Another vintage veggie book from the shelves.
Colourfully illustrated and published in 1989; Stones was a restaurant (now retired and replaced by the National Trust) based at Avebury in Wiltshire, a site famous for its prehistoric stones.
So if not Stones; then what of Cooking with Tomatoes?
Straightforward recipes; perhaps with more flair than the earthwareness of Cranks ?
Fresh Tomato Soup with Cream Cheese. An onion, garlic, potato and celery base with fresh tomatoes, the flavours of dill and ground clove. Cream Cheese stirred in just before serving.
Two Quiches: French bean and Tomato or Courgette and Tomato.
French beans and tomato make their regular pairing; no almonds this time. Although nuts do feature – in the pastry. The French bean version is made with pecan nut pastry and the Courgette with walnut pastry.
Tomato Sauce. Two recipes for similar but different takes:
Light white wine-tomato sauce. An onion, celery and garlic base to which is added chopped red and green peppers, pureed fresh tomatoes, marjoram and basil and a large glass of white wine.
More than basic tomato sauce. An onion, celery, carrot and garlic base with fresh tomatoes and tomato paste, flavoured with basil and marjoram and the West Country with the addition of cider vinegar.
Fresh Tomato Salsa with Avocado. Tomatoes, spring onion, coriander, parsley, olive oil, lime juice and chilli powder – pureed and chilled.
And then one to add to the growing Stuffed Tomato Hall of Fame – Filled Provencal Tomatoes. Which starts with a base of sautéed onions, garlic, mushrooms, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and red wine which once ready is popped into a blender and joined by stuffed olives and breadcrumbs.
Which once whizzed, is ‘beefed’ up with beaten egg yolks, grated cheese and folded in beaten egg whites. All of which is piled into scooped out beefsteak tomato shells, topped with a cheese slice, the tomato lid to hold it all in and then baked in the oven….
Which somehow reminds me of old jokes about elephants, minis ( or should that be 2CVs) and phone boxes but can I remember the punch lines…..
