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

I made a sandwich a little while ago and for some reason I forgot to post about it.  I really did like the outcome of the sandwich but it was nothing over the top.  I remember picking up some sour dough bread at the bakery which was used for a grilled sandwich with some melted cheese oozing out the ends.

Now when it comes to sandwiches, in the last 3-4 months I have made a large change when it comes to sauces on my sandwiches.  I don’t use any now!  I know it sounds a bit bizarre for some but I really enjoy it now.  I never was a big fan of mayonnaise so I used to revert to mustard.  But lately I put that all on hold and usually have been avoiding it all together.  I now tend to focus on cheese, vegetables and even fruit.

When it comes to the filling for this sandwich… it is super basic.  We always seem to have turkey deli meat around since the kids love it and it is a good source of protein and as for cheese – I just went with old cheddar.

Ingredients

• 2 Slices of Sour Dough Bread
• Handful of turkey meat
• 3 Slices of cheddar cheese
• Black pepper

Method

• Preheat sandwich maker or George foreman grill
• Slice the bread and top with turkey cheese and pepper
• Place the other piece of bread on top
• Add sandwich to the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes until cheese has melted and bread is golden brown
• ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: One tip when making grilled sandwiches is to make sure the filling ( meat in this case ) is fairly dry.  I find the deli meat can be quite moist and will make the bread soggy, so I tend to pat it dry with a paper towel before adding it to the sandwich.

So that is the sandwich. Nothing elaborate but a very good quick meal whether you are on the run, or just craving the crunch from a toasted sandwich.  I hope you have a great Tuesday and I am glad to see so many of you joining up for the free blogging tips newsletter over at my new consulting site.

Take care

zesty