Tomatoes are typically classified as a vegetable but because of the seeds, is really a fruit. The reasoning behind classifying them as a vegetable is to avoid confusion with other countries that have import duties. Tomatoes can be eaten in many different ways, both hot and cold.

Tomatoes have only been eaten in this country for about two centuries. People once thought that they were poisonous, but once they learned differently, not only were they raised for their color but also to eat.

They are grown on both coasts of the United States all year round. Go to any grocery store, roadside stand, farmer’s market and even in any garden and you will find many kinds of tomatoes.

In the southern states, tomatoes are used on a sandwich or even as the sandwich. Have you ever had a tomato sandwich? All you need is bread, some mayonnaise and a tomato and presto, lunch!

Ever had a salad without tomatoes? Some people dice them, some slice them, and some quarter them for their salads. There are even cherry tomatoes that work well on salads. Grape tomatoes and even Roma tomatoes are great for any salad that you are making.
Another great use for the tomato is salsa. Tomatoes are a staple of a lot of Mexican dishes and without them the taste would be bland. Add some green peppers, jalapenos and you have a great chip dip.

Italian dishes use a lot of tomatoes also. You can cook the tomatoes down and make a great tomato base for spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce and sauce for lasagna. But first, you must remove the skin. To do so, you blanch the tomato and the skin peels right off. If you don’t want to use the tomato right away, just peel the tomato and place it in a freezer bag for later use. Then remove them when you are ready and prepare them the way you want.

To keep your tomatoes from going bad, do not store them in the refrigerator. Put them in a paper bag or on the counter and they will ripen naturally. If you put them in the refrigerator, they won’t ripen and the taste won’t be as good.

In the olden days, people used to can tomatoes for later use. This practice has gone out of style, what with the 2 person working family. But if you have time, you can jar tomatoes for tomato juice, spaghetti sauce and even fresh canned tomatoes. Think about how that will taste in January!

Tomatoes also fight the aging process. Growing or buying those fresh tomatoes are not only a healthy choice but a good tasting one as well.