Sunday is market day here in the summer. A trip to the farmers' market is a weekly routine, even when I don’t feel like going—like today. I’m busy preparing for a trip to Florence, and it's really the last thing I have time for. Normally, I buy almost everything I need for the week at the farmers' market, including fruit and vegetables, eggs, handmade cheese, grass-fed meat, even maple syrup honey, microgreens, herbs, pizza dough (if I don’t feel like making it), and handmade snacks, and juice or the kids. Today, though, I am only going to get tomatoes.
There is nothing like summer-ripe tomatoes, and they're in season now. By the time I get back, the tomatoes will be gone, so I am going to get my last two bushels of the season – to freeze.
For years, I canned several bushels of tomatoes at the end of every summer and stored them for the winter, mostly to make tomato sauce. While you can use canned tomatoes to make sauce, there is nothing like sauce made with fresh tomatoes.
Once I had children, though, finding the time to can tomatoes was impossible. Then I realized I could freeze them! Did you know you could freeze tomatoes? This was a revelatory discovery for me. When the tomatoes thaw, the skin falls off, so there's no need to blanch them, which is time-consuming and messy. So, now I pack up a few bushels, put them in the freezer, and once thawed, the tomatoes are ready to use.
In my book, which will be published in the fall of 2024, I write about the benefits of having a second freezer for freezing soups, sauces, and other fresh goodies you make or buy- like tomatoes. If you are interested in this idea, keep your eyes open for a freezer—either one on sale or a used one. About 15 years ago, I bought a small box freezer for $100 from a friend who was moving, and it has been full ever since. Now, it is usually packed with tomatoes.
I pack the tomatoes in gallon-size freezer bags and pop them in the freezer. That's it.
If you don't have a routine of freezing ingredients or extras when you cook, it’s worth considering the addition of a second freezer in your home. A well-stocked freezer can save you time, money, and stress when it comes time to figuring out “What's for dinner?”
We'll talk a lot more about tomatoes and tomato sauce in my book. There’s a reason the Italians have a routine of making tomato sauce. They know it's key to easy meals all week long.
If you can't acquire a second freezer, make good use of the space you have and stock it with fresh ingredients. With the right ingredients on hand, making a delicious dinner is simple, like sautéed shrimp, which is the last quick dinner.
If you need help choosing a freezer, feel free to contact me. I have a deep freezer, an upright freezer, and a freezer-fridge combo, and I'd be happy to share my opinions on the advantages of each type.
Next time I write, I will share dinner inspiration from Florence. Ciao for now!
