Kitchen Therapy

a variety of tomatoes dried photo by vsimon

We planted eight different kinds of tomatoes this year. Most, simply because they had great names. The greatest differences were not in flavor, but in the color and size of the tomatoes. Would we plant them again next year? Read on.

First off, we have different tastes in tomato types in our household. My husband is prejudiced against anything resembling a cherry tomato. He hates that explosion that happens in your mouth when you bite into one. I love anything resembling a cherry tomato. The explosion is OK by me, and I love to roast the sweet little things. So there is a stand off on a few varieties. I like it, he does not. He plants cherry tomatoes every year just to please me.

And paste tomatoes were not love at first bite. They are slowly growing on him though for winter use.

The review, in alphabetical order.

Amish paste tomato photo by vsimon

Amish Paste

Heart shaped and about the size of a baseball, smooth texture, more tomato flavor than Roma paste. We blended them up and froze these for soups, stews, and chili in the months ahead. We also dried lots of these. They will be a nice hit of concentrated tomato flavor in the middle of the winter.

Plant again?

He-yes, preferring the flavor and the size over the Roma.

She-sure, why not.

black cherry tomato photo by vsimon

Black Cherry

A big cherry tomato. It is really too big for my mouth, so I cut them in half (and get only half an explosion) when I eat them raw. This tomato is maroon, tinged green, with a prominent stem and artistic spiky “fingers”. These fall to the bottom of the sink when we wash them, all the other tomatoes floated. Black Cherry tomatoes are heavy for their size, sweet and juicy. I also roast these at 350 degrees. This is a lower temp than I usually use. These have a high sugar content that turns into charcoal at high temperatures.

Plant again?

He-yes, to please she.

She-loved them, and him.

Black Kim tomato photo by vsimon

Black Kim

Large, but not humongous. Not pretty either, bumpy, lumpy, not bred for uniformity. They just don’t look appealing dried or blended for future use. Tasty though. Juicy, smooth flesh, rich tomato flavor. The plant was not vigorous.

Plant again?

He-no, based on color and weakly plants.

She-no, because he said no.

mortgage lifter tomato photo by vsimon

Mortgage Lifter

A great name for sure. These are lumpy, irregular, tangy tomato flavor, not sweet.

Plant again?

He-probably not. “They are OK, we’ll probably try something new.”

She-“I always like to try something new.”

peach tomatoes photo by vsimon

Peach

Small, round, and yellow. Sadly, there was no peach blush. The skin is fuzzy, disagreeably thick and tough. It sticks around too long in your mouth when you have finished chewing the rest of the flesh. We did not like them raw at all. They are  pretty dried and pureed though. I am sure they will be a welcome color in winter soups.

Plant again?

He-no.

She-no.

pineapple tomato photo by vsimon

Pineapple

These are lumpy, cracked, golden yellow streaked with orange. They are beautiful sliced, but unfortunately, have no pineapple flavor. A nice addition of color to the mixed dried tomatoes and the pureed ones in the freezer.

Plant again?

He-yes.

She-yes.

roma tomato photo by vsimon

Roma

A traditional paste tomato, less juicy and meatier than a slicer. Small and pear shaped, with a grainy, mealy texture.

Plant again?

He-only if we can’t get the Amish paste.

She-likes Romas and always has some.

Rose de Berne tomato photo by vsimon

Rose de Berne (aka Rosa at our house)

Medium sized, mild flavor, smooth skin, pinkish color. Lovely to stuff raw with chicken or tuna salad.  Rosa’s dry and puree well too.

Plant again?

He-yes!! The favorite!

She-yes.

tomato puree ready for the freezer photo by vsimon

What kinds of tomatoes did you plant this year? Which were good? Bad? Just ugly?

*This post will be submitted to Andrea’s Recipes Grow Your Own blogging event. Congratulations to Andrea and Grow Your Own, celebrating a two year anniversary!! It is a concept I heartily support and I want to encourage you all to share in the fun.

Usually we submit a recipe we make with our own, in season, home grown foods. I have no recipe today, but I am ready for a snowed in winter.

Tags: amish paste, black cherry, black kim, dried, frozen, mortgage lifter, peach, pineapple, pureed, roma, Rose de Berne, tomatoes