2022 Food Box #10- Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are a true superfood! Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, tomatoes can support a range of health benefits in the body. Tomatoes are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, carotenoids, and vitamin C. The combination of these traits help with maintaining a healthy blood pressure, protecting against light induced-eye damage, and may combat free radicals which are a known cause of cancer. These nutrient-dense packets of sweetness can be used for soups, sauces, and even drinks! Check out this link to learn more about the benefits of tomatoes.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273031#benefits

Try this comforting tomato soup recipe to add more tomatoes to your diet on the next rainy day! https://www.spendwithpennies.com/fresh-tomato-soup/ And FYI, tomatoes are a fruit!

ingredients

3 pounds fresh ripe tomatoes

4 cloves garlic peeled

½ onion diced

½ red bell pepper diced

2 tablespoons olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

½ teaspoon dried basil

½ teaspoon dried oregano

2 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons fresh herbs basil/parsley/oregano

fresh basil & parsley for serving

¼ cup parmesan cheese (optional garnish)

½ cup heavy cream (optional)

instructions

-Preheat the oven to 450°F.

-Wash and cut tomatoes (cut in half for smaller apricot sized tomatoes, cut larger tomatoes into quarters or eighths).

-Place tomatoes, garlic, onion, bell pepper, olive oil, salt, pepper and dried herbs on a large pan.

-Roast 25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil 3-4 minutes or until some of the tomatoes get a little bit of char colour on them.

-Bring chicken broth to a boil, add tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Using a hand blender, blend mixture until smooth and creamy. Add heavy cream if using.

-Top with parmesan cheese, croutons or a drizzle of heavy cream.