It's my favorite time of the year!! I love love love September. It's still warm but the air has that crisp fall feeling that tells you big sweaters and boots are just around the corner. Even better, it's tomato explosion time. There are few things that I love more than fresh, off the vine tomatoes. Just the smell of tomato plants reminds me of my dad and his gardens. He had huge gardens in the back of our property but then would also grow a few cherry tomatoes around the pool on the patio. As a kid I lived in that pool and having cherry tomatoes to snack on between running from the diving board to water slide, made it all even better.
This year, I went a little nuts with tomato plants. I also started a little late, but that hasn't seemed to be too much of a problem, especially since it's going to be 95 this Saturday! Last year we didn't have a garden since we were busy getting married and honeymooning and all, so this year I went all out. I may have planted 18 tomato plants. And by may have, I totally planted 18 tomato plants... Romas, heirloom beefsteaks, grape, and cherry tomatoes surround our little backyard. And I love it; it makes my backyard smell like my dad. Plus, we're getting soooo many tomatoes every single day.
Personally, I have no problem just snacking on tomatoes, especially these sweet delicious little cherry tomatoes. That means, however, even though we pick this many every day, I haven't made anything with them because between Dan and I, we just eat them raw. Because they're soooo goooooddd.
Then my friend Alicia introduced me to these freakin incredible kale chips she made that had cashews and sun dried tomatoes. I had to make them myself, which gave me the perfect excuse to make a bunch of sun dried tomatoes from our tomato explosion! So I took one days haul of cherry tomatoes and just gave them a quick slice in half.
Then I gave it a good sprinkle of the pink Himalayan salt that Alicia and her hubby gave as wedding favors,
and added a drizzle of some good olive oil and mixed.
Sliced side up into our amazing dehydrator left overnight...
...and in the morning we had these lovely little dried cherry tomatoes!
I packed these little guys into a couple of small jars with some really really good olive oil from our friends in Tuscany, and now we have ourselves our own sun dried cherry tomatoes!
With the tomato explosion just beginning, I can't wait to fill our pantry with sun dried tomatoes to enjoy all year long. These guys 'preserved' in oil will be fine for the next couple of weeks as I'm sure I will use them within that time frame. However, some say this isn't safe for the long term, others say it's fine... For long term storage, I would suggest using a method that includes dipping the tomatoes in vinegar first to bring out more acidity. But like I said, these little guys, they're not lasting long in our kitchen 😉
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups of cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
Instructions
- Mix cherry tomatoes, oil, and salt together in a bowl. Then place the cherry tomatoes (sliced side up) on food dehydrator trays.
- Dehydrate at 135 degrees over night or 7-8 hours.
- When tomatoes are dried they can be stored in either a plastic bag or packed in a jar with olive oil. If storing for long term, add a 1/2 cup of white vinegar or red wine vinegar to a bowl. Dip tomatoes into vinegar, just for a second, shake excess off, and then store in jar with oil.
What a great condiment for a crostini or pasta toss! I love how versatile these are and how tasty they look!
first time tomato grower here. but my cherry tomatoes are yellow. does it matter?
Yay first timer! Aren't you addicted now to all of the fresh off the vine tomatoes? Yellow tomatoes will dehydrate just the same and be just as tasty! Thanks for stopping by! 😀
Excellent, Tracy! I love tomatoes! Earlier today, I posted my Cherry Tomato Cobbler. Always great to find another tomato-lover in the world!
Crash
Thank you!! Mmm cherry tomato cobbler!!
Reblogged this on Crash Course and commented:
After posting my Cherry Tomato Cobbler recipe, I found this! Gotta LOVE tomatoes!!!
it looks so fresh and vibrant... 🙂 🙂
They are looking fantastic!
Thank you, Ginger 🙂
It is SO unfair that you started this blog AFTER I moved. You know I would be over there every day for snacks 🙁
So stinkin' unfair 🙁 You know you guys are ALWAYS welcome to come over any time!! 😉
What a wonderful idea, I have never tried making sun-dried tomatoes but I am going to make some today. They look delicious, love the jars 🙂
Not sure how I linked to your site but I am glad I did, you have a wonderful blog, love the recipes and pictures too!
Greetings from South Carolina!
Michael
Hi Micheal, thank you soooo much! I'm so glad you like it and that you've found me! 😀
They look gorgeous in the mini jars! I love that you snacked on tomatoes while jumping in and out of the pool!!
Those jars of little tomatoes are gorgeous. It's a great way to preserve the garden taste - and makes it even better than fresh. I sometimes freeze the dried tomatoes, and then soak them in oil a little before using them, just to save on space. Are you saving any seeds?
Thank you, Hilda! And what a great idea, freezing them AND saving seeds! I hadn't even thought of that! I'm going to start saving them now for next year- thanks!!
I love sun dried tomatoes on salads, pasta or baked into bread.
Oooh baking into bread! What a great idea- I will have to try that! 🙂
me too lol! Tis the season 🙂
Indeed 😀
I love this idea! We love sun dried tomatoes but never thought to do anything like this. Lovely!!
Thanks, Lori 🙂
I must try this!
Thanks, Melissa! You wont be disappointed 🙂
Your timing is impeccable, Tracy! I just picked more cherry tomatoes than what I knew what to do with...now I know! Thank you...I'll be giving this a try real soon!
Oh yay! Thanks Nancy!
Yum! Our tomato explosion is long gone. We REALLY went overboard with 51 tomato plants! Enjoy your tomatoes.
51! That's amazing! I love it 🙂
YUM, I love sun-dried tomatoes, and homemade just makes them that much better. So envious of your tomato explosion. We buy a lot at the farmers' market right now, but it's nothing like picking them off the vine! Gorgeous photos, Tracy!
Thanks, Ngan! From your own vines or from the farmers market- nothing beats fresh tomatoes! 🙂
Um keep us posted on those kale chips too
Absolutely!! They're on my list for today 🙂
Hey love these I just did the same thing with my cherry tomatoes last night! Love the petite jars too!
That's awesome! Hooray for tomato season 😉