Slap Mint Gin and Summer Tomato Palooza

August, draped in excess, ripens into a rosy blush as she parades her finery. Especially beautiful, the tomatoes.

Locally grown tomatoes go down easy, almost as easy as the Slap Mint Elderberry Gin that complements an end-of-August afternoon on the beach. (Recipe below the tomato slide shows.)

Slapping mint before using in cocktails extracts the oils adding additional minty flavor to the drink. If the mint isn’t muddled, place the leaves or sprig in one hand and smack it with the other.

I’ve put together three summer tomato slideshows from previous blogs–Appetizers and Soups, Sides and Salads, and Main Events– that utilize this bounty in some fashion that may inspire.            .

Summer Tomato Appetizer and Soups:

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Tomato Zucchini Tapas

Tomato-Mozzerella Bruschetta

Super-Fast Caprese Canapés

Caprese Salad with Pesto Oil

Tomato Cucumber Raita

Tomato-Zucchini Soup

Mix and Match Gazpacho with (optional) Shrimp

Tomato-Zucchini Tapas; Tomato-Mozzarella Bruschetta; Super-Fast Caprese Canapes; Caprese Salad with Pesto Oil; Tomato-Cucumber Raita; Tomato-Zucchini Soup; Mix ‘n Match Gazpacho with (optional) Shrimp

Summer Tomato Sides and Salads:

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Jerusalem Pita and Vegetable Salad

Indian Chopped Salad (Kachoombar)

Tomatoes Stuffed with Walnut-Tarragon Chicken Salad

Tomato-Bulgur Salad

panzanella

Fried Green Tomatoes with a Tomato-Corn Relish

Summer Tomatoes with Fresh Peach Dressing

Butter Beans with Tomato Relish

September Vegetable Succotash

Grilled Stacked Mediterranean Eggplant

Green Tomato Curry

Jerusalem Pita and Vegetable Salad; Indian Chopped Salad (Kachoombar); Tomato Stuffed with Walnut-Tarragon Chicken Salad; Tomato-Bulger Salad; Panzanella; Fried Green Tomatoes with a Tomato-Corn Relish; Summer Tomatoes with Fresh Peach Dressing; Butter Beans with Tomato Relish; September Vegetable Succotash; Grilled Stacked Mediterranean Eggplant; Green Tomato Curry

Summer Tomato Main Events:

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Pasta with Easy Fresh Tomato Sauce

Sun-kissed Tomato-Basil Angel Hair

Corn and Tomato Farosotto

Tomatoes Stuffed with Walnut Chicken Salad

Tomato Stuffed with Cottage Cheese

Whitefish with Tomato-Caper Relish

Roasted Monkfish with Tomato-Olive Relish

Balsamic Lamb Chops with Tomato-Mint Salad

Grilled Pizza with Fresh Mozzerella, Tomatoes and Pesto Pizza

Tomato Curry with Potatoes and Beans

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Romesco Sauce

Caprese Pesto Burger

Fried Green Tomato BLT

Cartwheels with Fresh and Easy Tomato Sauce; Sun-kissed Tomato-Basil Angel Hair; Corn and Tomato Farrosotto; Tomatoes Stuffed with Walnut Chicken; Tomato Stuffed with Cottage Cheese; Whitefish with Tomato-Caper Relish; Roasted Monkfish with Tomato-Olive Relish; Chicken Cutlets with Fried Tomatoes and Capers; Balsamic Lamb Chops with Tomato-Mint Salad; Tomato Curry with Potatoes and Beans; Grilled Pizza with Fresh Mozzerella, Tomatoes and Pesto;  Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Romesco Sauce;  Caprese Pesto Burger;  Fried Green Tomato BLT

The following recipe was inspired by a recent recipe I found in Traverse, My North magazine. I infused the simple syrup with rose petals (that I strained out); it added a bit of floral bouquet but, perhaps, not worth the fuss.