WAKE UP PEOPLE
What smart choices
can we make for our bodies?
TOMATOES
As a heart healthy food, tomatoes have a compound called lutein which may help prevent the thickening of the arteries. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of Vitamin C, and a rich source of carotenoid lycopene, which is associated with a significant reduction in prostate cancer. Preliminary research shows that tomatoes protect against a number of other cancers - lung, stomach, breast, cervical, and the list goes on.
You are best off buying tomatoes from local farmers or growing your own. Commerical tomatoes are picked green and artificially ripened with ethylene gas. They look great, but lack in flavor.
My main source for nutritional information is a fabulous book titled The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D. C.N.S. This is the perfect reference to complement your cookbook collection.
BACK TO BASIC TOMATO SAUCE
Since our tomatoes didn't ripen last year, we ended up buying a big box of tomatoes from a farm stand to make and can our own sauce. We tried to work with the kitchen equipment we had on hand, and ran into some problems with the jars not sealing properly.
Linda Couture, cooking instructor and owner of The Stirring Spoon came to the rescue with the experience and the proper equipment and showed us how to seal our sauce properly. We have since purchased our own big pot with wire canning rack, ready to can our own homegrown tomatoes.
INGREDIENTS:
Olive oil
Garlic
Onion
Green pepper
Tomatoes
Basil
Oregano
Combine quantities to your own taste. This is what makes a tomato sauce unique. Crush or mince garlic. Chop onions and peppers.
To remove skin from tomatoes, scald tomatoes in boiling water and then dip into cold water for one minute. Remove skins, core, and chop.
Sweat garlic and onions in 3 tablespoons of olive oil by slowly simmering with the lid on. Add tomatoes and peppers and turn up to a low setting, and stir occasionally. Stir in chopped basil and oregano after you turn off the heat.
Joy of Cooking is a great resource for canning and jarring.
ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE
This recipe tastes fantastic and makes use of the abundant seasonal tomatoes & corn. Serves 4 as a main course or 8 as a first course or side dish
INGREDIENTS:
4 tomatoes, hollowed
1 cup cooked rice
1 t
1 T olive oil
1 T butter (or all olive oil)
½ cup thinly slice scallions
1 cup frozen or fresh corn kernels
1 cup The Stirring Spoon’s Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
1 ¼ cup of your favorite shredded cheese (I use Monterey Jack)
3 tbls thinly sliced fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 375°. Spray a baking dish large enough to hold your tomatoes. In a heavy sauté pan, large enough to hold all the ingredients except for the tomatoes add the olive oil and melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté the scallions and corn for 2 minutes to soften then add the rice just to heat through. Remove from the heat and add 1 cup of the cheese, ½ of the basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stuff the tomatoes with the mixture and place in the baking dish. Top with The Stirring Spoon’s Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, the remaining cheese and basil. Bake for 25 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft. If you wish, place the tomatoes under the broiler to brown the cheese.
RHODE ISLAND GREEN SALSA
A tablespoon of two of Rhode Island Red Sauce spices up a green tomato salsa while adding the cancer fighting power of habanero peppers.
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups green tomatoes, chopped
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup sweet onion, minced
juice of 1/2 lime
2 Tablespoons of Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend
1-2 Tablespoons Rhode Island Red Sauce
1/4 cup basil leaves, shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all and chill. For more information on how hot peppers effect cancer visit www.thedoctorwhocures cancer.com.
Here's a link to a great video that explains the proper way to harvest heirloom seeds. Last year, we bought plants at the Robin Hollow Farm plant sale in North Kingstown. Check their website for the exact date in mid-May.
