What to do with all those cherry tomatoes

[VApatriot]

Hi all,

Here is a recipe that my wife made yesterday out of some extra cherry tomatoes out of our garden. All I can say is that this one's a keeper for sure, yum, yum!

Heirloom Cherry Tomato Brown Betty
Ingredients
• 8-9 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
• Olive oil for brushing the muffin cups and both sides of each bread
• 2 T unsalted butter
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/8 cup basil, sliced, plus 1 to 2 T extra for serving
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella, sliced thin and in small pieces
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs, divided
• 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 ½ slices onion, chopped

• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
2. Lightly oil muffin cups. (I use a standard 12-cup muffin tin, and just leave four of
the muffin cups empty.) Roll each of the 8-9 bread slices with a rolling pin to
flatten a bit. Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil, and then gently fit the
slices into the muffin cups, pressing to form.
3. In a small pan over medium heat, melt the butter and caramelize the onion and
garlic. Be sure to stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom so they
don't burn.
4. Combine tomatoes with the caramelized onion and garlic, mayo, lemon juice,
basil, mozzarella, and salt and pepper. Fold in just enough panko breadcrumbs
until the mixture holds together -- you may not need the full 1/2-cup of panko at
this stage but will need a bit left at the end.
5. Mound tomato mixture into muffin cups, pressing gently.
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until filling is bubbling and crusts are golden brown.
While they are still hot, sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top with a little extra basil
and remaining panko crumbs. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Serve warm or at room temperature.


updated - added pic

[Summerthyme]

They dehydrate really well, and are pretty good just straight (a little like raisins). When we get too many cherry tomatoes, I cut them in half and toss them in the dehydrator. It works well to toss a handful into a stew on a cold winter day.

Summerthyme

[carol b]

Thank you, both. My other "bumper crop".

[VApatriot]

They dehydrate really well, and are pretty good just straight (a little like raisins). When we get too many cherry tomatoes, I cut them in half and toss them in the dehydrator. It works well to toss a handful into a stew on a cold winter day.

Summerthyme

My wife has done the same thing. Her favorite to use in soups are the chocolate cherries. They are a really great addition to her tortilla soup, aanother cool weather favorite.

[carol b]

last year I made Sun Gold Tomato Basil Jam, jut google it. It was a big hit and I used them for hostess gifts.

[naturallysweet]

They make wonderful sauces, although they are a pain to pick.

[Animal Lover]

My son will hang out under the container where the cherry tomatos hang and just keep eating them. He loves tomatoes and my DIL doesn't like them. The wee gold ones, I eat like candy. I LOVE them.