What else to do with tomatoes? Drink them of course!

Why drink them of course! So today is libations for “grown-ups!” 

Info From: http://health.ninemsn.com.au/dietandnutrition/nutrition/695213/two-tomatoes-a-day-can-keep-disease-away  Nutritionist to the stars, Philip Goglia, has his celebrity clients snacking on two full, raw tomatoes a day.
“It’s medically documented that the lycopene in tomatoes promotes fat metabolism and prostate health,” he says. “I tell my clients to snack on them throughout the day; with salt, pepper or mustard, or raw. Buy the reddest tomatoes you can find as they contain the most lycopene.

Why tomatoes are good for you: “Lycopene has been found to reduce the risk of prostate and lung cancer, while the incidence of digestive cancers, such as those of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, colon, intestines and rectum, may also be lowered with correct dosages of lycopene. It’s also known to be a strong anti-oxidant.”, Goglia says. “Red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruits and apricots, are the greatest source of lycopene.” he adds. “Processed tomato products such as tomato juice, tomato sauce, tomato paste and tomato soup are also great food sources for lycopene.”

Recommendation: Take one to two servings of lycopene-rich tomato or tomato products every day for maximum protection against cancers. Cooked tomato products (especially those cooked in olive oil) are the most beneficial. Lycopene is absorbed better if it has been heated.”

tomatoBotanical Beauties and Beasties says: No one said you couldn’t drink your 2 servings of fresh tomatoes! Bottoms up and 3 cheers for the hearty healthy tomato!

Todays tomato recipes are:
1) Alton Browns Bloody Mary Drink Recipe
2) Carnegie Sunrise Drink Recipe
3) Hot Tomato Drink Recipe
Shot glass

Alton Brown: Supplies this first one–  Bloody Mary (Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2009) Prep Time: 15 min Inactive Prep Time: 12 hr 0 min  Level: Easy   Serves: 4 cocktails

(“proper glass” is the shot or shooter glass)

Ingredients
▪    1 3/4 pounds cherry or grape tomatoes, rinsed and dried
▪    2 teaspoons hot sauce
▪    2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
▪    1 to 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
▪    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
▪    6 ounces tomato vodka, recipe follows
Directions

  • Remove the stems from the tomatoes. Put the tomatoes, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and salt into a blender, cover and blend on high speed for 1 1/2 minutes.
  • Fill an ice-cube tray with about 2 cups of the juice and freeze overnight. Pour the remaining juice into a lidded container and reserve, on the counter, overnight.
  • Just before serving, put 3 frozen cubes into each of 4 Collins glasses and add 1 1/2 ounces of vodka to each glass. Stir the reserved juice, pour 4 ounces into each glass and serve immediately.

Tomato Vodka:  1 pound ripe tomatoes and 1 (750 ml) bottle 80 proof vodka
Cut each of the tomatoes into 8 pieces and put them into a large glass jar. Add the vodka, stir to combine, and cover. Put in a cool, dark place for at least 5 days and up to 7 days, stirring every day. After 7 days, strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids.
To store, pour the tomato vodka back into its original bottle, and keep in a cool, dark place.

Yield: 1 (750 ml) bottle   Prep Time: 3 minutes    Inactive Prep Time: 5 to 7 days   Ease of preparation: easy

#2) Carnegie Sunrise Drink Recipe (listing of tomato drinks at this site)

glass for Carnegie SunriseRecipe Ingredients
3 oz Tomato Juice
1 1/2 oz Vodka
1 can Orange Juice
4 Strawberries
1 oz Tequila

Instruction: Everything goes in a blender. Mix in tomato juice, orange juice, and strawberries together. Add vodka  and tequila.

#3) Hot Tomato Drink Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

glass8 oz. Tomato Juice
dash Lemon Juice
1 Chili Pepper, Peeled

Instruction: Blend ingredients at high-speed until mixture is smooth. Pour over ice into an old-fashioned glass.
Enjoy!!!

Can you say summer and NOT think Tomato? I DOUBT IT!

Behold the tomato, juicy and luscious. One of Mother Natures Summer Super Stars! Are you growing your own? Mine are coming along but not ready yet – so off to the Farmers Market I go. Your natural vine ripe tomatoes may not look as perfect as your mass-produced ones BUT there is no ethane gas ripening going on with your fresh picked local grown tomato. That is a BIG part of why the local tomato taste better. Another good reason to shop local and seasonally! Tomatoes are packed with nutrition, antioxidants, lycopene, vitamin A and C. They work and play so well with so many other ingredient and they’re just plain old yummy! Maybe all that is why they are a summer Super Star! There are so many things to do with tomatoes that naturally we can not even begin to cover them all- so we decided to find some delectable tidbits and two recipes for you today! First the Tidbits:

  • Never forget about the basic Heirloom Tomato (a classic tomato) on a BLT – a classic summertime sandwich. Don’t eat meat? There are many Bacon subs!
  • Never put your tomatoes in the fridge! If they drop below 50 degrees a flavor compound called (Z)-3-dexenal is just going to flip itself off like a chemical switch … permanently.
  • When you get them home, don’t keep them in direct sunlight.
  • To pick your tomatoes: Firm fragrant tomatoes, not mushy when pushed lightly with your fingers, heavy for their size, no big open slits or bugs but some of the tastiest tomatoes may be the ugliest!
  •  The average American eats 17 pounds of tomatoes each year. That means that after the potato, these fruits are America’s favorite vegetables. That’s right, fruits!

Recipe #1: Heirloom Tomato SaladCourtesy Anne Burrell (food network)
Prep Time: 10 min   Inactive Prep Time:0   Cook Time: 0   Level: Easy
Serves: 2 servings

Ingredients:
▪    1 cup baby arugula, washed
▪    1/4 cup high-quality extra-virgin olive oil
▪    1/4 cup red wine vinegar
▪    Kosher salt
▪    5 to 6 assorted heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges and various other shapes
▪    1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or Basil) (Note: we learned yesterday that pretty much any mix of Herbs will be yummy-go for it! Experiment, play have some Herb and Tomato adventures!)
▪    4 ounces goat cheese, room temperature (or parm. or skip the cheese)
▪    4 slices grilled baguette ( any kind of toast)

Directions: In a small bowl toss the arugula with 1 tablespoon each of the olive oil and red wine vinegar. Season with salt. Divide the arugula between 2 serving plates. … Toss the tomatoes with the remaining olive oil, vinegar, oregano (or whatever herbs), and salt. Arrange the tomatoes on the serving plates….Spread 1 ounce of goat cheese onto each slice of grilled bread. Serve 2 slices of grilled bread with goat cheese (or whatever you like) with each plate.  Holy tomato!!

Recipe #2: Three Herb Fettuccine with Vegetables and Shaved Asiago  (Wednesday, 08 December 2010 14:44 Annaliese Keller )  From that favorite new find of a website edibleparadise.com! (Continuing our Herb Knowledge Base) 

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups sugar snap peas
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups chopped spinach (divided)
1/2 cup sliced green onions, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 cup canned vegetable broth
2 medium green tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6 cups hot cooked fresh Pensi Pasta fettuccine
3 ounces shaved Asiago cheese

METHOD:

  • Trim ends from peas, and remove strings.
  • Drop peas into a Dutch oven of boiling water; cook 30 seconds. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  • Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add peas, 1-1/4 cups spinach, green onions, and zucchini; sauté 2 minutes.
  • Add broth and tomatoes; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining spinach, basil, chives, oregano, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
  • Pour over hot pasta and toss. Sprinkle cheese over pasta and toss.

YIELD: 6 servings
SOURCE: Recipe courtesy of Evette Lecce of Pensi Pasta

Summertime=Delectable Marinades for Grilled Veggies!

Got your grill on? Grilling in the summer means a less hot kitchen, giving your A.C. a break and therefore lowering your cooling bill. More $$ in for you and less pollutants out for the environment. If you grill with local foods you are supporting your local growers and using less fossil fuel to move the food around. So fire up that grill, get your forks and knifes out and get ready to enjoy summertime marinated vegetables on the grill!

6 (5 +1) Amazing Marinades for Grilled Vegetables

Todays post is taken mostly from  Care2.com (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-marinades-for-grilled-vegetables.html ) written and originally posted by Melissa Breyer Jun 20, 2011. Read all the way thru for the last recipe from www.edibleparadise.comis not be missed!  (Lemon Herb Marinade)

Grilled Veggies“5 Marinades for Grilled Vegetables: Who says non-meat eaters can’t have any fun with a grill? The culture of barbecue may be obsessively carne-centric, but I’ve known many a vegetarian who can perform magic with hot coals, some sauce and a squash. I’ve thrown together plenty of vegetable marinades in my day, here are a few of my favorites. The chemistry is simple–mix the marinade up and let your vegetables marinate in a shallow dish from between 30 minutes to an hour before grilling. For larger quantities, double the ingredients.

Spicy Orange & Cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon orange marmalade
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Asian
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Brown Sugar & Bourbon
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Lemon & Garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Maple & Wasabi
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon wasabi”
 (Thanks to Melissa Breyer who  is senior editor of Healthy and Green Living and writes about food. She creates new recipes that are posted daily to Care2.com, a natural lifestyles social network & website with 10 million members.  If you have not discovered Care2.com now is the time!)

I want to continue our HERB conversation and uses:
so… here is a great HERB Marinade – This seems to be a FAB Find of a Website as well! It is called EDIBLE PARADISE – (Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets,
Cooking seasonally from the farmers markets.)  http://www.edibleparadise.com/
The website is FULL of great info. and beautiful images. As they say “Edible Paradise celebrates the year-round abundance of the highest quality, freshest food grown on the Central Coast by our family farmers at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. If you enjoy preparing and eating locally grown food, this blog is for you!” (Note: I am on the “other coast” and I still think this blog is for me!) The recipe below is from them.

♦Lemon Herb Marinade: Chef Andrew Cohen

INGREDIENTS:
3 cloves garlic, peeled and de-germed
1 shallot, peeled and diced coarsely
2 lemons, juiced
Pinch of salt ~ 1/8 teaspoon
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 bunch flat leaf parsley, most of the stems discarded
2 tablespoons each fresh oregano, marjoram, mint and/or basil, leaves only
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, leaves only
1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme, leaves only
1/4 cup olive oil

METHOD:
Place the garlic, shallot, salt, pepper, and lemon juice into a blender and puree.
Add the herbs and blend just until chopped. Bits of leaves should still be discernible.

With the motor running, drizzle in the oil to mix well. Do not take too much time doing this or your herbs will cook from the friction and your marinade will be dull and tired tasting.

Immerse item to be cooked in marinade and let soak not more than an hour and a half. Fish not more than an hour. The reason behind this is that the citric acid of the lemon juice will “cook” the food before you get it to the grill.

Use on chicken, fish, and vegetables. You can even use it on beef. The marinade can be used as a sauce also. Before immersing the item to be marinated, remove a little and set aside until you wish to eat. Then, if you wish, you can add a little extra virgin olive oil to the marinade and use it as a sauce or dip for the finished item.

SOURCE: Chef Andrew Cohen

http://www.edibleparadise.com/marinades-sauces-and-condiments/124-marinades-and-bbq-sauces/470-lemon-herb-marinade.html

It’s Tuesday and off to Whole Foods Market as Vendors we go!

Logo Great Harvest Bread Co.

Todays topic continues to be SUPPORT your LOCAL folks.  Farmers Markets, Artist/Craft Fairs, and don’t forget about your local hometown merchant! If you don’t support them they may not be their next time when are looking for them. Remember, there is no food without farmers; there is no art without artist: and there is no local retail without the locals merchants! Today we are chatting with the local bakery Great Harvest Bread Company of North Kingstown, R.I. Great Harvest does their part, not only are they are local, they give back to the community, and they use local products/ingredients
when ever they can.  Did I mention the bread is so good you will have a hard time not eating the entire loaf right away!

It’s Tuesday and so it is our Interview day as well as our Whole Foods Market Afternoon! Julia is interviewing others at the Whole Foods Outdoor Market (Garden City Tuesday afternoons: 3-6 or 7ish.) You can see The Botanical Beauties and Beasties there as well as Great Harvest Bread Co. each week during the summer. Don’t forget Dirty Vegan Foods (last weeks interview) is there as well. Feasts for the eyes, the tummy and your health.

Julia (Botaniumus’ own local baker) is the interviewer.
Wendy is the spokeswoman for Great Harvest Bread Co.

Julia: Great Harvest Bread Co.
Julia: She visits and chats with Great Harvest Bread Co.

Julia: Tell me  about your bakery. Organic? Wholesome? All natural? What  flours are used? (Julia has to giggle for she loves the play on words of her personal body made of flowers and that she makes bakery items with flours all day.)
Great Harvest (Wendy): Our bakery uses organic wheat and spelt when possible.  We offer organic wheat and spelt twice a week each. Otherwise the wheat comes from Montana.  We mill the wheat ourselves and use the flour within 48 hours.  The honey we use is from Aquidneck Honey (local RI) and is all-chemical free.  We try to source all local ingredients where possible (everything from Yacht Club soda to Aquidneck Honey to Casey Farms).

Julia: How did you come to be a professional baker/biz owner? 
Great Harvest: My partner Paul has always had a love of baking and wanted to open his own business.  He happened across a Great Harvest Bread Company in Cranston and fell in love with the product.  From that day at lunch until we opened was just about a year.  Paul spent several weeks over a couple of trips to Montana to train on the bakery systems.

Julia: Since it is said  Bread is the staff of life – what is your morning breakfast bread?
Great Harvest (Wendy): Both Paul and I love our Hi-5 Fiber bread with peanut butter spread on it.  For lunch Paul will usually have Greek yogurt and mix in our homemade Groovy Granola. (Julia has had this bread it one of her favorites too! It is incredibly good, and full of “good for you” ingredients.)

Julia:What’s your favorite item to make?
Great Harvest (Wendy): Paul is involved in both the bread and sweets baking and loves the most whichever one he happens to be working on that morning!  My son Bobby is also one of our bread bakers and Paul’s sister Sandy works a couple of mornings a week as a sweets baker.  All 3 of them love to bake each of the products we offer.

Julia:.What’s your best seller?
Great Harvest (Wendy):
Rhody Crunch is a very popular bread as are our cheese breads.  We offer cheddar garlic, Asiago pesto, and spinach feta.  People love to mix cheese and bread!

Hand and flour

Julia:We love your bread and your philosophies at Great Harvest: Your products are fresh, healthy and local! Is there any thing else you want you’d like to add?
Great Harvest (Wendy): At Great Harvest we mill our wheat on site and use the whole wheat flour within 48 hours of milling.  You will not find fresher flour anywhere!  Our bread and sweets bakers arrive at the bakery every morning by 3:45 to start the process of baking the breads and sweets.  Everything in the store is baked on site, from scratch.  Any breads that have to be pulled from the shelves are donated to the North Kingstown food pantry.  We have very little waste in our bakery.

Julia: On your website I see amazing sandwiches! I know they are all made with your bread
which is delicious rich, moist, hearty and life-enhancing. Great Harvest-style breads (and so sandwiches) keep vital nutrients.
Great Harvest (Wendy): Fresh sandwiches served daily 11 a.m. till 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. on Sunday. You can also order a pick-up. Call us at 401-885-0580

sandwich Great Harvest Bread Co.
A sandwich from Great Harvest Bread Co.

Great Harvest Bread Company
6670 Post Road
North Kingstown, RI 02852

Website: www.greatharvestnk.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Harvest-Bread-Company-North-Kingstown/126435907401080

Hours:
Monday – Friday : 6:30am – 6:30pm
Saturday : 7am – 5pm
Sunday : 8am – 3pm
Phone: 401) 885-0580