Delicious, colourful and versatile, tomatoes are used in many different dishes: sandwiches, salads, soups, sauces, stews, pizzas, coulis, casseroles, etc. Tomatoes come in many different colours and shapes and each variety has its own features.

When shopping, always select firm, smooth-skinned tomatoes, whatever their colour. If you don't plan to use them all at the same time, buy tomatoes at various stages of ripeness. Unwashed tomatoes will keep about 1 week at room temperature away from the sun and up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator, because the cold slows down ripening.

Helpful Hint: To peel a tomato, cut an X in the bottom, immerse 30 seconds in boiling water, run under cold water and peel, lifting cut edges. Quick and easy!

Tomatoes have definite health benefits. They are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that reduces the risk of cancer and some heart diseases. But did you know that the body absorbs lycopene more easily when tomatoes have been heated and made into juice, sauce, tomato paste or ketchup?

Red Tomato Marmalade

Stuffed Tomatoes

Tomato Pesto Sauce

Zucchini with Tomato Stuffing au Gratin