Have you ever had an heirloom tomato, or an heirloom
vegetable of any kind? If not, you’re
seriously missing out on some of the most imperfectly perfect, tasty
produce known to man. What does one mean
when they say “heirloom” vegetable? Heirloom
vegetables are specialty varieties whose seeds have been passed down for at
least 50 years. Most of you may not know
that today, many heirloom varieties that are still available are in danger of
becoming extinct. It’s a good thing
there are folks like my friends Bob & Jen Borchardt who are committed to
growing such varieties to keep them alive for future generations.
As we near the end of tomato season I was lucky enough to be
gifted with two beautiful boxes of heirloom tomatoes by the Borchardts. Bob and Jen own & operate a beautiful
farm located in Viroqua, WI called Harvest Moon Farms. For the past several weeks I've
gotten an
inside glimpse at the wide variety & beauty of the produce they grow out at
the farm, as I've
been working with them on creating newsletters for their CSA Program, now in its second to last week for the summer. CSA stands for Community Supported
Agriculture. In a CSA, participants
essentially buy a share in a farm upfront; then, for a scheduled amount of time,
they receive weekly boxes filled with a mix of fresh, seasonal produce. In the case of Harvest Moon Farms, produce
received by members is also often organic and/or heirloom produce - AKA the
best stuff around! The idea of a CSA is not
only to learn to eat seasonally, and therefore more sustainably,
but members
are also supporting local farmers, producers, their community & their economies.
Finding the little galley kitchen in my one-bedroom apartment
filled with vibrant heirlooms, I knew I couldn't
let these babies go to waste. Yes - learning how to can things is on the
top of my “learn how to do” list; however, with a family wedding in Iowa last
weekend (lots of travel) and so many of after-work activities lately, finding
the time or obtaining the means to can was just not in the cards for me this
time around. So, what to do with all the
goods? I brought many of the tomatoes to
work and gifted them to those coworkers I knew were fellow foodies & home chefs. I also gave some to family members, but still
left myself with more than enough to enjoy.
After a few consecutive (and delicious) evenings of traditional BLTs, I mixed it up to get
creative with my use of the produce. I
now present to you three different & easy ways to enjoy
heirloom tomatoes (in addition to a traditional BLT!)
:
1) Mediterranean Heirloom Tomato & Quinoa Salad
This is a healthy & filling recipe that also works well as leftovers to enjoy for lunch (travels well to work) or dinner. Lots of nutrition here and it's vegetarian - make it vegan by simply omitting the cheese. Makes enough for about 3 servings.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked quinoa (see more on how to prepare quinoa here)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- about 3 heirloom tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 c cucumbers, diced
- 1/4 c red onion, diced
- 1/4 c diced Kalamata or mixed Greek olives
- fresh basil - about 4 large leaves (you can use the rest in the Caprese Salad recipe below!)
- 1/4 c diced mozzarella cheese (part skim; could also use crumbled feta cheese)
- sea salt & ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
Cook quinoa and set aside to let cool. For vinaigrette, using a whisk mix together oil, vinegar & lemon juice in a small bowl. Prepare all ingredients (vegetables, herbs & cheese). In a large bowl add the cooled quinoa, vegetables, herbs, cheese and vinaigrette. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate to enjoy later.
2) Open-Faced BAT (Bacon, Avocado & Tomato) with Honey
This is my twist on your traditional BLT. The substitution of avocado for lettuce still keeps it healthy, and the little drizzle of honey mustard and honey on top make it feel sinful. Making the sandwich "open-face" takes away one-half of the bread but leaves all the taste.
Ingredients: (for 2 BLTs)
- 2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
- 4 pieces of cooked bacon (may also substitute turkey bacon)
- 1 medium avocado, sliced
- 2 pieces whole wheat bread, toasted
- 2 tbsp light olive oil mayo
- honey mustard
- honey
- salt to taste
Toast bread; top each slice with 1 tbsp light mayo. Pile on top the tomato and avocado. Season with a bit of sea salt, then add the bacon slices. Drizzle honey mustard and honey over top to your liking. Enjoy!
3) Heirloom Caprese Salad
This is your classic caprese salad, but the use of heirlooms significantly ramps up the flavor profile. Use good quality olive oil, sea salt & ground black pepper to get the best seasoning results.
Ingredients:
- 2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
- fresh basil, torn into small pieces (about 3 large leaves)
- fresh mozzarella, sliced
- olive oil (good quality)
- sea salt & ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Prepare ingredients. Layer slices of tomato with slices of mozzarella. Top with the torn basil & generously drizzle with olive oil. Season to your liking with sea salt & ground black pepper. Enjoy!
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