You can never have too many fresh tomatoes, as there are just so many options for incorporating them into your cooking. If your garden was working overtime this year and your counters are overrun with ripening tomatoes, here are four ideas for what you can do with them.

Roast ‘Em!

Roasting tomatoes brings out their flavour and makes a fantastic side dish for any occasion.

Ingredients
• 2 pounds tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon basil, chopped
• Salt and pepper

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 450 F.

2. Half or quarter the tomatoes, then toss in a large mixing bowl with all the other ingredients.

3. Place the tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and roast for about 30 minutes or to desired doneness.

Homemade Ketchup

Skip the store-bought bottles and whip up a batch of homemade ketchup bursting with flavour.

Ingredients
• 2 pounds tomatoes, chopped
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
• 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 whole clove

Instructions
1. Place all ingredients into a stockpot and whisk to combine.

2. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes, until onions are translucent and tomatoes are soft.

3. Puree the mixture in a food processor and pour it through a strainer to remove skins and seeds.

4. Continue cooking over medium-low heat to desired thickness.

5. Store in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Homemade Pasta Sauce

Enhance your favourite pasta dish with authentic marinara sauce made from your hand-picked tomatoes.

Ingredients
• 5 pounds tomatoes, peeled and seeded
• 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 onions, diced
• 1/2 carrot, grated
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup basil, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig oregano
• 1 sprig thyme
• 2 sprigs parsley
• Salt to taste

Instructions
1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a stockpot.

2. Add onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic and carrot and saute for another 2-3 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes, basil, thyme, parsley, oregano, and salt. Simmer for 2-3 hours over low heat until cooked down.

4. Remove herb sprigs and puree to desired thickness (or leave as-is for thicker sauce)

5. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Tomato Soup

Homemade tomato soup is the perfect meal for late-summer nights. This simple recipe will satisfy every time.

Ingredients
• 4 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt, pepper, and sugar.

Instructions
1. Combine tomatoes, onion, cloves, and broth in a stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium heat and gently boil for 20 minutes.

2. Remove from heat. Puree using a food processor and pour through a sieve.

3. In the empty stockpot, melt butter and stir in the flour. Cook until medium brown, then whisk in the tomato mixture. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and sugar.

Delicious and versatile, fresh tomatoes can help brighten up any dish. Once you know what to do with them, you’ll never have to worry about having too many.