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Hello!

You had me drooling! I loved your responses to last week's question: "What would we make if we were cooking together?" You suggested perogies, salads with your garden bounty, plum dumplings, pasta salad with stuffed pasta, fruit pies, fresh peach, corn and tomato salsas, and glorious grilled dishes. Love them all!

My friend Alix and I had a fun time harvesting basil, making pesto and baking a gorgeous Tomato Pesto Galette. There was just one little hiccup, I ran short on Parmesan for the pesto, so we improvised and used nutritional yeast instead. It was heavenly - the perfect alternative if dairy is a no-go for you or your guests. That pesto has been going on absolutely everything since. Pesto Recipe with Substitutions​

Inventing the Next Viral Tomato Trend

More friends came to visit and in the spirit of keeping things fresh and simple, we decided to create a DIY Tomato Toast Bar. I think we invented the next viral tomato trend. Look how pretty it is!

We had gorgeous local tomatoes, bacon, lettuce, avocado, cheese, pesto, mayo, and garlic yogurt sauce served with toasted European rye sourdough. Ten out of ten! We had fun building our own toasts and swapping notes on the best combos. I highly recommend you try it with your friends or family.

The best part? You don't have to do it all yourself. Ask everyone to bring something. A topping, a loaf of bread, a side, a beverage, or a dessert. Just like that, you'll have one of the most fun gatherings of the summer!

Here are some ideas of what to put on your Toasted Tomato Bar:

Proteins: bacon, grilled chicken or steak slices, sliced hard-boiled egg, smoked salmon, prosciutto, grilled halloumi, chickpea salad, hummus.

Cheeses: sharp cheddar, goat cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, burrata, Boursin, feta.

Spreads: mayo, pesto, garlic yogurt sauce, balsamic glaze.

Extras: lettuce, avocado, fresh herbs, hot peppers, capers, cucumber, pickles.

Tell me, what will you add to your tomato toast bar? I may just add your ideas to a future post on my website. For now, this list is a subscriber exclusive!

When the tomatoes keep coming: roast, cook and preserve.

Two weeks ago I shared my favourite fresh tomato recipes — bruschetta, salsa, panzanella. If you missed it, catch up here.​

This week we're turning up the heat. Because when the tomatoes start piling up, it's time to roast, cook, and preserve.

​How to Roast Tomatoes — everything you need to know, including freezing tips.

​Roasted Tomato Soup — pure comfort. Make a big batch and freeze it in portions.

​Roasted Tomato Focaccia — one of my favourite things to make when tomatoes are at their peak.

​Cooked (not roasted) Tomato Sauce - a few soft tomatoes is all you need for this cooked tomato sauce from Love Food Hate Waste

​Roasted Tomato Sauce Linguini - Simple weeknight pasta at its best from Canadian Food Focus.

​Spaghetti with Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes & Chickpeas - Another delicious, simple pasta dish from Canadian Food Focus.

​Versatile Lasagna — Love Food Hate Waste Canada. Use whatever tomatoes and vegetables you have on hand.

Preserving Tomatoes - Safely

For bigger bounties and longer shelf life, here are my preserving resources:

​Tomato Jam — sweet, savoury, and absolutely irresistible on a cheese board. Small jars make the best gifts.

​Freezer Salsa — all the flavour of homemade salsa without the canning process.

​Canning Salsa Safely — if you want shelf-stable, canned salsa, start here and do it safely.

​Canning Tomatoes: What You Need to Know — the safety basics, including why adding acid is non-negotiable.

​Canning Whole or Halved Tomatoes and Canning Chopped or Diced Tomatoes — step by step guides for both methods.

Can you tell I'm loving tomato month?!! What are you doing with your tomatoes right now? Roasting, canning, freezing, or still eating them fresh? Hit reply and let me know.

Talk soon,
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