Tuesday, August 28, 2012

When Life Gives You Tomatoes


Make your own sun-dried tomatoes!  LOTS of Tomatoes out there right now.  I've been getting a ton of them in my CSA box and there's only so much sauce you can make.  This recipe works great for all kinds--this group is a batch made from Early Girls from Tomatero Farms.  I found this great link that gives you a few different options on preparing them--here in the San Francisco Bay Area we're starting to move out of our typically foggy mess so you might even be able to do it the old fashioned way (I said MIGHT!)...

Sun Dried Tomatoes
Original post here

7 -8 lbs firm ripe roma tomatoes 
2 teaspoons salt 
1 teaspoon dried basil (optional) 
 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional) 
1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional) 
 
Directions:
 
TOMATO PREPARATION ALL METHODS
Cut out the stem and scar and the hard portion of core lying under it. 
Cut the tomatoes in half, lengthwise. If the tomato is more than about 2 inches long, cut it in quarters.
Scrape out all of the seeds that you can without removing the pulp. 
Mix together thoroughly basil,oregano, thyme, and salt.
Sprinkle a small amount of this mixture on each tomato. 
 
OVEN-DRYING (approximately 12 hours)
Arrange the tomatoes, with the cut surface up, on non-stick cookie sheets (glass or porcelain dishes are OK.) Do not use aluminum foil or aluminum baking sheets as the acid in the tomato will react with the metal.
Bake in 170°F oven for about 3 hours.
Leave the oven door propped open about 3 inches to allow moisture to escape.
After 3 hours, turn the tomatoes over and press flat with your hand or a spatula.
Continue to dry, turning the tomatoes every few hours, and gently pressing flatter and flatter, until tomatoes are dry.
 
DEHYDRATOR (approximately 8 hours):
Place the tomatoes, cut side up, directly onto the dehydrator trays.
Set dehydrator temperature to about 140°F.
After 4 or 5 hours, turn the tomatoes over and press flat with your hand or a spatula.
After a few hours, turn the tomatoes again and flatten gently. 18 Continue drying until done.
 
SUN-DRYING (approximately 3 days):
Dry in hot weather, with relatively low humidity.
Place tomatoes, cut side down, in shallow wood-framed trays with nylon netting for the bottom of the trays.
Cover trays with protective netting or cheesecloth.
Place in direct sun, raised from the ground on blocks or anything else that allows air to circulate under the trays.
Turn the tomatoes over after about 1 1/2 days, to expose the cut side to the sun.
Place the trays in a sheltered spot after sundown, or if the weather turns bad.
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR ALL METHODS.  
No matter what method you choose, be aware that not all of the tomatoes will dry at the same rate. They do not all have the same amount of moisture, nor do they experience the same temperature and air circulation while they are drying. 29 They are done when they are very dry, but still pliable. Texture is about that of a dried apricot. If dried too long, they become tough and leathery. If not dried long enough, they will mold and mildew, unless packed in oil. So watch them carefully while they dry. Try to remove them on an individual basis, before they become tough.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Pork Tenderloin with Plum Chutney

I know it's been a while since my last post, not because of lack of abundance at the markets that is for sure.  I assure all of you I've been cooking a ton, it's just been very simple food as Summer demands.  As plums and berries are in full force right now, I thought it would be a perfect time to try to make a chutney with no sugar.  The pork tenderloins were the perfect foil to this endeavor and Prather happened to have two 1 pound tenderloins so I was in business. 

Pork Tenderloin
original recipe here
1 lemon, zest grated
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons--I only had limes so used those instead)
Good olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Kosher salt
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 pound each)
Freshly ground black pepper


Combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, mustard, and 2 teaspoons salt in a sturdy 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Add the pork tenderloins and turn to coat with the marinade. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Marinate the pork in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Remove the tenderloins from the marinade and discard the marinade but leave the herbs that cling to the meat. Sprinkle the tenderloins generously with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat. Sear the pork tenderloins on all sides until golden brown. Place the saute pan in the oven and roast the tenderloins for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meat registers 137 degrees F at the thickest part. Transfer the tenderloins to a platter and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Carve in 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices. The thickest part of the tenderloin will be quite pink (it's just fine!) and the thinnest part will be well done. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm, or at room temperature with the juices that collect in the platter.   Serve with Plum Chutney.


Plum Chutney
original recipe here 

1 whole star anise
1 whole clove
1 2-inch piece cinnamon stick
1/4 cup port wine vinegar
1/4 cup pomegranate vinegar  (I was a little short on this so put in some sherry wine vinegar to top it off)
1/2 cup in season blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, ollalieberries, etc. (I used blueberries from Hidden Star Orchards in this recipe)
1 2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 tablespoon whole mustard seeds
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 pounds red, black, green, or blue plums, or pluots--I combined pluots from Hamlow Ranches and red plums from Twin Girls (tart or sweet; about 5 large),quartered, pitted

Finely grind star anise, clove, and cinnamon stick in spice mill or coffee grinder.
Combine spice mixture, vinegars, berries, ginger, mustard seeds, and pepper in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium-high heat and bring to boil. Add plums; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chutney thickens and chunky sauce forms, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Cool. Season to taste with salt.