What’s for dinner tonight? Tomatoes.
It’s been a running joke at our house over the last six weeks or so. This year, we relocated our family garden to the field behind our home and doubled its size. In retrospect, that was probably unnecessary; this new location seems to provide ideal growing conditions! So, we have been enjoying tomatoes in every form. Tomatoes in sauces, tomatoes in salads, and tomatoes alone. And the most frequent version, which is my favorite—cherry tomatoes, good olive oil, a little coarse salt, and burrata.
Summer brings back memories of nights by the pool and a simple meal like this when I was just a kid.
After a long day of farming, my dad would return with our dinner straight from the field. Back then, it was often fresh sweet corn and watermelon he’d grown himself. The meal was as simple as that, just like my tomatoes. The joy of these summer treasures is that the real work and effort has already happened. Tended from seedling to harvest-all that’s left is to enjoy it.
When the meal itself is simple, with nature’s own ingredients, we are blessed with more time to just sit around the table together. Or when I was a girl, it would have been more time in the pool and more time as a family.
What’s ripe where you are?
Maybe you are lucky enough to have your own garden, or a great farmers market nearby. There are so many ways to enjoy the simplicity of the season. Dinner this week doesn’t have to be complicated. Save the effort for the people you share it with.
Tonight, we are planning to eat outside again and enjoy that time of day where the heat gives way to the Delta Breezes and all that’s left to do is pass the tomatoes.
