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Tuesday 17 September 2013

Saving Summer Flavours

Fall has arrived in Canada. ~


The garden is winding down.  Gone are the bowls full of beans, peas and leaf lettuce.  Even the tomatoes are close to being finished.  That is, all the tomatoes except the cherry tomatoes.  There seems to be no end to those little, red delights.  I've kept a bowl full in the kitchen to eat like candy, when I pass by, and given as many away as I can possibly force on the neighbours.
Last summer I came up with the idea of using them for bruschetta and seeing how it would freeze.  It froze great and tasted garden fresh all winter long.


I finely chopped a clove of garlic and some onion. To that I added a red pepper, chopped in small pieces.  I halved or quartered the cherry tomatoes, depending on their size.  Toss it all in a bowl and mix with sea salt, fresh ground pepper, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil.  It's such a simple recipe and you can dress it up with any herbs or spices you like.

Let the mixture sit for a couple of hours for the flavours to blend and freeze it.  That's all there is to it!

I did go a step further this year.  I had a day old french loaf in the house and wanted to use it up. ~


I brushed one side of the slices with olive oil, added my bruschetta topping and some grated Parmesan cheese. ~


Into the freezer it went and long after all of these are down ~


I'll have a 'taste of summer' appetizer reading to go under the broiler for a couple of minutes and serve my guests!

23 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I love bruschetta, so when are you making it because I am coming over. Didn't know you could freeze it, I need to try it.

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  3. Yum I'm so glad that it froze well, I always have too many tomatoes I am going to do this later in the year, at the moment my tomatoes are just seedlings. Love bruchetta, great afternoon snack for the kids too

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  4. Maureen,

    What a great idea, and so easy and convenient! There's nothing like autumn in Canada, for me. The change in seasons is more evident and colourful - including the rain and cooler temps! How I miss raking up all those copper coloured crusty leaves, and that smell, just after the rain. Ah...must be beautiful in your parts. Hoping you'll post some pics of your surroundings soon; I need my fall fix!

    Poppy

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  5. Well, that is so smart! I would never have thought of making it all up as the actual appetizer and then popping it into the freezer.
    My tomatoes are never-ending too and the frost is coming apparently so I guess I should pick off all the little ones and let them ripen indoors?

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  6. Feel free to pop over anytime with that bruschetta! lol! It looks delicious! I may freeze some myself this year...nice idea. xo

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  7. What a great idea for year around summer flavour. What type of container did you freeze the bruschetta topping in? Baggies or jars? Thanks. Pam

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  8. Your bruschetta looks delish. Wish I were one of your neighbors. lol

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  9. Yummy, I just made some at work the other day, almost identical (catering for an event), although I put some feta cheese on the top instead. Nothing went into the freezer, though some accidentally fell in my mouth. Well, I'm the chef, I have to try stuff !

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  10. This sound delicious! I didn't know you could freeze it, what a great idea!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  11. OMGOSH, Maureen, That looks absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious! Great idea about freezing it! xo Diana

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  12. That looks so good Maureen. Would be so good with a glass of wine.
    Blessings,
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

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  13. Okay, I really have to ask you this... You can freeze bread? Will they taste good when you take them out?

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  14. I just licked my screen. I hope you're happy missy.
    R

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  15. Love your tomato bruschetta. Looks soooooo good. I have been looking in the thrifts and always forget to look at belts. I am hoping to find a well worn one. I had an old leather dog collar and should have kept it, a piece of that would have been the right width and wear. Thanks for the visit tonight.
    Joy

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  16. Your bruschetta looks so good! The photography is beautiful. What a great idea to freeze the tomatoes. I had no idea you could do that! I'm a new follower and happy to have found you.
    Khammany

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  17. Maureen...
    I'll be your neighbour for the month of October! (before I head north)
    I'd gladly walk over with a bottle of Chianti if you could possibly think of some tomato based nibbly to go with it...hmmmmmm

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  18. Oh this looks so delicous. Mind if I stop by for bite?

    I hope you have a week as beautiful as you are!

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  19. Here's how lame I am...I thought this title was Saving Summer Flowers!!! I read the whole thing and love that you are saving and savoring the last of the fruits of summer. Then I scrolled back up because I couldn't see where you saved summer flowers! Duh.

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  20. OMGosh- That looks so good. I wish, I wish, I wish I could eat tomatoes like that. YUM- xo Diana

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