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tomatoes on the vine
Recipe With Heart
The Best Farmers Market Salsa with 7 Catskills Ingredients

Catskills Seasonality

July – September

Must-Know Tomato Facts

  • The tomato is the state fruit of New Jersey (yes, tomatoes are a fruit!)
  • The largest tomato ever grown was 7 lbs. 12 oz in 1986…that record has yet to be broken.
  • Scientists believe the first tomatoes came from South and Central America; wild tomatoes are still found in the Andes Mountains.

Beet Storage Tips

To ripen green tomatoes, store in indirect light or in a paper bag. Ripe tomatoes should be kept on the counter – not in the fridge where they will become mealy and mushy.

Prep & Usage

  • Choose plump unblemished tomatoes with a distinct tomato smell
  • Green tomatoes will ripen! Don’t pass them up at the market
  • Don’t use aluminum foil to store tomatoes or tomato dishes; tomatoes are acidic and can react with the aluminum after a few days creating a metallic taste
garden salsa
Featured Recipe
Best Ever Market Fresh Salsa
INGREDIENTS (♥ = Fresh from the Catskills!)

2 pint containers of tomatoes (any variety), about 4 cups chopped ♥
1 bell pepper, diced ♥
1 onion, chopped ♥
1 green onion, chopped ♥
Half bunch of cilantro, chopped ♥
2 garlic cloves, minced ♥
1 jalapeno (use protective gloves when chopping) ♥
1 lime, juiced
Salt and pepper, to taste

 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve with tortilla chips.

 

TIPS FOR MAKING SALSA

  • Try substituting a cucumber for the bell pepper, it adds a hint of sweetness without sacrificing texture
  • Add corn: boiled, grilled, or fresh off the cobb!
  • Or, for added protein, add in a cup of black beans
  • Like spicy salsa? Ask farmers if they offer a hotter pepper, or just add in extra jalapeno
Recipes With Heart