Tell Me A Story: CHERRY TOMATOES, Fruit or Vegetable?

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

CHERRY TOMATOES, Fruit or Vegetable?

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?

Yellow Tomato Flower. Husky Cherry Red, Hybrid Tomato. Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Confused?

The confusion about "fruit" and "vegetable" arises between cooks and scientists in their use of tomatoes.

CLICK on each photo to ENLARGE.

Scientifically speaking, a tomato is definitely a fruit.

True fruits are developed from the ovary in the base of the flower, and contain the seeds of the plant (although cultivated forms may be seedless).

Blueberries, raspberries and oranges are true fruits. Some plants have a soft part which supports the seeds and is also called a "fruit", although it is not developed from the ovary: the strawberry is an example.

Some things which are strictly fruits, such as tomatoes or bean pods, may be called "vegetable" by cooks - because they are used in savory rather than sweet cooking.

So - the answer to the question is that a tomato is technically the fruit of the tomato plant, but it is used as a vegetable in cooking.

Don't look for tomatoes next to oranges in the grocery store.

Fruits - like tomatoes and green beans are usually (incorrectly) referred to as "vegetables" in most grocery stores and cookbooks.

RECIPE

Fresh Corn Tomato Salad

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/search?term=fresh+corn+tomato+salad&mainIngredient=&type=&dietary=&action_ProcessRecipeSearchForm=Search

Husky Cherry Tomatoes and Grape Tomato Harvest. Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

RECIPES & COMMENTS

1) Message From My Friend, Diane

"Marcia, have you tried roasting
your cherry tomatoes?
Toss with a little salt and olive oil,
and bake at 375 degrees
on a foil lined cookie sheet."

2) Message From My Friend, Martha

"I LOVE oven roasted cherry tomatoes!
I bake mine on parchment paper for several hours
till they reach a nice dark brown
(bordering on black cuz I like mine a bit crispy)!
Bake about 325 degrees.
After they're cooled,
put them in an airtight containers,
and keep them in the freezer.
Use them in stir-fry, salads, omelets, or just snacking.
Nom nom nom!"

Cherry tomatoes
are fun to munch on,
and surprisingly easy to grow.

My daughter, Sarah, said:

"I planted

cherry tomatoes

this spring - at the end of May.

I like to pop cherry tomatoes

in my mouth.

I don't have to cut them up.

They are good for snacks.

It's like eating grapes."

Sarah's Cherry Tomato Harvest...

Sarah's Husky Cherry Red Hybrid Tomato

and Grape (Tami G. Hybrid) Tomato Vines...

Hugely nutritious for their size, cherry tomatoes
abound with
Vitamins C, A, and K,
and the anti-oxidant lycopene
is in every bite.

Cherry tomatoes have been savored in Mexico for 2,500 years. Christopher Columbus brought them back to Europe.

Good Things Come In Small Packages!

Cherry Tomatoes:

                                       Kid Friendly
                                                     Looks Good
                                                        Tastes Good

How about planting cherry tomatoes
with your child or grandchild?

Plant in a sunny spot.
Tie the plant to a stake.
Water every other day.
Watch the magic begin!

Thanks

for

stopping

by!

Come

back

often,

and

bring

a friend!

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

Tell Me A Story

TELL ME A STORY

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

CHERRY TOMATOES, Fruit or Vegetable?

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AMERICA'S STORYTELLER, Marcia Norwood