Local Food Journey

arugula, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chard, corn, fava beans, garlic scapes, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, oregano, parsley, radishes, rhubarb, scallions, spinach, squash, strawberries, thyme, tomatoes, zucchini

All Posts including “tomato”

A quick meal at the shore

When you prepare for a beach vacation, there are so many things to think about that often, you are not thinking about that first meal you will eat when you arrive. You just tell yourself, “we’ll just run to a restaurant or grab a pizza and take it to the house.” Yes, a restaurant with your favorite fresh crab cakes or flounder! That’s it!

But then reality hits—everyone is happy by the time you ditch the traffic and smell that sea breeze, but everyone is also ravenous! Waiting time for a meal at a restaurant will not work for little people who have been done with the day before dinner arrives. Even waiting for a pizza seems too long. What to do?

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Posted by LacCreta Holland on 08/02, 2017 at 07:29 AM

So you grow the best tomatoes ever, eh? Here’s your chance to prove it

Nothing beats homegrown tomatoes, and of course, everyone thinks they grow the best ones. Really, the argument is sort of moot because any garden tomato is pretty great, but here’s your chance to prove to central PA who has the best. This Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tait Farm Foods will hold their annual Tomato Festival, featuring a variety of tomato contests, including a home-grown tomato taste-off.

Continue Reading: So you grow the best tomatoes ever, eh? Here’s your chance to prove it

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 08/16, 2016 at 10:41 AM

Tags: tomato | cooking | TaitFarm |

How to extend your garden-fresh tomato season

One of the better garden writers out there is Doug Oster, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Last week, he wrote about tomatoes and how to save them for, believe it or not, Thanksgiving dinner.

That got me thinking; despite our cold morning last Sunday (we got down to 30 degrees in Port Matilda) somehow, someway, my tomato plants survived it despite not being covered. So, this idea of fresh tomatoes in November has a lot of appeal to me and given our mild weather forecasted for the next week or two, any remaining tomatoes can be encouraged to ripen.

Continue Reading: How to extend your garden-fresh tomato season

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/14, 2014 at 08:50 AM

Tags: gardening | tomatoes |

Recipe: Roasted tomatoes offer a tasty way to say farewell to summer

By LaCreta Holland

Summer is still producing my favorite veggies, but with a nip in the air, not for much longer! I shopped at the Tuesday Farmers Market in Boalsburg this week and found very good prices on the last tomatoes of the summer. I don’t look forward to winter, so a basket of tomatoes right now really makes me smile. There are lots of ways I want to use them, now and in the future.

I like to use them fresh in pasta dishes. This angel hair pasta is mixed with grilled shrimp. Garlic and tomatoes sauteed in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil are added and a handful of julienne basil are mixed in. A very fresh tasting pasta for the end of the summer.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Roasted tomatoes offer a tasty way to say farewell to summer

Posted by Local Food Journey on 09/18, 2014 at 11:09 AM

Tags: recipe | pasta | tomatoes |

Believe it or not, still time to plant summer vegetables/herbs/flowers

While many of us have a full garden by now, there may still be holes to fill due to rascally rabbits, devious deer, disastrous disease. Or, you just haven’t had a chance to get out and plant certain parts of your yard. No worries, believe it or not, there’s still time to plant summer vegetables (and soon time to plant fall vegetables, more about that in a future post). And there are bargains to be found at local garden centers/greenhouses.

For vegetables, we basically have about 80-90 days left in our growing season, depending on where you live. So, any plant that matures by that time, you can plant and harvest.

Continue Reading: Believe it or not, still time to plant summer vegetables/herbs/flowers

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 07/07, 2014 at 08:24 AM

Slow-roasted tomatoes are a revelation of flavor

Even this late in the season, you probably still have tomatoes in your garden, and if you’re not a gardener, probably still see good-looking tomatoes at farmers markets. If you are a serious tomato-lover, you’ve turned them into sauce, whipped up some salsa, canned them, frozen them, made some sort of pasta, made tomato salad, etc. You may think, like I did, that you’ve tried just about every use for those wonderful globes of deliciousness. But, I can recommend one way to use tomatoes that is positively amazing and yes, a revelation of flavor—slow-roasting them.

Continue Reading: Slow-roasted tomatoes are a revelation of flavor

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 09/20, 2013 at 08:02 AM

Tags: tomato | recipe |

Local Food recipes for Labor Day

Labor Day already? Seems like the start of summer was about two weeks ago. Time truly does fly, and soon the focus here on Local Food Journey will turn to autumn-y things like pumpkins, apples, winter squash, soups, etc. All the things we like to have when the weather gets frosty and footballs replaces baseballs.

But let’s not bury summer yet. There’s plenty of warm weather to go, including September. Here’s three great recipes that together make for a fantastic Labor Day grill meal.

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Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 08/29, 2013 at 08:15 AM

“Why won’t my tomatoes ripen?”

This weekend I was at a very nice event, a barn dance. In between promenades, I was chatting with some people about gardening, one of my favorite small talk subjects. As often happens when talking gardening, tomatoes came up. And as often happens when talking tomatoes, concerns about fruit not ripening came up. So, are there any ways to speed up the process?

Continue Reading: “Why won’t my tomatoes ripen?”

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 08/12, 2013 at 08:41 AM

Tags: tomatoes | gardening |

Gazpacho, that famous summery cold soup

This is a great farmers market recipe. I got this recipe when I was working in a restaurant in Sun Valley, CA. The restaurant is long gone but this recipe carries on with me.

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Posted by James Sechrengost on 07/28, 2013 at 09:20 PM

Tags: recipe | gazpacho | tomatoes |

Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes: What to do with all those tomatoes

If you are a gardener, a friend of a gardener, or frequent farmers markets, chances are pretty good that soon you will be awash in tomatoes. It’s that time of the year, and it’s hard to imagine summer without fresh tomatoes. This is, at least to me, the only time to eat fresh tomatoes. Local summer tomatoes are simply the best, and supermarket tomatoes in January with their bland flavor and waxy consistency do not even come close.

Not only are tomatoes tasty right now, they are abundant. So, what to do with all those tomatoes? Here are some recipes.

Continue Reading: Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes: What to do with all those tomatoes

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 07/24, 2013 at 06:55 AM

Tags: recipe | tomatoes |

Harvesting Tomatoes

Iâ€™ll wager that when most folks buy green beans, radishes, tomatoes, or nearly any other vegetable, they donâ€™t think much about how they were harvested. Gardeners, of course, know better, but even they can forget that almost every vegetable is harvested by hand, usually one at a time.

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Posted by James Eisenstein on 09/04, 2012 at 02:29 PM

Tags: farm | tomatoes |

The Inevitable

The inevitable finally happened. Late blight has taken most of our tomatoes.

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Posted by Tony Ricci on 08/09, 2012 at 06:59 AM

Tags: farm | tomatoes |

Tomato Avalanche

Weâ€™re finally on the brink of the much anticipated tomato avalanche. Months of preparation and anxiety over late blight has brought us to the place weâ€™ve been waiting for since last fall when frost finally took the patch to the great compost pile in the sky.

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Posted by Tony Ricci on 07/17, 2012 at 07:43 AM

Tags: farm | tomatoes |

How to Transplant Tomatoes Now for Great Harvests Later

It’s mid-May, which is peak time for “putting in the garden,” an old saying that means planting your frost-sensitive plants now that we are mostly past the risk of frost. (Although not completely, more on that later.)

Whether you started tomatoes from seed or bought the plants at your favorite garden center or farmer’s market, transplanting them the right way is very important.

Continue Reading: How to Transplant Tomatoes Now for Great Harvests Later

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/23, 2012 at 08:42 AM

Tags: gardening | tomatoes |

Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

The unusually wet and cool weather of mid-September must be a prelude to a fabulous Indian Summer coming our way. Nature has its signals in every season, and the fall is no exception. The dizzying activity of insects and migrating birds, the prolific blooming of goldenrod and asters, and the breathtaking color transformation of the native Sumac all confirm the change that is in the air. And even though the tomatoes are slowly slipping away, the abundant greens, hearty squashes, pears and more, are ready to make their debut and step in where the others are leaving off. Oh, how lucky we are!

Continue Reading: Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

Posted by Kim Tait on 09/19, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Asian-Style Ratatouille with Eggplant

Eggplant is delicious hot or cold and can be enjoyed marinated, stuffed, roasted, grilled, fried, baked in a casserole or stewed. How do you like to prepare it? Share your favorite recipe this month for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Mount Nittany Winery.

Continue reading for a recipe from Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

Continue Reading: Asian-Style Ratatouille with Eggplant

Posted by Steve Spanelli on 09/12, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Winner of the Tomato Recipe Contest

Wow! We had a lot of submissions for this month’s tomato recipe contest. Thanks to everyone who participated! And congratulations to winner Mary Gage of State College for her Green Tomato Chutney. She is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim.

Continue reading to see all of the submitted recipes—from tomato cakes to tomato tarts to tomato bread pudding. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Tomato Recipe Contest

Posted by Emily Wiley on 09/01, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes | recipecontest |

Cucumber-Tomato Salsa

Today is the final day to share your favorite tomato recipe! Submit it now for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim. A winner will be randomly selected and announced by noon tomorrow. Good luck!

Continue reading for a seasonal salsa recipe from Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

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Posted by Emily Wiley on 08/31, 2011 at 08:56 AM

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes | cucumbers |

Garlicky Bread Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Sweet Corn

Tomatoes of all shapes and colors are still in abundance at the local markets. Pick up a box and let us know how you use them! Share your recipe by August 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim.

Continue reading for one of Kristin’s favorite simple late summer recipes.

Continue Reading: Garlicky Bread Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Sweet Corn

Posted by Kristin Camplese on 08/25, 2011 at 02:21 PM

Field Notes and a Recipe for Pan-Fried Green Tomatoes

The rain has brought with it cooler temperatures, and Iâ€™ve heard several people expressing their excitement for the upcoming fall. I, however, really enjoy the heat and the beauty of the middle of summer.

Continue Reading: Field Notes and a Recipe for Pan-Fried Green Tomatoes

Posted by Erin McKinney on 08/11, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes |

Heirloom Tomatoes

There is a general consensus among marketers that an adjective can mean the difference between making a sale and bringing home ingredients for a gourmet compost pile. Flat parsley does not have the same resonance as Italian parsley. Without the appellation â€œFrench,” shallots would just be small, pale red onions. Then there is Red Russian kale which is neither truly red nor Russian (at least according to the Russian customers Iâ€™ve talked to who think itâ€™s just another Ukrainian conspiracy). But who wants to say purple-stemmed blue-green, flat kale? It just doesnâ€™t slide off the tongue with the same romantic flare. You can practically hear the balalaikas playing in the background when the words Red Russian are invoked.

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Posted by Tony Ricci on 08/09, 2011 at 12:26 PM

Tags: farm | tomatoes |

NPR: How Industrial Farming “Destroyed” the Tasty Tomato

If you bite into a tomato between the months of October and June, chances are that tomato came from Florida. And it tastes dramatically different than the varieties you might grow in your backyard or pick up at your local farmers market during the summer.

Freelance food writer Barry Estabrook looks at the life of today’s mass-produced tomato â€” and the environmental and human costs of the tomato industry â€” in his book Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit.

Listen to his interview with Terry Gross for Fresh Air.

Continue Reading: NPR: How Industrial Farming “Destroyed” the Tasty Tomato

Posted by Emily Wiley on 07/13, 2011 at 10:31 AM

Tags: farming | tomatoes |

White Asparagus Salad with Warm Shitake Dressing

Have you tried white asparagus? It is slightly milder and more tender than green asparagus and is considered to be the more “gourmet” option of the two. The process for growing it, however, is quite easy.

Both green and white asparagus come from the same seed; white asparagus is simply deprived of sunlight. Dirt is piled on top of the plant, which eliminates chlorophyll production and prevents it from turning green.

Either white or green asparagus may be used in this salad recipe, though the white provides a nice color contrast to the arugula, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

Don’t forget to share your own asparagus recipe before Tuesday, May 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods!

Continue Reading: White Asparagus Salad with Warm Shitake Dressing

Posted by Emily Wiley on 05/11, 2011 at 02:24 PM

Here is a quick and easy pasta salad, perfect for the summer to fall transition time. It can be served either hot or cold and pairs well with heavy wheat beer.

Posted by Michele Frank on 08/25, 2010 at 11:33 AM

Corn Tomato Cilantro Salad

This quick and simple side dish makes use of two popular August ingredients: corn and tomatoes. Add spicy jalapeÃ±os and fragrant cilantro and serve alongside your favorite Mexican main course.

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Posted by Emily Wiley on 08/11, 2010 at 12:19 PM