Third pile of tomatoes, 2008

(eight pounds)

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Weight of goods: 8 pounds

Weight total to date: 23.5 pounds

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My Roma Strainer is coming via UPS today. Think I'll try it on this batch. I'll let you know how it works with another handy-dandy product review.

Second pile of tomatoes, 2008

(Many more to come, too)
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Weight of goods: 5.5 pounds

Weight total to date: 15.5 pounds

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I should have weighed the pile yesterday, but it was about the same as this pile. I'll call it 6 pounds. Adding in the dribs and drabs from the past two weeks, I'll call those 4 pounds.

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I lied yesterday when I said I'd make salsa. I shortly realized that I had squash and eggplant in the fridge, so I made ratatouille instead. It was last night's dinner and today's lunch and it was amazing. I've been making the same recipe for 20 years. Though I don't refer to the written recipe anymore, it's from my first cookbook: Laurel's Kitchen. It's probably the first dish I made by following a recipe, too. That book taught me how to cook.

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Tonight, I make salsa. Really!

First pile of tomatoes, 2008

(In bowl- San Marzanos. At 6:00- one Pink Beauty. At 10:00, mix of Japanese Black Trifeles and Paul Robesons.)

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Tomatoes have been coming in dribs and drabs for the past two weeks. I pick 2 one day, 4 the next. That long cold spring we had this year strikes again. But lookit! Here's what I picked today at lunchtime.

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Salsa. These tomatoes tell me they want to be salsa. I'll roast the San Marzanos first, but the Pink Beauty, Japanese Blacks and Paul Robesons will be blanched for skin removal, diced, and added fresh.