Tomatoes are back!

We had our first tomato harvest this week from our tomato high tunnel! I knew it would be soon, but I was still surprised when I walked in there on Wednesday and there was color! Reds, oranges, yellows, and purples glowing from the ever-growing plants.

We have three types of large tunnel tomatoes and two saladette tomatoes:

• Gin Fizz - a beautiful pink-yellow-orange heirloom

• Caiman - a red beefsteak-type slicing tomato

• Cuba Libre - a medium sized dark purple tomato with green shoulders

• Bronze Torch - Slightly larger than a regular cherry tomato, these beauties are brick red with bronze stripes

• Red Torch - sibling to the bronze torch tomato, these guys are a bright red with yellow stripes
  

We love our tomato tunnel for its ability to provide us with tomatoes a few weeks earlier than our field crops. We can plant tomatoes in the high tunnel earlier in the season than outside which gives them a head start. The naturally warmer climate inside the tunnel also gives them a boost; we don't heat our tunnels with propane, but the plastic covering really concentrates the sunlight and keeps the temps toasty inside.

I've got some great tomato recipes to share below, so take a look and share your favorites for the impending tomato season!

Baked things:

• This tomato, corn, and zucchini galette is actually quite easy and incredibly delicious: https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/08/burst-tomato-galette-with-corn-and-zucchini/

• A cheesy tomato pie: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/tomato-pie/ 

• A crispy phyllo base topped with a creamy layer and fresh tomatoes: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/giant-summer-tomato-tart

Salads:

• Tomatoes and peaches make a surprisingly good combo: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/tomato-peach-and-burrata-salad/

• A Spanish pasta salad with tuna and marinated tomatoes: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spanish-style-pasta-salad-with-tuna-and-marinated-tomatoes 

• Panzanella, the best tomato salad: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/tomato-basil-and-cucumber-panzanella-grated-tomato-balsamic-vinaigrette 

• Okra and corn up the ante in this tomato salad: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/grilled-okra-corn-and-tomato-salad

Soups:

• Creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese, does it get better than this? https://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/cream-of-tomato-soup-classic-grilled-cheese/

• An Indian riff on gazpacho: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/kachumber-gazpacho 

Tomatoes on bread:

• My go-to easy (but never not tasty) breakfast, lunch, or dinner: https://danpelosi.com/recipe/grossys-tomato-mayo-toast/

• A classic Spanish tapas dish: https://www.seriouseats.com/pan-con-tomate-tomato-bread-spanish-recipe 

• I'm always hungry for a BLT, you? https://natashaskitchen.com/blt-sandwich/

• Italian bruschetta makes a fantastic appetizer: https://www.seriouseats.com/fresh-tomato-bruschetta-recipe

Extras:

• Fresh tomato sauce pasta: https://cookieandkate.com/spaghetti-with-fresh-tomato-sauce/

• The freshest tomato salsa, perfect with tortilla chips: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/homemade-salsa/

• Italian rice-stuffed tomatoes: https://www.seriouseats.com/roman-rice-stuffed-tomatoes-pomodori-al-riso

• Tomato and caramelized onion jam: https://www.seriouseats.com/fresh-tomato-caramelized-onion-jam-recipe

Get excited for some of these tomatoes coming to your share bags very soon!