Posted by johngl
I don’t understand it: how can people not like tomatoes? Even an Iowa farm girl like the most glorious spousal unit doesn’t like them. My step-brother doesn’t like them. One of my best friends doesn’t like them. They all consume pasta sauce, catchup, ketchup, pizza sauce, even Bloody Marys with great zeal. What’s up with all the tomato hate?
I mean really, how could you not like these cute little micro-sized ‘maters? About the same size as a good-sized pea, these little jewels grow wild here in Texas. I have them all over the yard thanks to hungry birds who eat them and redeposit the seeds along with a bit of fertilizer. If you start with one plant, you’ll have ten the following year.
Local legend has it that all tomato varieties stem from these little wonders. This is counter to what our friends at Wikipedia have to say, but there are some parallels to the story. Beginning in the central part of South America, they spread to the diet of the Mesoamerican civilizations in what is now Mexico. From there, accounts vary wildly on how they got to Europe. Some say it was Cortés — others Columbus – who toted some seeds back home. In reality, it was probably some Egyptian dude in a reed boat that planted the seeds of pyramid power in the minds of the early Americans and took these tangy treats back home with him.
However they got started, there’s over 7000 varieties of them now.
These (above) grew in my garden in spite of the best efforts of a local raccoon to eliminate them from my diet and make them a major part of his own.
I’m happy to see a resurgence in heirloom tomato varieties these days. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and the seeds can be saved and grown in our backyard gardens. I do have to keep that raccoon fed you know.
This tomato medley, made up of micros, Campari, and yellow grape varieties, was wonderful in a salad.
I call this dish Insulata Caprese Plus. It takes the tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and basil thing to a whole new level with the addition of avocado, roasted chicken, cauliflower, peppadews, and blue cheese dressing. There are some salad greens somewhere in there, too.
So be it. People are of two varieties: those who eat tomatoes and those who don’t. Being a member of the former category, I celebrate their goodness and variety (the people as well as the tomatoes). To the rest of you, I hope you enjoy your broccoli.
Tags: salad
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I love tomatoes and we always grow Sun Gold tomatoes with good luck (since they are small and like the Central Texas heat more than the other varieties I’ve tried), but I’ve never tried those tiny micro tomatoes. They are so cute–please save me some seeds!
You bet Lauren. I’ll set some aside…well, unless that damnable raccoon eats ‘em all.
By the way, I’ve set aside some seeds for you!