Okay, so it isn’t quite the invasion of the killer tomatoes, as these are all delicious, especially when eaten directly off the plants, whilst still warm from the sun. But having said that they are, after a slow start, coming thick and fast.
We went down to the allotment at the end of last week and pick just a handful of ripe tomatoes, a few green ones had fallen, so they were left of the table there to see if they would ripen off in the sun, but off the vine. A few days later and there was a trug full. It wasn’t just tomatoes we were bringing back either…
Of course this meant Sunday was mainly spent in the kitchen, using up as much as I could.
First things first and the knives are out, there was a lot of chopping and slicing to be done. With a really good, sharp knife this is actually quite a nice wee job, especially when there is something decent to listen to whilst working away. Before too long I had two pots bubbling away on the hob.
The left hand pot was to be a yellow courgette and tomato relish, a new recipe, but one which would use up that random piece of ginger lurking in the fridge. The right hand pot the sweet courgette relish I’ve made on numerous occasions.
After bubbling away the mixture was looking thick and glossy, the colours were beautiful….. fingers crossed it tastes as good as it looked…..
Whilst the relishes were cooking away it was time to deal with the rest of the tomatoes. I’m lucky that both boys love their soup, so now is the time to stock up the freezer with homemade tomato soup.
Keeping life as simple as possible I opted to wash, halve and roast them in the oven. Just a drizzle of olive oil, a garlic clove, salt and pepper and just let them cook down and concentrate the flavour.
Whizzed up with some stock and the soup is ready for the freezer… well it would have been if the boys hadn’t decided to have it for dinner on Monday evening, when I was out.
Finally packed into sterilised jars and I have a new supply of relishes to store away or give away, I just hope the yellow courgette and tomato tastes as good as it looks.
I also made an attempt at a tomato and chilli jam… but I’m not convinced it has worked as I really wasn’t paying attention and I think I might have over cooked it – definitely one to try again, but with a little more attention being paid!
