Amish Tomato Butter Food

TOMATO BUTTER

Steps:

• Put a small ceramic plate in the freezer. You will use this this to test the jam later.
• Safely prepare you jars for canning.
• Chop the tomatoes and place them in a large Dutch oven (optionally see crock pot procedure at the bottom) with the sugar and vinegar. Stir everything together, then turn the heat to medium and simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down and are soft, about 15 minutes. Blend the tomatoes with an immersion blender until you have a smooth puree. Lower the heat and continue simmering the jam, stirring frequently, until the liquid has reduced and the mixture is thick and spreadable. This could take anywhere from 40 minutes to over an hour, depending on how juicy your tomatoes are. As the mixture thinks, stir more often and watch carefully to avoid scorching.
• When the jam has cooked down and is thickened, spoon a little jam onto the frozen plate. Leave it to set for a minute, tilt the plate. If the jam stays put, or only runs a little bit, it's ready. Also, run a finger through the jam on the plate if the two sides stay separate and don't run back together it is another sign it is ready.
• When the jam has met the set test, remove it from the heat. Fill your canning jars with jam, leaving a 1/2-inch head space. Wipe the rimes of the jars with a damp paper towel to clean up any sticky spills. Dry the lids with a clean paper towel and place on the jars. Screw on the bands tightly. Use good canning procedure.
• You can also make this in the slow cooker. To do this, place all the ingredients in the cooker and cook uncovered for 12-14 hours until set. Puree the tomatoes when they are soft.

AMISH TOMATO DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Melt 3 Tbl butter in Dutch oven over Med heat. Add onion and celery and cook until translucent, about 3 minute Stir in tomatoes and their juice, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until veggies are softened, about 5 minute Remove from heat and stir in 2 Tbl parsley.
• Combine remaining parsley, flour, and baking powder in a bowl. Stir in milk, egg, and melted butter until combined and smooth. Return tomato mix to simmer over Med heat.
• Using greased Tbl measure, drop heaping Tbl-size dumplings on top of tomato mix, leaving about 1/2-in between dumplings. Cover and cook over low heat until dumplings are firm and cooked through, about 20 minute Take care not to uncover during cooking. Serve.

AMISH TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Chill pie dough for about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place a baking sheet on the lower oven rack.
• Slice heirloom tomatoes into 1/2-inch rounds. Remove seeds with your fingers. Place 6 slices on paper towels or a clean cloth and cover with more paper towels or another clean cloth. Arrange the remaining slices on a wire rack. Cut Roma tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices, remove seeds, and arrange them on the rack as well.
• Line a deep-dish, 9-inch pie plate with dough. Place 2 layers of aluminum foil over the entire surface. Fill with pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake pie crust on the preheated baking sheet on the bottom rack. Place tomatoes on a higher rack. Reduce temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake until the bottom of the pie crust has lost its translucent raw look and the edges have just started to color, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the foil and the weights. Cover the edges of the crust with foil to prevent them from burning. Poke the bottom of the pie crust with a fork to keep it from puffing up. Return the pie crust to the bottom rack and bake until the bottom starts to color, about 8 more minutes.
• Remove pie crust and allow to cool. Continue baking the tomatoes until they are wilted, about 40 minutes total. Remove and allow to cool. Keep the oven on.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until some of the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Add sliced leek. Cook until bacon is crisp and the leeks have softened and browned, about 5 more minutes. Drain bacon on paper towels and allow to cool.
• Place bacon-leek mixture, Cheddar, Fontina, mayonnaise, basil, egg, and mustard in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
• Spread 1/3 mixture on the bottom of the pie crust. Arrange 1/2 of the roasted tomatoes on top, overlapping heirlooms with Roma tomatoes. Spread another 1/3 of the mixture over the tomatoes and arrange the remaining roasted tomatoes on top. Add the last 1/3 of the mixture and gently press the fresh tomato slices on top in a decorative pattern. Arrange foil around the edges of the pie crust to protect them from burning, taking care that the foil doesn't touch the tomatoes.
• Bake until browned and bubbly on top, about 40 minutes. Cool completely before serving.