Tomato Tasting Party!

It's that TOMATO time of Year!

I'm awash in tomatoes, and really enjoying them, but every year I lust after the ones I didn't have room to plant!  A great way to experience more tomatoes than the ones in your own garden, is to host a 'tomato tasting' for your fellow tomato growing friends!  Here's a few tips:

1.  Purchase these supplies:  dinner plate size paper plates, paper or plastic cups, file folder labels, toothpicks, small paper plates.

2.  Ask tomato growing friends to bring their favorite ripe tomatoes, each variety in a paper bag/ziploc with variety name.

3.  Upon arrival, guests put each tomato variety on a separate paper plate, write name of variety on file folder label and place label on upside down cup.  Cut up tomatoes for tasting but leave one whole and place on top of upside down cup so folks can see what it looks like.

4.  Pass out small paper plates and toothpicks for tasting.  Have paper and pens available so guests can make notes of the varieties they like for planting next year! 

5.  Optional:  Make it a potluck, have guests bring extra tomatoes for a tomato exchange, have guests bring any/all surplus produce from their gardens and donate to local food bank. 

Cut up tomatoes for tasting but leave one whole.

Special Hint:  What to do with all the leftover cut up tomatoes?  Roast in 9" x 13" pyrex dish with onion, garlic, basil (and anything else you want to throw in) at 350 for 2-3 hours.  Puree, add a dash of red wine if desired, season with salt and pepper and you have the easiest marinara sauce ever!

Happy Gardening (and Eating!)