Tomatoes

We have tomatoes. We have lots and lots and lots of tomatoes, possibly because last year little bear hoovered up any tomatoes within reach so I bought a lot of plants described as 'heavy cropping' and 'prolific'.

This year he won't touch them.

So, I have recipes, and ideas, and have made some tasty sauce in the past. I have vast quantities of tomatoes and onions and garlic and basil. The tomatoes really can't be left another day and more and more are coming through.

I also have a walloping headache - again.

I am not really looking forward to skinning vats of tomatoes, many of them pea sized (thought they would be ideal for little bear) and chopping pounds of onions. But I am looking forward to a tasty sauce tonight, freezing some and then having a taste of summer in winter.

Also I have found a recipe for pickling green tomatoes.

3lb small green tomatoes, salt, 1/2lb sugar, 1pt vinegar, 1tbs pickling spice

Put the spices in the vinegar and bring to the boil. Leave to stand for 1 1/2 hours and then strain. Wipe the tomatoes and remove the green stalks, then prick them about six times. Put them in a bowl and sprinkle thickly with salt. Leave for 12 hours then wash off the salt. Bring the spiced vinegar to the boil in a large pan, drop the tomatoes in and let them simmer for 20mins, do not stir as you will break them up. Drain and put them in dry jars. Boil up the liquid and cover the tomatoes, cover securely.

Not only is this recipe seriously not tested, but I have just realised that the method does not mention the sugar in the ingredient list. Hmm.

This is taken from the Austerity Cookbook by Bridget Ardley, which has some good recipes that are not the usual run of the cook book mill.