These tomatoes are safe! Chow down.

An elderly neighbor across the alley has been growing tomatoes for 20 years and he is not about to stop just because he has been ordered by his doctor to steer clear of them. That means I've been the lucky recipient of many handfuls like this specimen here.


All of a sudden, I'm thinking of dishes that I could make with fresh tomatoes, like:



SAFFRON RICE WITH TOMATOES AND FRESH OREGANO
Pinch of saffron
2 Tbsp. salt, plus more for seasoning
1 1/2 c. jasmine rice
2 large or 3 regular-sized roma tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4 -in. dice
(about 1 cup)
Freshly ground pepper
6 sprigs fresh oregano, leaved piced from stem

1. Fill a med. saucepan w/cold water. Add saffron and 2 Tbsp. salt. Bring water to a boil. Stir in rice, ad cook until rice is tender, 12-14 minutes. Remove from heat, and drain well.
2. Place rice in serving bowl. add butter and tomatoes, and toss very gently. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh oregano. Serves 4

Of course, the Roma tomatoes would be substituted. The recipe is from a Martha Stewart Magazine years ago and
it has been posted earlier in this blog...

Wow, I never knew how much I take tomatoes for granted until this salmonella outbreak occurred.

Zucchini is ripe in AZ - Zucchini Bars

Link to recipe for Zucchini Bars from needfoodfast

Attention-seeking gestures

I'm babysitting little S for a friend who is deployed. Clearly, Kitty could do without the new pooch, but who can resist such a little bundle of affection?

We live at the dog park. Look us up there. If you are a beagle, please be sure you are wearing your tags because people tend to walk out with the wrong beagle sometimes! Last week I was busy chatting with a little cocker spaniel's owner when all of a sudden, I had that SINKING feeling. I looked around and did not see S anywhere. I started to walk aimlessly, thinking there must be some mistake. One of these little dogs must be S! Then a lady came running down the hill with a little dog in the lead whose ears were flopping impossibly in front of her eyes. She had S. She was so upset. I felt better once little S was secure on my leash and walking back to the car.