Ever feel that you are running out of meal ideas with certain foods?  That happens to me sometimes so I try to step back and think about different ways to use that certain ingredient.  The last thing you want to have happen is that you get bored with a great food.  The food of choice today is “Tomato“.  I never used to like tomatoes but as I grew older I have found a new love for them.

I am not a huge fan of the tomato on just any given deli sandwich however but I do love tomatoes roasted, in sauces and on certain sandwiches with cheese.  I just compiled a simple list that I came up with on ways I like to use tomatoes.

Hopefully they will spark your interest to try them.

7 Ways to Use Tomatoes

1. No-Cook Pasta Sauce – In a large bowl combine several chopped tomatoes, a clove or two of minced garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Add olive oil to coat tomatoes. Add hot pasta and toss to coat pasta. Bits of fresh mozzarella can be added – they will get a bit melted  when tossed with the hot pasta. At the very end you can add red chili flakes, basil, and freshly shredded Parmesan are all tasty additions as well.
2. Grilled Tomatoes – Slice the tomatoes nice and thick, coat with a little olive oil – season with salt and pepper and grill for 4 mins on each side.  Yum!
3. Toasted Tomato and Pesto Sandwich – Spread two slices of your favorite sandwich bread with your favorite pesto (need a favorite? try this pesto), top one pesto-ed slice with several meaty slices of tomato, sprinkle with salt, sandwich, and enjoy!
4. Simple Salsa – Make your own fresh salsa by tossed chopped tomato with your choice of the following: minced red onion, minced garlic, finely chopped jalapeño or serrano chiles. Add salt to taste. A splash of red vinegar can be tasty, too.  Another addition can be some fresh avocado as well.



5. A Kicked Up BLT – This is a classic with a twist.  This takes a little bit of effort but is so worth it.  I like to take two slices of a thick homemade bread, toast it, top with a little butter and a nice piece of cheddar cheese. After that I add the fresh romaine lettuce, juicy red tomatoes and crisp bacon.  I top it with freshly ground pepper and enjoy!



6. In a Salad – Any salad of your choice – tomatoes are a great addition. Keep it simple and dress it just before serving.
7. Stuffed Tomatoes with Rice - This one is a great fun recipe on a cool day.  Scoop out the insides of the tomato.  To prepare the filling use cooked rice, oregano and ground beef ( or you can omit)  Top with fresh basil and mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven for 40 minutes.

So there you have it!  My top 7 ways to kick up the regular tomato.  Let me know if you have any other great ways to kick up the tomato in the comments section.  I will be back tomorrow - Have a great Wednesday.

Take care

zesty

Happy Wednesday!  I apologize in advance for somewhat of a quick post but I don’t have much time to write tonight.  I had somewhat of a rough day at the house build with some scheduling conflicts and the dreaded “windows“.  The service rep was on site today and determined that the windows are leaking!  Hooray, but we knew that 10 days ago.  With that being said we are performing a temporary solution of caulking which does not really tickle my fancy but we have no other choice.

I didn’t  have anytime to eat or cook today but I have had this post in the back of my head for a while so I decided to put it on paper and get your thoughts and ideas.

I was reading a magazine a while back and it had an article related to being more resourceful with products and supplies we would normally throw out.  I thought about some of these and I also talked to Mother Zesty as well and this is the list we came up with.

Top 7 Things Not To Throw Out

1.  Stale Bread – When your bread goes stale before you have time to eat it, freeze it and use it for dressing/stuffing the next time you have a chicken or a turkey.

2.  Bones – Never throw away bones!  These are essential in making delicious homemade stocks.  Great for freezing and adding flavor to many dishes.

3.  Coffee Grinds – These are great to place in certain areas as a natural deodorizer.  Place them in an airated container in the firdge or freezer to absorb smells.

4. Butter Wrappers – Save these in the fridge and next time you have to grease a baking dish for your baking – grab it from the fridge and lube up your pan.

5.  Rotten Bananas – These guys work great in the freezer for smoothies and of course the ultimate zesty bread…. Banana Bread.

6.  Onion Peel – These are great for adding flavors to sauces and soups without the onion texture.  Just chuck them in your dish and remove before serving.

7.  Don’t Forget the Freezer – Utilize your freezer.  Certain foods can be frozen and not lose any of their flavor or impact.  Instead of throwing out freeze.

I thought this was a fun, but practical, list to come up with.  I am sure you have more great ideas so I welcome you to add them in the comments to share with the rest of us.  Have yourself a great Wednesday and I will talk to you tomorrow.

Take care

zesty