Heirloom Tomatoes

Have you ever seen those funny shaped multi-colored tomatoes in the market?

Heirloom tomatoes come in many varieties and are full of flavor.

I picked up a giant, juicy red one this week at the supermarket. It was so big, it looked like another tomato was growing out of its side.

I sliced it up, sprinkled on a little salt, and it was perfect.

Run to your market and enjoy these ugly beautiful tomatoes while they are in season.

Growing Tomatoes Again

This time from seeds. They look big in this photo but they’re only about and inch tall.

These are Cherry Roma Tomatoes. I found them at seedsavers.org.

Here is the description from the Web site:

Cherry Roma Tomato
Incredibly heavy set of 1″ long plum-shaped fruits. Addictive sweet-spicy flavor, great fresh or dried. Fruits hold well for extended periods. Similar in appearance to grocery store grape tomatoes, but actually has good flavor!

Packet of 50 seeds $2.75

I’m also growing some flowers, but they are much, much smaller at this point. If I’m successful I’ll take a pictures of them when they bloom.

Have you planted anything this year?

My Tomatoes

I’ve been growing tomatoes in a pot in my backyard.

After weeks of waiting, one of them is finally starting to turn color. Hopefully, soon I will be enjoying a fresh, homegrown tomato salad.

I have a notoriously black thumb. Once I even watered a potted plant for several months before I realized it was fake. So these tomatoes are no small achievement. I am particularly proud of these little darlings.

Have you ever tried to grow your own vegetables?

Eat Your Way to a Flat Stomach

As the weather gets warmer and we need to shed some of our protective layers of clothing, our bellies become the focal point of our wardrobes.

The following superfoods will help flatten your tummy and curb your appetite:

Spinach – a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate, this dark green leafy vegetable helps build muscle and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis.

Yogurt – yogurt cultures fight bacteria in your body, boost your immune system, help protect againt cancer and even fight cavities. But be sure to chose yogurt with live and active cultures, not the sugar-filled ones found in most supermarkets. Read the label and avoid any containing high-fructose corn syrup.

Tomatoes – the godsend of Italians, red tomatoes are are packed with the antioxidant lycopene, which can help decrease the risk of bladder, lung, prostate, breast, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Chunk up some tomatoes, sprinkle with a little oregano and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Yum.

Carrots – most red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids, which reduce the risk of cancer, and help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Carrots are low in calories and taste sweet and yummy. Add them to salads or crunch on a handful of baby carrots as a snack.

Blueberries – possibly one of the best berries on Earth. Full of anioxidants, rich in fiber and packed with Vitamins A and C, blueberries help prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and age-related memory disorders. They’ll also give you a good cleaning out.

Black Beans – Beans, bean, good for your heart, the more you eat the more you…you know the rest. All beans are good for you but black beans have special brain-boosting powers. They’re full of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that have been shown to improve brain function.

Walnuts – loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s, and anti-inflammatory polyphenols and muscle-building protein, walnuts are one of the healthiest snacks you can eat. They also help curb your appetite if you eat a handful about a half hour before a meal.

Oats – packed with soluble fiber and protein, oats help lower the risk of heart disease and feed your muscles with energy. There’s a reason for the sayings “sow your oats” and “feel your oats.” Oats rock.

Try to work these eight wonderfoods into your diet every day.

While you’re at it, try to take these American staples in moderation: potatoes, white bread, white flour, refined white sugar, white rice, semolina pasta, basically most white foods. They don’t call them stick-to-your-ribs foods for nothing.

Green, red, orange, blue and black. Paint your diet with these colors and you’ll feel better and look better, too.

Source: Yahoo Health: 8 Ultimate Flat-Belly Summer Foods

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Earlier today, I was shopping at Sprouts, an organic supermarket, and they had a large display of heirloom tomatoes.

I’ve always been curious about this strange-looking fruit. They’re so beautiful in a non-traditional way, with their variety of shapes and colors.

So, I brought some home and made a simple salad. I cut the tomatoes into rough chunks, sprinkled them with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. I added a generous helping of oregano, then tossed the mixture with a little balsamic vinegar and plenty of extra virgin olive oil.

It’s not really prime tomato season here in California right now. Late summer is best. But the weather was mild today and the heirlooms made a tasty treat.