Here's something you can't usually do when living in a larger town. Go to a drive-up concert. Yep, that's just what we did last Saturday. There was a Queen tribute band playing at one of the local casinos. The venue was a temporary 'tent' in the parking lot, surrounded by chainlink fence. When we saw a spot front and center (not even handicapped!) we knew it was meant to be. Our first ever drive-up concert. :-)
We had fun and they were actually quite good!
Today I made my weekly visit to the Farmer's Market for the best tomatoes I've had in a few years. Seriously, this year they are like candy to me. They're currently down to $2.50/lb and I will be eating as many as I possibly can for the next 3 or 4 weeks that they're still available.
YUM! I want to go eat another one now!
A couple months ago when I made a visit to where I grew up I bought about a 30 pound box of homegrowns for $15. That was when I learned you can freeze them whole. Unfortunately they don't thaw out the same. They turn into soggy, water-laden things that can only be used in sauces or soups but that works for me! I made a gallon of basic marinara sauce for the freezer at that time. Then last week I scored about 15 pounds of heirlooms for ten bucks because they looked 'imperfect'. Who cares what they look like!? I spent the whole next day making 2.5 gallons of roasted heirloom tomato soup. So good! So now I call the little freezer in the garage the tomato freezer.
You would too, right? As handy as those 'disposable' plastic covered storage containers are they get slippery and brittle as all heck when frozen, which is why most of the soup on the top shelf is now in freezer bags. :-) I'm really going to enjoy having these come late Fall and Winter.
One more thing while we're talking about food. Not sure if I mentioned it here last year or not but it's definitely worth repeating. Pictured below is what Caleb takes his lunch to school in every day.
It's called a Planet Box and this one is in it's second year of use. He hasn't thrown away one baggie since we bought it. The other thing I like about it is one would feel strange packing 'junk food' in it...can't really explain it but that's how it is for me anyway. I know kids hate being perceived as 'different' in any way and I reckon if anyone poked fun at him over it he would ask me to stop packing it but that hasn't been the case. And it comes home empty every day, too (which is a good thing!) Just thought I'd pass it on.
Be back soon!
Love the planet box, where does one find such a cool item??
Posted by: Sue McG | October 08, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Hi Jen! Somehow I missed the fact you came back! Of course I can't complain since I haven't gotten myself a blog at all yet. I love the heirloom tomatoes but haven't found to many at the local farmers market, wonder why? So I do treat myself occasionally and grab some at Bristol farms, they aren't quite as good but sure beat the hothouse kind!
Posted by: Mary Ann | October 08, 2011 at 08:57 AM
I am trying to spend my whole fall making as much tomato soup as I possibly can. I love, love it. I will never eat Campbell's again. icky. ew.
What great buys you got on your tomatos!
Welcome back! :)
Posted by: Des | October 04, 2011 at 03:01 PM
What a great looking lunch. I pack a lunch for my hub everyday. I try to reuse bags that bread or other products come in and we've gotten to reusable countainers for soup and left overs and I like waxed paper like my own sandwiches were in when I was a kid. Fresh tomatoes are like candy!
Posted by: nanette | September 29, 2011 at 11:58 AM
What a fun way to see a concert! ~Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | September 27, 2011 at 12:03 PM