundered! They are just that good!
Make Tomato Pie!
Tomato pie is a wonderful side dish that can also double as a meal in itself!
Make Tomato and Cucumber Salad!
This is one of my favorite salads to bring to family reunions, summer potlucks, or to eat pretty much year round.
It’s always best with garden fresh tomatoes though.
Make Slow Cooker Tacos
This is an easily customizable meal using whatever veggies your garden is currently giving you. Yesterday I made it and doubled the tomatoes, used fresh squash from a neighbor and paired it with the other simple ingredients and seasonings for a fresh and filling home cooked meal in one!
Corn relish is good on pretty much anything but I especially enjoy it on top of a bowl of pinto beans or served alongside fresh cornbread. This also makes a great Christmas gift to anyone who would enjoy a little taste of summer during the winter months. 
Tomatoes and Okra
This four-ingredient tomatoes and okra recipe with crispy bacon and tender onion will knock your socks off. I mean you did see bacon in the title, right?!
Fried Green tomatoes are as Southern as Sweet tea, and for good reason! If you have any unripened tomatoes or harder than usual red ones, use this recipe to make one Jim Dandy of a side dish!
Greek Chicken Tacos
Fresh chopped tomatoes are always wonderful served atop tacos. This recipe combines them with fresh herbs to make a delicious topping on Greek Chicken Tacos.
Share Them With Neighbors!
A tradition as old as gardens are, sharing bounty with neighbors fosters friendships and lends a helping hand as well. If you have a bountiful garden this year and know someone who doesn’t:
Too many Maters…. is there even such a thing?
Our garden is doing great. Our tomatoes are just beginning to come in. I can’t wait to try all of your wonderful ideas! Thanks for sharing.
My dad plants a garden every year…even though every fall he says he not going to plant one the next year:) Thank goodness he does. Right now, he and the squirrels are battling to see who will get the most corn!
Hi Christy,
I am so excited with my garden! It’s the first one I have planted in over ten years and so pleased with how everything is coming along. I saw my first baby summer squash peaking out yesterday and there are tiny peppers and tomatoes on their plants. My green beans have huge healthy leaves and blossoms. I also have a border of the smaller variety of sunflowers in the back row with some sugar pumpkins, cucumbers that I am experimenting with vertical growing and zucchini. I have been weeding like a mad woman every morning before it gets too hot and it’s starting to pay off. Btw I live in MA. Thank you Christy for all your great tips and recipes. I have both of your books on ibooks and have been making your sweet tea almost every day 🙂
I don’t have the space for a garden but I love tomatoes.I have three tomato plants in large pots on my porch ,one banana pepper plant and one cucumber.When the season first started one of my tomato plants had large tomatoes on it ,but sad to say it had blossum rot on each one.I cut those off limbs and all,dug down into the dirt a little bit and put a handful of Epsom salts in the hole.Praise the Lord,the rest of the tomatoes were healthy rip and very tasty with no blights of any kind.Just thought someone might need to know this. Sometimes our plants need medical help too lol.Did I mention I’m a retired nurse after 30+ years?All those years taking care of people and now I’m working on plants.haha
Love to make salsa, too. Happy Birthday, Southern Plate
Thank you Kathy!
Haven’t gotten as many, the weather is too hot here in NC. I have enjoyed the 5 or so we have gotten off the vines. Nothing beats a home grown tomato to make a sandwich. 🙂 🙂
🙂