By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Gardening can be an expensive endeavor especially for the beginning gardener.

Tools, plants, fertilizer, containers, stakes, and cages are just a few of the items on any gardener’s list of needs not wants.

One approach is to share tools and containers with other gardeners but another approach is to start your tomato garden indoors.

This means not producing hothouse tomatoes but instead growing your tomatoes from seed.

Starting tomatoes from seed is not a difficult task and requires very little extra equipment. Containers, such as cardboard milk cartoons, egg cartoons, and even pots made from newspaper will work to start seeds in if the gardener does not have flats. The next required piece of the puzzle is Read the rest of this entry »

By David Harbilas

To me it takes little to make a great sauce, and this one is not much more than tomatoes and brandy.

In fact, the key ingredient is the time to allow the sauce to simmer and the flavors to combine.

A mild protein like pork is a perfect foil, thiough it would obviously go well with more assertive meats like steak, pheasant or even venison.

Serves 4

• 1 pork loin, about 1 pound
• 3 tablespoons dried thyme
• 3 tomatoes, rough chopped
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 stick of butter Read the rest of this entry »

By David Harbilas

Sauces are often a mystery to people, and yet it is often so much a matter of simplicity and technique that combining ingredients and being innovative is the least of one’s concerns.

Onions, for instance, are such a versatile ingredient–they can be used raw, marinated, roasted, sautéed, grilled, and stewed.

Brandy is so assertive that it seems natural to pair it with something sweet, and tomatoes are a great third part to the sauce.

Given all the rich flavors, chicken is a good protein to serve this sauce with.

Serves 4

• 1 roasting chicken
• 1 large onion, rough chopped
• 2 tomatoes, rough chopped
• 1 cup brandy Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Tomatoes are great for salads, pasta sauces, juice, and even as a possible cancer therapy.

But a little known fact about the simple tomato is that it can be used to generate electricity.

Any type of tomato will work but green ones are much better since they are more acidic.

The following information will get you started on this project and dazzle your gardening friends with the magic from the garden.

If one would like to do this with children as a science experiment try testing how much electricity is produced and what types of tomatoes produce the most. To get the hypothesis juices flowing consider testing homegrown verses hydroponics or paste verses beefsteak.

Supplies

• 1 medium to large green or red tomato
• Knife and cutting board
• Spoon Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Planting tomatoes in a planter on the patio does not appeal to all gardeners.

Some individuals require more style from their patio plantings.

This is where understanding companion plantings comes into play and aids the tomato gardener in their planter creations.

A patio container needs to have a drainage holes in the bottom to prevent the plant material from rotting. This is very important when it comes to tomatoes.

Next, knowing what type of tomato will work for this type of planting is crucial. Determinate or patio tomatoes are the best types to use for container gardening.

Both these types do not require trellising Read the rest of this entry »

By David Harbilas

I feel like I should know more about Greek cuisine, since my father was raised by Greek immigrants and spoke the language fluently.

Sadly, I know little more than dolmades, keftides, and spanekopita.

But chefs often “think” in flavors, and though I do not know if this dish has any basis in traditional Greek cooking I do know that the flavors are unmistakably Greek and dependent on tomatoes.

The best, ripest tomatoes work well in this sauce, and if none are available then less than ripe tomatoes that have been roasted and pureed will do.

Serves 4

• 1 large roasting chicken
• 2 tablespoons dried Greek oregano
• 1 lemon, halved Read the rest of this entry »