Tomatopalooza!

So the weather pattern has hopefully broken for good -- two whole days of cool after some very violent storms (that brought much-needed rain) this weekend.  After this Very Hot Weekend.  We couldn't even move, truly.

But the "Chernobyl Garden" (so dubbed by friends who visited this weekend and witnessed the size of our basil and our Prize Tomato) has been pumping out produce, encouraged by the heat as much as discouraged by the total lack of water. 

The tomatoes are in full swing, and we have collected some amazing ones so far.  Some of the plants that are planted on the flat area with less soil have suffered more mightily from lack of water -- the plants totally shut down and have started putting their all into the fruit that they put out already.  Can you say "did someone put sugar on my tomato?"  Funny how I've heard this so many times from winemakers and never internalized it. . . until now.  In drought years, the plants shut down and the sugars on the remaing fruit?  They go through the roof!  Yummy for Russian Black tomatoes, for sure.  Not so good for canning, though.  There might not be much canning this year.

We are tracking the progress of one particular tomato (we mixed up the plants somehow and are not sure what is what, but it is either a Jefferson Davis or a German Gold) that is now roughly the size of your head.  Hoping and praying it can attain ripeness for final photo at least.  Seriously, this thing is County Fair Worthy.

When it was cool in the mornings last weekend I cooked the first Ratatouille (although had to buy a pepper, as those have steadfastly refused to do anything at all this year).  And it was very, very good.  I modified my technique a la Lulu this year (vs. Elizabeth David last year) and Lulu rules.  This merits a full post once I make another and prove it was not a fluke.  Also made two summer-variations on Pissaladiere -- once with just tomato (spread slightly pre-baked pastry with mustard, strew sliced tomatoes minus a few seeds soas to be not too wet, plus anchovies, herbs, olives and a bit of olive oil) and once with onions (caramelized with some anchovies, then tomato slices on top with olives, olive oil, herbs).  Both good and consumed without argument by all present.

Life -- still a little testy.  Vacation to Secret Location at the beginning of next month will hopefully help matters.  As will regular trips to the gym come hell or high water to work off angst and (sadly) less time in front of the computer.

But I have many pictures to post -- new fence!  That prize tomato!  My long-promised garlic shots!  If I can only remember to bring the camera back from time to time, these will appear in the near future.  Meanwhile. . .  having the fan on is infinitely better than AC.  Long live cool nights!  Long live the rest of August!

Comments

[carlakeet]

I'm impressed with all your garlic. Especially because I bought a bunch on impulse last week - for $5. If you decide to sell you could make some serious money there!

[Meg]

The thought did cross my mind that garlic might be a pretty good cash crop. . . . and legal, too!!
However we will most likely go through our roughly 100 heads (lost count after a while) quickly. . . and have to save some to replant, after all.