Did you know April is National Florida Tomato Month?  Fresh tomatoes are in abundance in spring, and Florida is the second largest tomato producer in the country, producing about 50% of the country’s fresh tomatoes!  Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, Vitamin A, fat-free, low in sodium and satisfy 10 percent of your daily potassium needs. Not to mention, fresh tomatoes are flavorful and delicious. Tomatoes have a subtle sweetness as well as bright acid notes. However, we don’t have to wait for tomatoes to ripen before we can enjoy them.

In the south, we love our green tomatoes, but we don’t limit our love to frying them. Green tomatoes are great for salsas, chutneys, and even pickles.  As I was preparing for World Food Championships this past year, I knew that I needed a homemade pickle for one of my sandwiches, so to be unique, I turned to green tomatoes. Since a local craft brewery was sponsoring me in that round of competition, I chose one of their IPAs (India Pale Ale) as the liquid base for my pickles. The end result…a quick pickle that was crisp, sweet, tart, briny, and deliciously addictive.  We added them to our Cuban sandwiches and wowed both the judges and the crowd!

Ingredients

2 large green tomatoes-sliced thinly on a mandolin
1 large purple onion-sliced thinly on a mandolin
12 oz. IPA (India Pale Ale)
1 c. apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. white vinegar
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 TBSP pickling spice
1/2 c. sugar
1/8 c. pickling salt

Directions

Combine all ingredients except tomato and onion in a large pot and bring to a boil.  Add tomatoes and onion, cover, and remove from heat.  Allow tomatoes and onion to pickle for 20 minutes.

Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator or hot water process. Properly canned (preserved) pickles will last a year in the pantry.

Sunday Supper Recipes Using Fresh Tomatoes

Chicken Recipes

• Caprese Chicken with Bacon by Family Around The Table
• Cheesy Caprese Pesto Chicken and Quinoa Casserole by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Easy Balsamic Chicken with Tomatoes by Life Tastes Good
• Grilled Chicken and Pasta with Grated Tomato Sauce by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Main Courses

• Bronzed Tomato Spinach Cheddar Panini by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Ground Beef Curry by Wholistic Woman
• Lamb and Fresh Tomato Curry by Sunday Supper Movement
• One Pan Pork Chop Dinner with Tomatoes by Simple and Savory
• Tuna and Tomato Bento by Ninja Baker

Pizza, Pies, and Pastas

• Angel Hair Pomodoro by Healing Tomato
• Heirloom Tomato Pesto Pizza by The Chef Next Door
• Heirloom Tomato Tart by Authentically Candace
• Pressure Canned Homegrown Tomato Sauce by What Smells So Good?
• Savory Tomato Pie with Pre-Made Crust by The Foodie Affair
• Three Cheese Tomato Basil Pie by Jersey Girl Cooks
• Tomato and Caramelized Onions Galette by Brunch-n-Bites
• Tuscan Pasta with White Beans and Tomatoes by A Mind “Full” Mom

Side Dishes

• Bacon Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms by Crazed Mom
• Bloody Mary Mix by Our Good Life
• Bruschetta di Pomodoro by The Freshman Cook
• Caprese Garlic Bread with Arugula Pesto by The Crumby Cupcake
• Slow Roasted Tomatoes by Caroline’s Cooking
• Tomato Tulips for a Veggie Platter by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Snacks

• Cheesy Thumbprint Cookies with Green Tomato Strawberry Jalapeno Jam by Soulfully Made
• How to Make Homemade Salsa by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• IPA (India Pale Ale) Green Tomato Pickles by Gourmet Everyday
• Italian Nachos by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Cottage Cheese by Cricket’s Confections
• Tomatoes Stuffed with Apple-Walnut Salad Filling by Asian In America
• Tropical Fruit Salsa by Pies and Plots

Soups and Salads

• 10 Minute Greek Inspired Couscous Salad by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Burrata Caprese Salad with Balsamic Pearls by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cherry Tomato and Preserved Lemon Salad by Shockingly Delicious
• Cupboard Tomato Mozzarella Salad by Food Lust People Love
• Fresh Tomato and Couscous Salad by Basic N Delicious
• Fried Green Tomato BLT Salad by Palatable Pastime
• Layered Tomato Salad with Shiraz Dressing by Delaware Girl Eats
• Panzanella – Bread and Tomato Salad by The Hungry Goddess
• Rustic Dill Tomato Soup by Hot Eats and Cool Reads
• Summer Tomato and Bread Soup by Monica’s Table
• Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Pimento Grilled Cheese by Bottom Left of the Mitten

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