Fresh from the Garden

I remember summer's end as a kid - no not the back-to-school part - the warm tomato-straight-off-the-vine part. My dad was a prolific tomato grower. We had so many tomatoes that we could pick them off the vine and eat them still warm from the sun. I unfortunately have not inherited my Dad's green thumb. Perhaps it is 9-10 hours away at my job, perhaps my inattention to watering, but for the life of me I can't grow a tomato - ok I grew one, anemic-looking Roma tomato. Luckily for me, I moved from Dupont to 16th Street Heights and right next door to vegetable heaven...


My neighbors have lived in their house for 48 years! They have raised a family and raised tomatoes (and cucumbers and zucchini and other veggies). In a corner of their large yard, they have a vegetable garden - one that actually produces vegetables. So last week I was the very happy recipient of a bag of sun-warmed tomatoes. I immediately ate one. The rest I turned into the most amazing salsa (more of a pico de gallo actually).

Neighborly Sun-Warmed Tomato Salsa
2 cups diced tomatoes - fresh from the garden
1 cup fresh corn - cut from about 1 uncooked ear
2 small jalapenos - seeds and membranes removed
chopped cilantro to taste
1 tsp minced garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste

I like a really small dice. Definately don't put it in the food processor. The beauty of this salsa is tasting each flavor individually and together. Mix it all up. Enjoy with your neighbors.