Home grown -------

It's 

TOMATO

 TIME!

My next door neighbor is sharing his harvest with me,

meaning I'm not buying many tomatoes from the store or market 

right now.

In return I water and give some TLC to the plants when he is out

of town during the growing season. We've done this several years

in succession and it works well for both of us. Of course I also kitty

sit for him too so don't feel guilty picking his tomatoes. . . . or having

 him pop over with a handful of just picked ones around supper time.

My first thought always is what to do with so many tomatoes all at once.

As they pile up in bowls ripening on the kitchen island I get nervous, so

 out come baking dishes, saucepans, salad bowls and such. . . . . . . and

I get to work 'doing something' with them! 

 After all that TLC in the past few months I feel I must continue to be kind

 to each tomato now grown into such a beautiful fruit in spite of wind, rain, 

burning sun, munching deer, pecking birds. . . . . and an aging gardener

 in a floppy sunhat stopping to water and talk to them, encourage them, and 

bring them along from little yellow flowers to brilliant shades of orange, 

red and gold tasty fruits.

Tuscan Panzanella Salad -

- and, as I recently made Focaccia bread and have leftovers in the

 freezer, I'm going to try using it in what is a favorite Italian tomato salad 

for a very hot summer day.

"Buon Appettito"

Home baked Focaccia Bread

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating

a homegrown tomato."

Hope you are growing tomatoes, or someone is sharing

a harvest with you. Photos of my tomato dishes prepared

and enjoyed in past summer seasons.