Tomato Soup with Spicy Crab & Shrimp:

The fruits from our laboriously disappointing garden this year yielded a miniscule selection of eggplant and cucumbers, and a variety of fresh tomatoes. However, V successfully made several batches of refrigerator pickled cucumbers, as well as her equally famous spicy eggplant salsa. With the plethora of tomatoes, we also made our homemade Ketchup, BBQ sauce, and a version of spicy tomato soup that, quite honestly, I completely made up.

The one thing we do well is growing tomatoes, and this year we expanded with several various Heirloom varieties. Living in the woods like we do, our problem still remains the villainous species of Tomato thieves knows as Chipmunks, who continue to invent new ways to break into our highly fortified garden perimeter and completely devour my Roma and Early Girl tomatoes. The little buggers were keeping pace with our harvesting schedule and quickly consumed almost a third of our harvest. Perhaps next year, we will simply plant a buffet assortment just for the chipmunk “outside of the garden” in hopes that that will keep them occupied.

SECRET INGREDIENT: V’s spicy eggplant salsa to add heat to crab, and C’s roasted cauliflower puree for Panini

Tomato Soup with Spicy Crab & Shrimp

• Scallions
• Onion
• Jalapeno
• Tomatoes (4 cups chopped various Roma and Heirloom)
• Olive oil
• Lemongrass
• Coconut powder
• Thyme sprigs
• Orange juice (3 tbl)
• Clam juice (1 tbl)
• Lime juice (1tbl)
• Vegetable stock
• Salt & pepper (smoky salt)

Spicy Crab Salad

• Crab meat
• Scallions
• Red Onion
• Jalapeno
• Cilantro
• Yogurt
• Mayo
• Lime zest
• Lime juice
• Cumin
• Parmesan
• Salt & pepper (citrus fennel salt)
• Sesame Eggplant Salsa (see separately)
• Shrimp (cut in half, , and sautéed with spices and garlic and used as garnish on soup with fresh basil)

Sesame Eggplant Salsa

• Eggplants (roasted)
• Scallions
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Chili sauce
• Brown sugar (3 tbl)
• Soy sauce (2 tbl)
• Rice vinegar (1 tbl)
• Lemon juice
• Tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Sesame oil
• Salt & pepper

Pickled Grilled Cheese Panini

• Bread (Italian)
• Cauliflower puree (roasted with parsnips, garlic, and pureed)
• Sesame Eggplant Salsa (see separately)
• Mozzarella (buffalo)
• Swiss cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Dill pickles (freshly made refrigerator)