Heirloom Tomato Festival
On a recent weekend trip to Lake Rabun, my husband and I stopped at the Heirloom Tomato Festival in Clarkesville, Georgia. I had no idea there were so many tomato varieties and how unique each one is. The table reflected a rainbow of colors, each tomato having a different flavor, shape, and size. The festival offered a tasting of fresh tomatoes along with delicious tomato dishes for lunch…Classic BLTs, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Tomato Tarts.
Now that our garden is finally producing some tomatoes of its own, that is one ingredient that has been on heavy rotation in our house. Most summer Sundays growing up, my mom would fix a simple supper because we were usually too full from the fried chicken and creamed corn we had for lunch. Homemade chicken salad and her classic Tomato Cracker Salad served with leftover purple hull peas from lunch was her version of an easy, light supper.
As strange as this salad my sound, fresh chopped tomatoes, a spoonful of really good mayonnaise, Vidalia onions, chopped boiled egg, and crushed saltine crackers will “make you slap your grandmama down” as my dad always says. I introduced this classic salad to my husband and he devoured it, not even knowing what he was eating. If you have never had Tomato Cracker Salad try it now while tomatoes are at their peak! Use either Homemade Mayonnaise or Duke’s (even their light is very tasty) and let me know what you think. I promise you won’t be sorry!
There are so many ways to showcase summer’s most popular produce and I hope you enjoy some of my favorites that I have been preparing all summer. Of course a good homegrown tomato or one from your local farmer’s market is delicious simply with kosher salt, pepper, a little drizzle of olive oil. Just a platter on the table is show stopping and requires such little effort. Take advantage of summer and celebrate all that it has to offer!
Gena’s picks for Summer Tomato Recipes:
ARCHIVES '12
ARCHIVES '11
ARCHIVES '10
ARCHIVES '09
