Red Beans And Advice For Monday, Aug. 22

You'll be happy that you roasted tomatoes

There is delicious food in New Orleans, but one thing the Crescent City does not have are the kind of tomatoes that I grew up with. At this time of year, Michigan and in fact many places overflow with juicy, flavorful tomatoes in countless varieties.

My parents grew up growing and canning tomatoes, and both my brother and I have always had tomatoes in our gardens. However, the tomato season comes early here and I barely got to eat any Creole tomatoes before they were finished. (If someone wants to volunteer to send me a box of Michigan tomatoes, I will happily reimburse you.)

If you are lucky enough to abound with tomatoes, I want to share my easy method for making a tomato puree that you can enjoy throughout the fall and winter. It brings back memories of summer when we most need them.