NEW USE: Don’t throw out those bushels of tomatoes just
yet![neWLine]

Carole Longo Harris of New Hope, a freelance writer who pens
stories about the fun, food and family influences of the Italian
immigrants who were part of her childhood growing up in Bradford,
presents a couple new “”uses”” for the over-abundant crop of
tomatoes from the garden.[neWLine]

First, our favorite.[neWLine]

“”What about the annual tomato war fought every year in Italy?
Two competing armies bombard each other using tomatoes for
cannonballs, flinging them from gigantic sling shots and bouncing
them from see saws.[neWLine]

“”The serious warriors wear armor, shields and helmets. Farmers
donate tomatoes by the truckloads. Wine flows freely. The scene is
loud and messy. Spectators tail-gate. They cheer, feast, dance and
sing regional songs.””[neWLine]

Too untidy for you?[neWLine]

Carole also passes along what she calls, “”an ancient recipe
never published.””[neWLine]

“”When I was a little girl I knew when Mrs. Pedine up the street
was baking tomatoes because of the wonderful smell. I learned this
recipe by watching Mrs. Pedine. It is seasonal.[neWLine]

“”Take a big, heavy, sharp, wide-blade knife and on a cutting
board, chop the devil out of several cloves of garlic, a chunk of
salt pork and lots of fresh parsley.[neWLine]

“”Chop, pound and smear with side of blade until consistency of
a paste. Cut tops off fresh tomatoes and place them cut side up in
a lasagna pan. Score and put a daub of the paste in the center of
each tomato.[neWLine]

“”Bake in oven until well cooked. The tomato skins will look dry
and pulp of tomato will be very soft, almost soupy.[neWLine]

“”There will be a pool about 1-2 inches deep of delicious,
scrumptious juice on the bottom of pan. The smell is to die for.
Serve in bowl with lots of juice. Sop up the juice with crusty,
hearty Italian bread (no doughy Wonder bread).[neWLine]

“”Breathe in the smell. Mangia!””[neWLine]

[neWLine]

POST SCRIPT: Danielle Frownfelter writes, “”In reference to the
story ‘Bradford woman alerts Era readers to lotto scheme,’
published Sept. 11, 2006: P.T. Barnum did not say ‘There’s a sucker
born every minute.’ The quote is often attributed to him, but it
was in fact uttered by banker David Hannum, who worked for a
competitor of Barnum’s circus.””