It is that time of year again! Tomatoes are ripening on the vine quicker that you can pick them.  what will you do with all your fresh tomatoes?  Well, here are some  quick and delicious recipes for you to consider before you end up giving your prize tomatoes away!

This is very easy to make! Dice your tomatoes, onions and peppers. Place in container along with a teaspoon of minced or fresh garlic. stir in a dash of garlic salt a couple of dashes of chili pepper and a good bit of ground cumin. The Cumin gives it a Mexican taste. Use as much o as little hot peppers and chili pepper as you like. You can even add a bit of hot sauce if you desire. It makes a pretty and tasty salsa!.

 For a little extra taste take fresh herbs such as oregano or chives and mince them in with the salsa!

For chips take corn tortillas and cut them into triangles. Spray with cooking spray on both sides and sprinkle whit garlic salt. Place in oven and bake for 5 or ten minutes at 400 degrees. Be sure to watch tortilla chips as they do not get too brown in oven. You can opt to fry the tortilla a chips in a fry daddy or skillet. Cooking them in the oven is more healthy though...

 Another tomato favorite is fried green tomatoes!  Pick a few volunteers from your garden before they get red.  Wash, and clean and then slice thin.  I slice thin for better results.  I seem tp prefer a crispier Fried green tomato!.  After they are sliced  you can dip them in milk and then dip them in a bowl with flour a salt and pepper. Another variation of the coating can be using cornmeal instead.  A lot of people do not care fo the gritty taste of the cornmeal though. Coat each side well and then place in  a skillet with a about a quarter inch of hot oil. Fry for about two minute, flip and let the other side fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towel and then eat up!  Fried green tomatoes go well the bacon and can even be served as a sandwich.  I have seen the southern part of the state serve a Fried green tomato on a bun with melted provolone cheese and topped with bacon.  I know it is a heart attack waiting to happen but it was very tasty!

 Another tasty way to use up your tomatoes is to make bruschetta! Bruschetta is a combination of diced tomatoes, minced fresh garlic, onion and fresh basil.  Mix together and put aside.  Some people like to slightly cook their tomatoes before cutting them up but I don't.  It takes to long to skin and remove the seeds.  But if you are a stickler for following the rules then you need to use italian tomatoes because they do nto contain as many seeds.  Set you mixture aside.  Take out your loaf of uncut bread. It can be Italian bread or while bread.  it is your choice.   Sometimes I like to use uncut hoagie buns as I do not have that many people to serve. Turn your oven on onto 400 degrees.  Take your bread and cut it in diagonal pieces.  brush with olive oil and basil mixture and place on pan and put in oven.  Cook until it is golden brown which should take four or five minutes.  Take out of oven.  If you top them immediately with the mixture you may want to serve them right away as the bread will get soggy.

 Vegetable Pizza is a summertime favorite at my house.  Very east  to make.  Take your crescent rolls form the can and unroll them into one sheet in a baking dish.  Roll out dough so it goes from corner to corner.  Bake it according to directions.  While the crust is baking take a bar of cream cheese that is already at room temperature and place in bowl.  Place a dollop of sour cream in bowl along with one half package of dry  ranch dressing dip.  Stir and put aside.  Take out your crust and let cool.  Cut up lettuce fine and dices.  Cut up onion and tomatoes.  Fry up some bacon and mince.  Take your crust and spread the cream cheese mixture all over the crust.  Top with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes and onion.  Then place your crumbled bacon on top and top with shredded cheddar cheese.  Chill and serve!  This is an excellent meal for a hot summer day!

Tomatoes are a favorite for Canning. You can make the sauce or can them whole or sliced. or even make juice.   You don't even need a canner to can tomatoes. Just get yourself some masonjars and follow the advice given in the link below.  This is a good activity to do as a family.  Think How much you will appreciate your canned tomatoes in the winter!