Local Flavor: Let’s Talk Tomatoes
“A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins”
-Laurie Colwin
First things first, tomatoes have to be one of the most vibrant fruits (or vegetables? I’m not here to debate), but really, it is just an incredible red tone. There is even a Sherwin Williams paint color called Red Tomato (SW6607) that gives the perfect red hue to a room. As a designer, when I visit any farmers market, those round, bright-red bursts of color always stand out! Oxford folks: we’ve got info on our two farmer’s markets at the end of this article!
Fresh, homegrown tomatoes are an absolute game changer in any application. When produce comes from a friend, family, or local garden it not only tastes better, but it has a story... you TASTE the love! Growing up, my daddy always planted a garden. This garden provided the best tomatoes, butter beans, black eyed peas, squash, cantaloupe, eggplant, and, of course, we always had to have a watermelon patch. This is why I feel there is nothing better than produce from local gardens. Like my daddy said when I was little... it is pretty amazing that you can put a seed in the ground, watch it grow, and produce the things that nourish us; this is so true in all we do: if you nurture anything it will grow, and the blessings will nourish us.
Like minded people seem to always flock to local farmers markets, so you’re sure to have an amazing time no matter where you are. I think food is another medium to express creative energy. So here, I want to share my tomato pie recipe I created with a homemade crust that compliments the filling. These delicious tomatoes came from Bost Farm in Water Valley (thanks, Marty & Eileen)- please support your local farmers!
In Oxford, MS, we are super lucky to have two farmers markets that provide us a plethora of homegrown goods. One is Mid-Town shopping center right in the middle of town on Wednesday and Saturday 7-11am May through October (www.mtfarmersmarket.com). Another option is Oxford Community Market, which is at the Old Armory Pavilion every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm from April to November. There is always a chance to snag some locally grown goods!
Duck’s Tomato Pie
Ingredients:
▪ 4 home grown tomatoes Chopped and/or diced (or 4 medium sized tomatoes best you can
find)
▪ 12 Fresh Basil leaves finely chopped
▪ 1/2 cup of finely chopped red onion (you can use yellow onion or vidalia onion)
▪ 4-5 Anaheim pepper chopped (you can use jalapeños or serrano pepper depending on your
heat preference)
▪ A 9-inch pre-baked pie crust (linked here)
▪ 1/2 cup of Sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
▪ 1/2 cup of Mozzarella Cheese Shredded
▪ 1/2 cup of White Cheddar Cheese Shredded
▪ 3/4 cup of Duke’s Mayonnaise (or half mayo, half Greek yogurt)
▪ 2 Tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
▪ salt and freshly ground pepper
Optional: add 4-6 slices of chopped, cooked bacon
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Place the tomatoes in a colander over a bowl press with your hand to get rid of the excess
juice, layer with salt and set aside (beware: too much juice will make pie soggy)
3. In separate bowl, combine grated cheese and Duke’s mayonnaise.
4. Remove tomatoes from colander and place in bowl. Combine with freshly ground pepper, red onion,
peppers, and basil together and then place in bottom of pre-baked pie crust
5. Spread cheese and mayo mixture over the top of tomatoes
6. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow 15 minutes to rest before cutting and
serving
