Ode to the tomato

You say tomato and so do I, we are at a point in the season in Ohio where there is such abundance. Cherries, Brandywines, Early girls, and too many heirlooms to name, but we shal press on. What should we do with all these tomatoes. Firstly we treasure the bounty, think to the depth of winter when you are cursing the grocery store managers for placing the tasteless red orbs on display and calling them tomatoes. Secondly cook , cook and cook some more fresh salads, pastas, sauces, salsas, stewed tomatoes, fried green tomatoes, toast and tomato sandwiches, heck sandwich toppers in general, pizzas, bruschettas. Tired of eating it why not drink it make tomato juice, either in the morning with breakfast or later on in the afternoon with a bit of vodka and a celery stick. How about sundried, oven dried, or canned for later. If the truth be told all through the season I eat them sliced with my eggs in the morning, on a sandwich for lunch, and sliced and tossed with red onion, banana peppers and a red wine vinegraitte as a side dish for dinner. Red, yellow, gold, orange, pink ,green, purple and tiger striped, I'm addicted, like a kid jonesing for candy, I gotta have them. They are truly a gift, not to be forsaken, because soon enough the leaves will start changing and they will be gone. Oh sure they will, or a likeness thereof will appear in the grocery store, you will be tempted, but don't fall for it....these are not the tomatoes you are looking for(sorry geeky Star Wars reference). Enjoy now all that you can eat....until next time