Fresh tomatoes
are beginning to pop up in gardens and farmer's markets. But if
they need ripening, store them at room temperature in a brown paper
bag, not in sunshine where they will get mushy. Only ripened tomatoes
should be stored in the refrigerator since the cold air stops the
ripening process. Keep in mind that tomatoes freeze very well. So,
this is an ideal time to blanch and freeze them for use after the
season's end.
When
tomatoes are in season, consider a fresh centerpiece of them piled
in a basket and intertwined with flowers. Another idea is to build
a centerpiece with cans of tomatoes, topped with fresh or dried
sunflowers. Pick cans that coordinate with the colors of your
place settings. Place flowers in a vase or florist's pail and
position them behind the cans. Add straw as a background if desired
and place on the table or sideboard.
The
easiest way to fill a muffin pan is to use an ice cream scoop, the
ones that have a lever to push the batter from the scoop into each
individual muffin cup. The scoop also doubles as a cup-measure tool
in helping evenly divide the batter into the pan. You can also buy
a small scoop that is meant for dropping cookie dough onto a non-stick
sheet pan. *pan
courtesy of G&S
Metal Products Company, Inc.
The
term "hot watermelon" sounds contradictory, but not when you are
talking about pairing it up with jalapeno peppers. Try our fast
and fun recipe for watermelon salsa that can be served with breakfast
eggs, chicken or as a condiment for hors d'oeuvres.
1
cup diced seedless watermelon
3/4
cup diced strawberries
1/4
cup diced red onion
2
tbsp. diced & seeded jalapeno chili
2
tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint leaves
2
tbsp. olive oil
1
tbsp. lime juice
1
tsp. sugar
Gently
stir together the diced watermelon,
strawberries, red onion,
jalapeno chili, mint leaves, olive
oil, lime juice and sugar. Cover
and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow
the flavors to blend. Makes 2cups.
Watermelon
is the quintessential thirst quencher...a non-fat, refreshing symbol
of summer that can be prepared in many ways. Choose melons that
are a shiny green with buttery yellow bottoms that show where they
rested while ripening in the field. Avoid melons with bruises, dents,
or brown spots on the bottom.
When
tomatoes are in season, consider a fresh centerpiece of them piled
in a basket and intertwined with flowers. Another idea is to build
a centerpiece with cans of tomatoes, topped with fresh or dried
sunflowers. Pick cans that coordinate with the colors of your
place settings. Place flowers in a vase or florist's pail and
position them behind the cans. Add straw as a background if desired
and place on the table or sideboard. 
The
easiest way to fill a muffin pan is to use an ice cream scoop, the
ones that have a lever to push the batter from the scoop into each
individual muffin cup. The scoop also doubles as a cup-measure tool
in helping evenly divide the batter into the pan. You can also buy
a small scoop that is meant for dropping cookie dough onto a non-stick
sheet pan. *pan
courtesy of 
The
term "hot watermelon" sounds contradictory, but not when you are
talking about pairing it up with jalapeno peppers. Try our fast
and fun recipe for watermelon salsa that can be served with breakfast
eggs, chicken or as a condiment for hors d'oeuvres.
