As I’ve said before, cooking in college can be difficult. However, if you have the right staples, then often whipping up something quick and tasty is pretty easy. One of these staples is that wonderful, juicy veggie: the tomato.
It might sound a little odd, but the tomato is something I’ve become very familiar with cooking this year. It’s a vegetable I never considered I would buy so often. Easy to eat raw or cooked, chopped into a salad or baked into an entrée, the tomato is versatile, healthy, and delicious.
Here are a few fun and easy recipes to use with our favorite vegetable of the week:
The Classic: BLT
Combine some sliced tomato with crispy bacon and the last few leafs of the Iceberg lettuce in your fridge to make a BLT sandwich. This creation is easy to make and fun to eat, especially for an after-brunch snack.
The Easy Appetizer: Tomato and Mozzarella
When you have mozzarella cheese sitting around for pasta, but don’t feel like actually going to the trouble of using the stove to make dinner, use that tasty cheese for something quick but still filling: tomato, dusted with herbs of your choice — Parsley is a favorite — between thick slices of mozzarella. Put the combination on toast for ready-made bruschetta.
The Entrée: Spinach Sausage, Pasta, and Tomato
If you have the time and energy for making a dinner that will last for a few meals, this combination is one to consider. A protein, a starch and a veggie cover all the essentials for a healthy dinner. The spinach turkey sausage offered by Gainesville’s own Trader Joe’s is yummy, easy to cook and blends well with the flavor of sautéed tomatoes. My personal favorite type of pasta for this dish is angel hair.
The Midnight Snack: Tomato’s with Salt and Pepper
This one is for when you’ve been studying all night, and you’re sick of using sugar for your snacking purposes. The tomato, eaten sprinkled with salt and pepper, can be a little extra boost of energy and juicy flavor to help you power through studying and ace your exam!
