Preparation Now, Enjoy Fresh Tomato Flavor in the Winter

Wash your tomatoes.

Boil a pan of water.

Placing tomatoes in boiling water helps to loosen skin.

Score the tomato skins and then slip the skins off the tomatoes. 

Dice the tomatoes.

Place in a large pan to cook and reduce.

About 30 minutes will reduce the tomatoes for use in recipes or for freezing.

While your garden or farmers' market is flush with red tomatoes, you may want to prepare tomatoes for freezing. The process is easy.  Follow through the cooking step, cool and then place in freezer bags to store for future use.

I've included a favorite tomato sauce recipe I like to use on spaghetti.  Sometimes I add sausage or ground meat for a different twist.

My Favorite Tomato Sauce
1 cup onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, whole
3 tablespoons fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
28 ounces diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Saute onion in olive oil until translucent (do not brown).  Add basil and red pepper flakes and saute one to two minutes.  Add tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper and sugar.  Bring to boil and then lower heat to a simmer for 30 minutes.  Stir occassionally.

Serve over pasta.