Have you all been swooning over these summer tomatoes as much as I have? I’m not going to say there is nothing better than a perfect summer tomato, because you already know that, not to mention that the phrase is overused and eye-roll worthy. And in reality, there really is nothing better than the perfect summer _____ (fill in any vegetable or fruit).
Walk into our kitchen and you’ll see mounds of fruit peeking out over the tops of bowls, tomatoes rolling around the counters, vegetables jamming up our refrigerator drawers, and cutting boards dripping with freshly cut fruit and vegetable juice. Oh, it is so good!
Between our overflowing vegetable garden and the farmers market, we are all happy as clams. Don’t miss out on all of these fresh ingredients. I have recently become really enthusiastic and inspired to eat seasonally. I love my meals being dictated by what the earth is providing RIGHT NOW. It has been a real shift in thinking. As a result, eating and meal planning are much more enjoyable (and they were pretty darn good before). It is like the childhood experience of Christmas over and over agin. What do we get to make today? In addition to all this, it is such a joy participating in the community of farmers and local entrepreneurs. It is all just so wonderful. So get out there and get some if you haven’t found your way to your local farm stand/market. Or get your hands in the dirt and start your own garden. This is our first year growing our own vegetables and we are already planning on expanding for next year. It seemed overwhelming before we started, but once you get going you start to get a feel for how things should look, feel, etc…
I don’t like complication. I like simplicity and letting things be what they are. Both with food and people. In my kitchen you are not going to find fancy sauces or dishes with long ingredient lists. This is especially true in the summer when I want the pure taste of what I’ve harvested to sing out. See also my beans on toast post for simple eating with fresh ingredients.
This ode to tomatoes is a nod to simplicity and letting great ingredients take over your senses. I questioned whether to share this recipe, because it is not really a recipe, but I find minimal, inspiring. Hopefully you all do too. My No-Knead Bread is the perfect pairing with these tomatoes.
And these tomatoes! This is my lunch for the next 6-7 weeks.
Get out there and get your tomato on!
- Fresh local tomatoes, any size and variety will work, the more different colors and varieties the better
- Fresh-from-the-oven No Knead Bread sliced
- Vegenaise (or your favorite high quality mayonnaise)
- Sea salt & pepper to taste
- Slice tomatoes.
- Sprinkle with sea salt (and pepper if you like; I love it with just salt). Let rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Toast a slice of freshly baked crusty-style bread until it is nice and crunchy.
- Slather toast with Vegenaise, don't skimp on the Vegenaise.
- Layer on your tomatoes.
- Swoon!
That fancy bread slicing GIF above is thanks to Dana over at Minimalist Baker. Thanks, Dana for all of your technical resources!
As always, I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe and simplistic, minimal-ingredient-style eating in general. Either post a comment, send me an email, or post your tomato photos to Instagram, tag them #thescratchartist
~Kathryn
This is so beautiful- home-baked bread holla at me. The other day I was shoveling zebra tomatoes into my mouth because my eyes and my belly were hungry for them- so double hunger. Oddly enough I have become more interested in seasonal eating after moving from California to New England. YUM.
Home baked bread is where it’s at! My love of creating food started with pie and then quickly turned to bread. My family has become accustomed to only eating fresh baked bread, so I end up making 3 loaves a week. Fresh bread all the time – YES! Zebra tomatoes, nice!
Yes! Eating seasonally is like Christmas over and over – I couldn’t have said it better myself! It’s so exciting seeing what we’ll be able to eat as the seasons change. Your tomatoes look amazing, unlike my garden which was a bit of a flop this year (lol). Love your pics too, by the way!
Hi Sarah,
Seasonal eating is so wonderful. Sorry to hear about your garden. My zucchini were a bit of a flop this year. We got three and then they started turning all brown before they got bigger than my pinky 🙁
Wow Kathryn! These photos are absolutely stunning. I too, love the smell and taste of homemade bread. Happy baking to you!
Thanks, Lauren! I’ve been in a tomato frame of mind, as you can tell.
Oh My God these photos! I want to reach right through and grab a tomato off that vine! I just got back from a trip to the lake, where LOTS of homemade bread and fresh tomatoes were involved. AKA my paradise. I’m craving it all over again looking at your post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Liz,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I spent a lot of time getting these photos to look just how I wanted. I still have so much to learn about photography and how to properly use my camera. A lake view was the only thing missing from my enjoyment of these crunchy tomato breads!
Hi Kathryn. This recipe is just delicious! I love the way you’ve illustrated the abundance of produce in your home – I am largely living that life right now as well – something always seems to be rolling off the counter when I turn my back, or the dog is running away with another carrot in her mouth! You put it so wisely when you say “I love my meals being dictated by what the earth is providing RIGHT NOW” – this is one of the greatest influences in my life. Being able to utilize the earth to grow for ourselves is basic and simple but ever so powerful. Love tomatoes and love home-made bread! Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures. 🙂
Hi Danielle,
Isn’t all this summer produce great? Your kitchen/garden adventures sound wonderful. We recently started growing our own food and now we can’t imagine doing anything else. You are so sweet to comment on my photos. I am pushing myself to learn and grow as a photographer every day.
Beautiful photos! I’d like one of these right now please. 🙂 Those tomatoes are stunning! And this dish looks delicious. Will have to make this weekend! We are entertaining guests and this would be perfect to serve. Thanks for sharing! xo
Thanks, Jenn! I hope it is a hit with your guests. The flavor of the whole grain toast with the tomatoes…perfection!
I’ve been eating so many tomatoes! My family is visiting at the moment and I think they are beginning to tire of them, but I’m not! Those tomatoes are beautiful and yep, I’ve been acting like a kid during Christmas because summer produce is just so good. I enjoy fall and winter produce, but it’s just not the same. Winter squash is amazing for the first few weeks, and then all I want are some ripe strawberries or tomatoes. Yay for homemade bread! I’ve been meaning to do it for a while now…. sourdough starter needs to happen!
ME TOO! Summer produce beats winter produce every time. Not even close. Homemade bread is where it’s at. I’ve gotten into a groove where I end up making about a loaf a week for me and my family. It is so worth the time investment and it is so much better than anything I can buy near me. Enjoy the rest of your tomatoes!
Hi Kathryn,
Your caption an “ode to the summer tomato” is spot on. Summer tomatoes ARE pure poetry! Your photos are stunning and drool worthy. I’ve been feeding my family and guests fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, drizzled with really great Italian olive oil and balsamic vinegar, almost every day. Thank you for your recipe and for sharing your joy with what the earth provides “right now.’ I particularly love your take on life that you whisk in so gracefully with your recipes. Thank you.
Thank you, Naushad. Tomatoes with a little olive oil and basil is perfection. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on my posts. I really appreciate it.