Baby Tomato Kofta with Smoky Tomato Sauce

So how is your weekend going?!

The part of Wales i live in is in another lockdown.  Not as severe as the first as peopleare still able to go out and about, and moreso to the supermarket, but within regional boundaries.  It is NOW mandatory to wear a face mask which i think should have been the case in the first place, but hey the local government thinks it knows best.  I think in not too long, the whole of Wales will be in lockdown.  Not much for me has changed since the first lockdown, but that does not mean i have got used to it, far from it - we are all managing and coping in our own way. I am finding distractions at home - I have been doing a lot of reading, and attending on-line learning sessions - but there is only so much a person can take staring at the computer and zoom calls.  So I am always thankful for the garden space that is still feeding us well.

I've not ventured very far - that is the honest truth.  I have been out of my area three times to see family and friends and that is all and it was all socially distanced unable to kiss and hug.  And on those days went to the supermarket with D.  D has been doing the weekly shopping.

Anyway i made this Cypriot recipe called Domatokeftethes - Baby Tomato Kofta some time last week. The cookbook author writes ' this is kind of based on a Lenten Cypriot recipe. But it's got a splosh of Armenian ad a sprinkle of Turkey in there too'. 

On recommendation of the cookbook author I served it over pasta.

Then smothered with smoky paprika tomato sauce. The recipe i bookmarked from Sally Butcher's Veggiestan: A Vegetable Lover's tour of the Middle East.

It was my first time shallow frying tomatoes.  I must admit i was a bit nervous because of the liquid content in tomatoes, as i had expected some spluttering. But the not so pretty  batter above, benefited from sitting the fridge to firm up. I guess this also absorbs some of the liquid content. 

The Domatokeftethes - Baby Tomato Kofta  are shallow fried in oil and were a little reminisce of South Asian onion bhaji's minus the spices.  

We had plenty left over to eat the following day - cold.  I am sharing this Cypriot Baby Tomato Kofta with Smoky Tomato sauce with Soup, Salad and Sammies hosted by Kahakai Kitchen. 

Feasting on Tomatoes for the week

Its nearly the end of the weekend and i am trying hard not to think too much about the working week ahead, it's going to be a busy one.  

Since Covid-19 - work has been a roller coaster and there still no calm in sight, with a Second Wave being ushered in slowly.  I am tired.  I have taken annual leave (twice) to recharge, rather than enjoy. The weekends come and i try to recharge and catch up with neglected house chores.  I thought working from home, I would be up-to-date with household things, not at all.  

Thank goodness the garden has been a little more easier this year, I think the time and work we put in March has made it so.  It's been a rather therapeutic weeding!

Tomatoes are starting to dwindle, but a i say that - we have had loads of Tomato based dishes in the last couple of weeks. 

I made this Tomato Tarte Tartin with a Black Olive Scone Dough. It was very different from the Tart Tartin that I make with puff pastry. The pastry was sturdy. 

Bowl of colourful tomatoes.  

Tomato Tart - the base is smothered with pesto, then topped with cherry tomatoes and black olives. Simplicity.  

Another Tomato tart this time topped with Feta cheese - honestly, its a different tart! 

I've only ever enjoyed eating Greek-Cypriot Salad on holidays.  I come back to the UK, hope to evoke those memories, but the tomatoes we get from the supermarket disappoint. So I don't make Greek -Cypriot Salad at home, but I did twice this week with homegrown tomatoes.  The first time it was delicious, the lettuce was crisp with crunch. The second time (photographed above), I messed up, as i made it in advance and the lettuce went limp and soggy from the tomato juices.  It was still one of the best Greek Salads I have made at home. 

I am sharing this Greek-Cypriot Salad with Soup, Salad and Sammies hosted by Kahakai Kitchen. 

I also made a  Cypriot recipe called Baby Tomato Kofta with tomato sauce served over pasta.  The tomato kofta were very reminisce of onion bhaji's minus the spice.  

We still have some more tomatoes growing.  

D is thinking about clearing them out of the greenhouse in readiness for winter, but I am going to try and persuade him to leave it until mid October.  

I can always make Green Tomato Chutney.

Tomato Tarte Tartin

For the topping

60g butter, plus extra for greasing 

30g soft brown sugar

Enough tomatoes, to cover base of baking tin or pan

For the scone dough

110g self raisin flour

Pinch of baking powder

Pinch of cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 black olives, stones removed and minced

Salt and pepper to taste

1 egg 1-2 tablespoons milk

Method

For the topping: grease a 8 inch ovenproof pan with butter.

Melt the butter in the pan with the sugar and cook over low heat until the mixture begins to caramelize.

Cut the tomatoes in half lengthways.

arrange the tomatoes, cut side down, to cover the base of the pan completely.

Preheat oven to gas mark 7/220oC.

Make the scone dough: Sift the flour with the baking powder and cayenne pepper into a large mixing bowl.

Add the oil and mix together into a large bowl.

Add the oil and mix with a palette knife until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

St in the olives and season with salt and pepper.

Bind to a dough with the egg and milk.

Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth.

Roll out to a circle to fit the top of the pan.

Lay it on top of the tomatoes and press down lightly.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 - 15 minutes until the scone dough feels firm and golden.

Loosen the edged with a knife, cover with a serving plate and invert to turn out.

Serve immediately

Adapted from Leith's Vegetarian Bible

Oh I also made Spiced Tomato Coconut Curry also from Leith's Vegetarian Bible. This Tomato Coconut Curry did not photograph well. Partly my fault, i chucked in a whole can of coconut milk, when it should have been just 225, so the tomatoes were a bit drowned - soup like, but enjoyable, nonetheless. By the way if you are looking for further Tomato recipe inspiration check out this link. 

I am sharing this blog post with Harvest Monday hosted by Dave from Happy Acres.  

And please do come back next week, when i will be harvesting and cooking with homegrown carrots.

Fresh Beans and Tomato Couscous Salad

I am making the most of my weekend before the working week begins all over again. August was a manic month, with so many things on the edge of happening but then not happening for one reason - leaving me both exhausted and disappointed.  I was hoping September would be a bit quieter and a little kinder in comparison, but not so much, so you just make the most of what you do have and march on. 

We had this Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad early on in the week when i time to extract myself away from the computer screen to potter a little longer in the kitchen to make lunch.

It was not really much work, as couscous from a jar is effortless.  I am adoring the pop of colours coming from the cherry tomatoes from the garden.

The couscous also has the last of the runner beans, broad beans,  green beans and peas.  There is no recipe for this.  It simply cooked beans stirred into Ainsley Harriot's  Spice Sensation Couscous and topped off with some fresh tomatoes. 

D is not much of a couscous fan, but i didn't mind this at all. I teased him that i would be making it again, but its unlikely as the beans in the garden are coming the end.

I am sharing this Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad with Soup, Salad and Sammies hosted by Kahakai Kitchen. 

Mish Mash of a Harvest Monday

It's a bit of a mish mash of a harvest this week.

The courgettes have been poor this year, i think because of the rain as many of them rotted before i even got to harvest them. 

The kohlrabi is small, I do have some more growing so will see how they contrast. 

A pear from the neighbours tree had fallen on our side.  Some Neckargold beans under the courgettes and a Chantenay carrot.  We have more to harvest, but i don't want to pull the carrots out yet, especially as i have all this other veg to use up first.  Picked some autumn raspberries too. 

Some more neckargold beans and beetroot

The first red Zebra Tomatoes, the translucent pale ones are called Lotos and yellow Galina Cherry tomatoes and Chocolate Cherry tomatoes.

Some of the cherry tomatoes went into this Tomato Pilau with Coconut and Cashew Nuts. 

Plums are still tumbling.

I've made more Cinnamon Plum Cake, but also Plum Dumplings bookmarked from Meat Free Any Day that was encased in suet pastry then steamed and smothered in spiced buttery sauce. 

Also the first Feo di Riogordo Tomato.  I am not expecting many more sadly.  

I am sharing this blog post with Harvest Monday hosted by Dave from Happy Acres.