Fresh summer recipes for your homegrown tomatoes

This is what you hand in mind when you started your tomato plants. Make ‘em proud while you whip up these simple summer recipes with your very own tomatoes. Bravo, gardener.

Great for company or just to enjoy as a snack.

Here’s how: 

Summer Bruschetta

½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
½ cup drained capers
1 Tbsp. chopped tarragon
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint
Salt
Pepper
¼ cup olive oil
1-2 large ripe tomatoes (from your garden!)
French bread, sliced and toasted

In a medium bowl, mix the parsley, capers, tarragon and mint. Add oil and toss. Dice tomatoes and add to herb mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes. Serve on warm, toasted slices of French bread.

 

Fresh Tomato Salsa

3 medium tomatoes (from your garden!)
¾ cup finely diced onion
2 Tbsp. finely chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, finely minced
½ jalapeno chile, seeded and finely chopped
¾ tsp. ground cumin
¾ tsp. dried oregano, crushed
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Cover and let stand at room temperature for one hour before serving. This is best served at room temperature, but leftovers should be refrigerated. Makes about 1½ cups.