green zebra gazpacho

the green zebra is an interesting variety.  they are grouped in with the other heirloom tomatoes but they are actually a hybrid of two different heirlooms.  and because heirloom means that the seeds come from pure strains – in other words, they have not been crossed with another variety – by crossing two heirlooms it actually yields a non-heirloom.  kind of like how multiplying two negative numbers makes a positive one.  does that... Read More

lemon cucumber and heirloom tomato carpaccio

i get so excited when heirloom tomatoes come back in season that i quite audibly squeal.  i don’t know if it’s the short season – only about a month and a half if we’re lucky – or the unique taste that can’t be found in conventional tomatoes, but they are the one veggie i dream about all year long. i consider the heirloom tomato to be the darling of the farmers’ market.  out of all the produce that cycles... Read More

rustic heirloom tomato salad

these tomatoes don’t need much to taste good.  sometimes i just eat them plain.  but if you are new to heirlooms and need a simple idea for how to enjoy them, try this simple salad.  it features an easy honey dressing which cuts the sharp taste of some of the more acidic tomatoes, and subtly compliments the sweeter ones perfectly.  it’s lightly tossed with fresh heirloom tomatoes, basil, parsley and onion in a perfect summer concoction. ... Read More

10 tips for enjoying heirloom tomatoes

tomato season is coming to an end, but there are still a few weeks left to enjoy all of the sweet, tangy, fresh and juicy varieties of seasonal heirloom tomatoes.  you can find the freshest picks and most different varieties at your local farmers’ markets.  since i happen to sell tomatoes at a few farmers’ markets, i’m offering up these 10 tips for successfully choosing, moving, storing and serving those unique and delicate veggies. ... Read More

baked eggplant bruschetta salad

i love bruschetta. it has tomato and basil – some of my favorite fresh summer flavors – and in this incarnation i even threw in some roasted eggplant.  but what i don’t love is trying to balance all those delicious veggies on top of a little piece of toast before it finds its way to my mouth.  i figured it would be much easier to just chop up the bread too and toss it all together as a salad. Read More  Read More

curry tomato dipping sauce

this recipe started off as an attempt at ketchup, but the result was much thicker – and tastier – than a traditional ketchup.  the vinegar and brown sugar are standard for a ketchup recipe, giving it a tangy flavor, but i added some curry spices (turmeric, cumin and coriander) as well as some cayenne pepper and ginger powder to give it a little kick. pretty much anything fried would be delicious if dipped in this sauce, like french fries... Read More

tomato and fresh dill omelet

breakfast can be one of the toughest meals of the day for a vegan.  sure you can do a piece of fruit, a cup of coffee, or even a smoothie, but most of the filling – and tasty – morning-time meals are laden with eggs, cheese and meat. luckily, i recently realized that making an animal-free version of a breakfast favorite, the omelet, is a lot easier than i thought. like in the spinach asparagus quiche i made a while back, all you need... Read More