Comments on: When Life Gives You Green Tomatoes… http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/ a look at how America squanders nearly half of its food Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:07:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jeana http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-184368 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:51:27 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-184368 Jonathan: I had this problem last year. I kept finding half eaten tomatoes on the ground outside my raised beds. The good news...many of the tomato seeds dropped by the chipmunks last year became new tomato plants. I had at least 15 tomato plants show up unexpectedly. And I live in northern New Jersey where our winters are cold. You may not get many ripe tomatoes this year, but look for "free" tomato plants next spring. Jonathan:

I had this problem last year. I kept finding half eaten tomatoes on the ground outside my raised beds. The good news…many of the tomato seeds dropped by the chipmunks last year became new tomato plants. I had at least 15 tomato plants show up unexpectedly. And I live in northern New Jersey where our winters are cold. You may not get many ripe tomatoes this year, but look for “free” tomato plants next spring.

]]> by: Lauren F http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-180771 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:35:29 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-180771 I make green tomato chutney too. Google a recipe and add the spices that appeal to you. Delicious and keeps forever. I make green tomato chutney too. Google a recipe and add the spices that appeal to you. Delicious and keeps forever.

]]> by: sewingirl http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-180014 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:19:18 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-180014 I have a great recipe for green tomato mincemeat, thats where my greenies go at the end of the season. I can it, and it tastes just like the stuff that you buy in a jar at the store. YUM. I have a great recipe for green tomato mincemeat, thats where my greenies go at the end of the season. I can it, and it tastes just like the stuff that you buy in a jar at the store. YUM.

]]> by: Rinchen http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-179604 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:55:24 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-179604 One of our favorites: Green Tomater Pie. One of our favorites: Green Tomater Pie.

]]> by: Kate1946 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-179387 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:47:50 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-179387 You are growing Indeterminate tomatoes. Simply means they will continue to grow until they die of something, usually frost. Yields are higher then Determinate tomatoes which reach full size and then stop - Roma tomatoes are determinate. Debineezer is correct, all suckers - non flower producing branches - should be removed, so the plant concentrates on ripening fruit. For the mock apple pie - be sure to skin the tomatoes first and if juicy, squeeze out some of the juice. Green tomato chutney, if seasoned more sweet than hot, makes a good substitute for mincemeat. I added some chopped walnuts and some more raisins and the family never knew! Strata is typically bread slices or cubes layered in a casserole with slices or shredded cheese with a milk/egg mixture poured over top. It then is allowed to sit refrigerated overnight so the bread soaks up the liquid and baked in the oven. Frequently called a Breakfast Casserole it is often served at B&B's for its ease in morning prep. I've made it with chunks of ham, crumbled bacon, diced sausage, etc. Most older cookbooks, and Breakfast/brunch cookbooks have recipes - of course, Googling will get you a bunch too. You are growing Indeterminate tomatoes. Simply means they will continue to grow until they die of something, usually frost. Yields are higher then Determinate tomatoes which reach full size and then stop - Roma tomatoes are determinate.

Debineezer is correct, all suckers - non flower producing branches - should be removed, so the plant concentrates on ripening fruit.

For the mock apple pie - be sure to skin the tomatoes first and if juicy, squeeze out some of the juice.

Green tomato chutney, if seasoned more sweet than hot, makes a good substitute for mincemeat. I added some chopped walnuts and some more raisins and the family never knew!

Strata is typically bread slices or cubes layered in a casserole with slices or shredded cheese with a milk/egg mixture poured over top. It then is allowed to sit refrigerated overnight so the bread soaks up the liquid and baked in the oven. Frequently called a Breakfast Casserole it is often served at B&B’s for its ease in morning prep. I’ve made it with chunks of ham, crumbled bacon, diced sausage, etc. Most older cookbooks, and Breakfast/brunch cookbooks have recipes - of course, Googling will get you a bunch too.

]]> by: Debineezer http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-179009 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:55:43 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-179009 Hack back the tomatoes pretty ruthlessly. The plant is spending its energy growing green stuff instead of ripening your tomatoes. I would say cut anything that doesn't have flowers on it and see how it does. Hack back the tomatoes pretty ruthlessly. The plant is spending its energy growing green stuff instead of ripening your tomatoes. I would say cut anything that doesn’t have flowers on it and see how it does.

]]> by: Jonathan http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178894 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:20:08 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178894 Thanks for the advice, y'all. Very helpful stuff. I might sprinkle foil-wrapped peanuts on the ground... If I make a mock apple pie with green tomatoes, you can be sure I'll post about it. Intrigued... As for strata--that's one of those dishes I've heard about and know I'll like, even though I have (until now) no idea what it is. Thanks for the advice, y’all. Very helpful stuff. I might sprinkle foil-wrapped peanuts on the ground…

If I make a mock apple pie with green tomatoes, you can be sure I’ll post about it. Intrigued…

As for strata–that’s one of those dishes I’ve heard about and know I’ll like, even though I have (until now) no idea what it is.

]]> by: janes'_kid http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178672 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:04:56 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178672 " ... mixed the remains of the beaten egg, milk and seasoned bread' ... " and other stuff <i>baked</i> is called "strata", I think. ” … mixed the remains of the beaten egg, milk and seasoned bread’ … ” and other stuff baked is called “strata”, I think.

]]> by: Allie http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178669 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:58:31 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178669 Couple things: - When I used to garden, I'd put little strips of foil on the plants to keep birds from eating my fruits. I don't know if it's equally a deterrent for squirrels, but might be worth a shot. - I knew this woman who grew up on a farm, and she said they used to make mock apple pie w/ green tomatoes. Apparently, if you just slice the tomatoes thinly and then spice and bake as though they were apples, the pie tastes the same. I never did try it, but perhaps you will have enough for a pie. Couple things:

- When I used to garden, I’d put little strips of foil on the plants to keep birds from eating my fruits. I don’t know if it’s equally a deterrent for squirrels, but might be worth a shot.

- I knew this woman who grew up on a farm, and she said they used to make mock apple pie w/ green tomatoes. Apparently, if you just slice the tomatoes thinly and then spice and bake as though they were apples, the pie tastes the same. I never did try it, but perhaps you will have enough for a pie.

]]> by: dee dee http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178650 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:58:26 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/07/27/when-life-gives-you-green-tomatoes/#comment-178650 In my garden, it's the rabbits that somehow find their way through the fence...they love the swiss chard and sunflowers. Now that the babies are larger, they don't seem to fit through as easily. Speaking of green tomatoes,..at the end of the season when the plants are still full of green fruits but frost is imminent, our CSA picks them all for distribution. Members can make relish and jam, freeze them whole or halved or wrap them in newspaper and keep them in a cool, dry place where they will keep well for a few weeks. Speaking of bread crumbs - I recently learned that fresh breadcrumbs have a higher moisture content than the commercial variety so it can make a difference in baking recipes. Sometimes I toast fresh breadcrumbs with some herbs and salt & pepper to use for breading eggplant or zucchini -very tasty. Fresh breadcrumbs make turkey meatloaf more moist. In my garden, it’s the rabbits that somehow find their way through the fence…they love the swiss chard and sunflowers. Now that the babies are larger, they don’t seem to fit through as easily.
Speaking of green tomatoes,..at the end of the season when the plants are still full of green fruits but frost is imminent, our CSA picks them all for distribution. Members can make relish and jam, freeze them whole or halved or wrap them in newspaper and keep them in a cool, dry place where they will keep well for a few weeks.
Speaking of bread crumbs - I recently learned that fresh breadcrumbs have a higher moisture content than the commercial variety so it can make a difference in baking recipes. Sometimes I toast fresh breadcrumbs with some herbs and salt & pepper to use for breading eggplant or zucchini -very tasty. Fresh breadcrumbs make turkey meatloaf more moist.

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