Do you find that you have a surplus of tomatoes at the end of the summer? Perhaps you have extra tomatoes from your own garden, or maybe a friend, neighbour or family member has shared their extras with you. And if you’re anything like me, perhaps you can’t stand seeing good food go to waste! Read on for some ideas of what to do with tomatoes. I’ve also included a recipe for a DIY tomato facial scrub at the end.
Ideas for Using Up Your Tomatoes:
- Slice them & Store Them – Add some tomato slices to your homemade burgers and sandwiches. Tomatoes make a lovely side dish to almost any meal. Just add a bit of salt and pepper and you’re good to go!
- There’s Nothing Quite Like Homemade Salsa! – There is certainly no shortage of unique and yummy salsa recipes available in cookbooks, magazines and on the internet. Try different recipes with your extra tomatoes. Maybe you’d like to try canning some for keeping in your pantry as well. One of our favourite homemade salsa recipes is garden fresh tomatoes with mangoes, onion, jalapenos and avocado. Delicious.
- Have You Ever Tried Green Tomatoes? – I’m not talking about the movie here (Fried Green Tomatoes), although if you haven’t seen it before I highly recommend it! Many American Southerners love this dish. Simply slice up some tomatoes, bread and then fry them up for a tasty treat.
Try this recipe from Simply Recipes.
- Stuffed Tomatoes Are Amazing – Here’s what you do: slice the top of the tomato off, scoop out the seeds and fill with your favorite egg, tuna or chicken salad. You can find some lovely recipes here from Food & Wine.
- Create Some Homemade Tomato Soup – Canned soup from the store might be good in a pinch but homemade tomato soup is better! You can always make extra and then can some for the winter.
- Dehydrate the Tomatoes – This is super easy to do. Cut off any bruises, slice them up, put them on the dehydrator rack and turn it on. Try these steps as lined out by The Spruce Eats.
- Toss Them in Your Salad – Chop into cubes with some onions and cucumbers. Then toss with your favorite vinaigrette dressing and … YUM. And of course, they are a great addition to any other salads you wish to try them with.
- Homemade Ketchup for the Win! – Gather all of the following together: ripe tomatoes, garlic, cider vinegar, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves. This is a classic combo for homemade ketchup, and my family loves it. I’m sure yours will too!
This recipe from Wellness Mama includes chia seeds and molasses, each of which add a really nice nutritional boost.
- Get Your Grill Ready for Some Shish Kebabs – The next time you get a nice cut of meat that is the perfect size for a shish kebab, skewer the meat along with tomatoes, red onion and mushrooms. Brush them with olive oil and grill them. Here’s a really good vegetarian option from Lemons for Lulu.
These are just a few ideas of what you can do with some extras. If after all this, and if after trying the following face scrub recipe (and perhaps making extra of that too!) you still have a surplus, try passing them on to neighbors, friends, or local food banks.
And now for the facial scrub tutorial!
Tomato masks are wonderful for use on sun spots, and they are helpful for oily and acne prone skin.
Tomatoes contain lycopene, protein, vitamin A and vitamin C, all of which are wonderful for the skin. Lycopene is an antioxidant (which makes tomatoes red). It helps to combat free radicals, and this makes it a powerful weapon in helping to heal skin problems.
The Vitamin C and Vitamin A in tomatoes restore natural health to skin while revealing its natural glow. Due to being a natural astringent, tomatoes can remove excess sebum.
So, if you’re looking for a refreshing and natural way to rejuvenate your skin, then look no further.
With just a few simple ingredients, such as a ripe tomato, a dash of olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt, you can create your very own DIY facial scrub that will leave your skin feeling smooth and glowing.
To begin, take a ripe tomato and slice it in half. Scoop out the seeds and pulp into a bowl, leaving behind the skin. Next, add a teaspoon of olive oil to the bowl. The olive oil will provide hydration and nourishment to your skin, while the tomato’s natural acids will help exfoliate and brighten your complexion. Finally, sprinkle in a pinch of sea salt for added exfoliation.
Now that you have all your ingredients in the bowl, it’s time to mix them together. Use a fork or spoon to mash up the tomato pulp until it forms a paste-like consistency.
Make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
Once your tomato facial scrub is ready, apply it to your face using gentle circular motions. Avoid the eye area and any open cuts or wounds. Allow the scrub to sit on your skin for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the natural properties of the tomato and olive oil to work their magic.
After the designated time has passed, rinse off the scrub with warm water. Pat your face dry with a clean towel and admire the results. Your skin should feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and incredibly soft.
So there you have it – a simple and effective DIY tomato facial scrub that will leave your skin looking and feeling amazing. Incorporate this scrub into your skincare routine once or twice a week for best results. Get ready to say goodbye to dull and tired-looking skin and hello to a radiant and glowing complexion!
This facial scrub may be used at least once per week.
Ingredients for the Tomato Facial Scrub:
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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2 tablespoons sea salt
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½ tomato
Directions for the Tomato Facial Scrub:
Combine together the sea salt and olive oil into a bowl.
Mix in the tomato flesh.
Mix the ingredients together well.
Apply this mixture to your face by gently massaging it.
Rinse with warm water and then follow it up with a moisturizer that you love.
What are the benefits of this tomato facial scrub?
- Efficiently cleans pores, removing dead cells and dirt from the face. Also, tomato juice reduces enlarged pores, acting as a natural astringent.
- Removes blackheads, moisturizes oily skin and reduces the oily appearance. Tomatoes are recommended for treating irritations and redness by balancing the pH levels.
- Reduces acne. Although the results appear in time, applying a tomato mask helps cure acne. The skin will be more supple as tomatoes stimulate the production of collagen.
Remember, if you wish to make some extra scrub to keep on hand for future use, simply store it in a container. Perhaps even make some to give away as gifts. Remind the people you are gifting that it will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy!
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