Corn and Tomatoes

    

HEAR YEE HEAR YEE:  Corn and tomatoes!  This week, yee shall get corn and tomatoes!

All season long, actually, all year long, we get asked when our corn and tomatoes will be ready.  We know you got some tomatoes last week, but let's not count that.  This week is THE week.  We hope those balloons help everyone's celebrations commence.  We're excited too.  The variety of sweet corn this week is called Bodacious Yellow.  Pretty tubular name, huh?  Here at Wooden Hill, we do not use any Genetically Modified seed.  For us, we've found that the toughest non GM seed to find is corn.  But we found it and it is delicious.  A quick note about the corn.  You may find a worm.  You may find 2+ worms.  Us farmers just break off the worm eaten part and use the rest.  If you would like to shuck your corn here at the farm and leave the compost for us, go right ahead.  You can then ensure that there are no surprises when you get home.  That is of course, unless someone has organized an actual surprise party for you.  If this is the case, happy birthday!

And now for a few words about our 17 varieties of tomatoes.  Ask us if you would like to know the name of the variety you are taking!  Mix and match to see which kinds you like.  We'd like you to become well versed in Tomato Land.  Here are some of the names of our all star varieties:  Pruden's Purple, Jubilee, Black Krim, Rutgers, Jet Star, Green Zebra, Sun Gold, Brandywine, Martian Giant, Consoluto Genovese, Cherokee Purple, Super Sweet 100.  The orange ones are less acidic.  The oblong ones are known as paste tomatoes (Amish Paste and Roma).  They are good for use in sauce.  The gnarly shaped ones are heirlooms, which are gaining popularity rapidly due to their magnificent and delicate flavors.  The normal looking ones are good too, so don't forget those guys.  

In other news, this week marks week 10 of our CSA!  This is the half way point!  A great big thank you to all you wonderful shareholders for giving our vegetables such wonderful homes.

CROP OF THE WEEK - TOMATOES

or as some would say, tom-oh-ten-totes.

It is widely known that tomatoes are considered a fruit, in that they contain seeds.  It is less known that tomatoes are actually perennials.  However, they are grown as annuals in our climate zone.  Tomatoes are thought to have originated in South America.  "The word tomato comes from the Aztec tomatl, literally 'the swelling fruit'." (quoted from Tomato wikipedia entry).  Tomatoes are high in lycopene (as are watermelons) which is an antioxidant.  Tomatoes are also high in Vitamin C.  Commercially, tomatoes are often picked unripe, and sprayed with ethylene gas to get them to ripen up.  These tomatoes do keep longer, but are less flavorful than those ripened on the vine, which is why supermarkets started selling tomatoes on the vine.  The scientific name for a tomato is Solanum lycopersicum which means 'wolf peach'.  Wolf peach is really fun to say.  Let's have some wolf peaches tonight, shall we?  And now for some wolf peach recipes:

WOLF PEACH RECIPE

GAZPACHO

from allrecipes

4 cups tomato juice

1 onion, minced

1 green bell pepper, minced

1 cucumber, chopped

2 cups chopped tomatoes

2 green onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

3 TBSP fresh lemon juice

2 TBSP red wine vinegar

1 tsp tarragon

1 tsp basil

1/4 cup parsley

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.  Blend or process until slightly chunky.  Chill for 2 hours in refrigerator.  Serve cold.  Enjoy!

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