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Tomato Goodness & Giveaway Winners

Tomato Salad


The skies above the creek are getting black and threatening. On a Friday. It’s warm. It’s just getting pitch black and on the eve of a busy weekend, I am hoping to counteract the atmosphere with some sunshine on our plates!

Let’s me start with a good dose of bonne humeur (good spirit) by announcing the lucky winners of Beatrice’s cookbook, La Tartine Gourmande – Recipe For An Inspired Life:
Congratulations Melissa at I breathe…I am hungry and Heather at DIY Du Jour. Please send me your email your mailing address at mytartelette AT gmail DOT com and I will notify Bea’s publisher.

Heirloom Tomatoes


I don’t have a "real" recipe today, more a little something I put together for lunch the other day. Layers of ricotta seasoned with chopped oregano, salt and pepper and yellow tomatoes. It was refreshing and filling. You can make the layers as tall or as thin as you want. In retrospect I would have let the ricotta drain a little in between layers of cheesecloth to make it a bit firmer. But for an impromptu lunch with my husband, it worked like a charm as it was.

It’s already tomato and asparagus season here. It’s been warm and humid. Perfect to let things grow in the gardens around. We have wild blackberries growing in the marsh behind our house already. A month early…I’m not complaining though. That means refreshing tomato salad and blackberry pies a month early too!

Tomato & Ricotta Napoleon


I think my favorite way to enjoy the tiny heirloom tomatoes from our neighbors' garden is simply with some oregano (again…one of my favorites), salt and pepper and a drizzle of really pungent olive oil. Make a little, make a lot…

But always eat with pleasure and joy. Tomatoes this good always bring sunshine on a rainy day!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tomato Salad

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Comments


Ilan @ IronWhisk.com March 9, 2012 um 8:48 pm

Helene, these look delicious!

I'll have to try out the tomato + ricotta combination and post about it ๐Ÿ™‚


Kiran @ KiranTarun.com March 9, 2012 um 10:16 pm

I would literally survive only on that plates of delicious tomatoes. Gorgeous photos, Helene ๐Ÿ™‚


[email protected] March 10, 2012 um 12:41 am

Oh I love anything with Ricotta cheese. Looks heavenly!


Nieves March 10, 2012 um 12:49 am

Bea's book is amazing! I love your little sunshine on your plate it makes me dream of summertime.


Anonymous March 10, 2012 um 1:22 am

Simple but so good! I can hardly wait to walk outside and grab a tomato off the vine.

Can I ask…what do you recommend for a "pungent" oil? I recently began using sesame olive oil and am slightly addicted!

Love you blog and love your book…I reference it several times a day. ๐Ÿ™‚
Sarah


Helene March 10, 2012 um 1:30 am

Sarah: i think you read too fast. I said pungent olive oil.


Veronica Roth March 10, 2012 um 2:20 am

I'm saving your ideas. The tomatoes I grew last summer were so good I got spoilt for store bought! Looking forward to fresh tomatoes again.


Maureen March 10, 2012 um 4:41 am

Is there anything better than a vine ripened tomato? I think not.


Averie @ Averie Cooks March 10, 2012 um 6:08 am

lovely stack of tomato/cheese. And the aqua blue plate…gorgeous!

congrats to the winners!


Stephanie Hadrath March 10, 2012 um 9:15 am

Looks yummy !!! Congratulation to the winners!!!
xxx from Spain
stephaniehadrath.blogspot.com
shbyhadrath.blogspot.com


growntocook March 10, 2012 um 10:10 am

It is already tomato season where you live?! I am so jealous! I will only start sowing tomatoes next week and can't plant them out before mid May… For now I'm still posting recipes for root vegetables and winter squash…


Helene March 10, 2012 um 3:17 pm

Growntocook: yes, it is! Few people realize or know that South Carolina has a sub tropical climate. Asparagus are in and strawberries will be here next month!


Veronica for Muy Bueno Cookbook March 10, 2012 um 3:45 pm

Simple and refreshing. I always come to your sight for inspiration. Your photography is stunning and recipes simple…gracias!


Nina March 10, 2012 um 4:36 pm

Wow…Helen your entire blog is worth drooling.You give life to these pictures…fantastic.I just love it:)


Anonymous March 10, 2012 um 8:48 pm

I just love this post….the simplicity in the ingredients, recipes…the boldness in the colors and words.. Just beautiful. Thank you!


WokandSpoon March 10, 2012 um 10:47 pm

Veggies from the garden always taste better. That tomato almost looks purple!


Jen Laceda | Milk Guides March 11, 2012 um 6:10 am

i love the organic shade of your plates ๐Ÿ™‚ and the colour…reminds me if spring / summer!


Kelly-Jane March 11, 2012 um 9:16 am

Beautiful, especially the yellow tower ๐Ÿ™‚


Rachel March 11, 2012 um 10:58 am

I don't mind that there is no 'real' recipe today, thanks for all the tomato inspiration! I can;t wait till the summer when I'll have a whole load of the home gown variety to have fun in the kitchen with!


Sini March 11, 2012 um 12:58 pm

Seems like a perfect appetizer (maybe using coctail tomatoes..?) for my moms birthday party. Thank you for the inspiration!


mellissa March 11, 2012 um 5:19 pm

Helene I just want to say thanks so much for hosting the giveaway and I can't wait to get Bea's book! Living in SC myself I just picked some asparagus yesterday, and was excited to see that my fig tree already has tons of tiny figs on it – I love this climate! My tomato seedlings are already 3 inches high and my peppers are just sprouting now – hooray for spring!


Marina March 12, 2012 um 3:34 am

Helene, I am here for a very first time. I've learned about this blog from the book you wrote Plate to Pixel. I love the book, and slowly, I immerse myself into the absolutely new photo world. The book is friendly written, easy to read and to follow. Magnificent pictures! I am so glad to be here. Thank you for opening the door of food photography in a not intimidating way…


Colette (Coco) March 12, 2012 um 3:50 pm

The ricotta stacks are so pretty. I did individual capreses like that once. So pretty.


Sara March 12, 2012 um 4:29 pm

Having not seen a good tomato in ages now, I am looking so forward to getting good ones at the market again. That looks fantastic!


Rocky Mountain Woman March 12, 2012 um 5:12 pm

I am so hungry for spring! It appears to be a little early here also, but the long term weather is forecasting snow this weekend! No tomatoes here for at least four months!!!


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