Monday, July 16, 2012

Simple Marinated Farm Fresh Tomatoes & My Two Furry Love Bugs Birthdays.

Just when I have it in my mind to blog more it doesn't happen.  My son did something to our laptop and I just figured out where my pictures were downloading too.  Now I can share!
I hope your summer has been great so far.

It's that time of year again to celebrate the birthdays of our Merlin kitty(17) and Ace dog(3).

Now for some simple marinated tomatoes that might not even make it onto your pasta because it is so delicious.


Last year I made this recipe and the key is too use heirloom, home grown or farm fresh tomatoes which are sweeter than grocery store tomatoes.  If you only have access to grocery store tomatoes you can still make this it just won't be as flavorful as farm or homegrown.  I didn't have capers on hand and it still came really good but I do love the addition of capers.

Martha Stewart Living Magazine
adapted by  dreaminitvegan

Ingredients

  • 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes or homegrown/farm fresh, sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
  • 3/4 cup torn fresh basil
  • 3 tablespoons salt-packed capers, preferably Sicilian, rinsed (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

  1. Heat garlic in oil in a saucepan over low heat until pale gold, about 10 minutes. Reserve oil and garlic. Let cool room temp.
  2. Combine tomatoes, 1/4 cup basil, the capers, lemon zest, red-pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Pour garlic oil and chips over tomato mixture. Marinate, covered, tossing occasionally, for 30 minutes or more.(I let it marinate a couple of hours)
  3. If using on pasta you would add warm pasta to bowl, and toss gently. Top with remaining 1/2 cup basil. Season with pepper. Sprinkle with lemon zest.
Note* you can make this ahead if you are having company that day.  You can also spoon this on a nice baguette as an appetizer.


11 comments:

  1. that looks like a lovely recipe - bet it would be great on cashew cheese!

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    1. Ooooh Joey that sounds like it would be awesome!!!

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  2. awww - Merlin and Ace are too cute together. happy birthday to them both! those marinated tomatoes not only look awesome, but they sound absolutely amazing, JoLynn. we have some capers in the fridge, a ton of basil growing in pots - now i just need to hit up the farmer's market for some heirloom tomatoes. i cannot wait to give this a whirl - thanks for sharing the recipe with us!

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    1. Jessy, You are very welcome for the recipe. Cherry or grape tomatoes would work too.

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  3. Happy Birthday to the little furry ones! Yummy looking tomatoes! I'm at the point now where I refuse to eat grocery store tomatoes, no flavor at all. I just wait until I see them at the farmers market, then I go crazy. :-)

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    1. Chow vegan-I feel the same way about store bought tomatoes. I made some tomato bruschetta at the end of May using pesticide free store bought tomatoes and it wasn't very flavorful even with all the basil and garlic.

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  4. Happy Birthday to Merlin and Ace! They're adorable!

    I love the sound of the marinated tomatoes, yum! I dreaming about that on a baguette now!

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    1. Rose,
      Thanks! We love are Merlin and Ace.
      A friend of mine said she would just sit down with a spoon and eat the marinated tomatoes out of the bowl. I have to agree.

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  5. Happy Birthday to the two adorable! Merlin kitty and Ace dog! ;)
    And thanks for posting the recipe of marinated tomatoes. Looks yummy!

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  6. So cute that they get along. It's like they posed for you. Recipe looks like a perfect way to use up summer tomato stashes!

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  7. Happy birthday to Merlin and Ace! When our tomatoes get ripe I am going to make this for sure!

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