You Say Tomato, I Say Tomatillo

I love tomatillos. They are so flavorful and easy to work with. And they are so cute. It’s time we spotlight the tomatillo with its own potluck. Please bring dishes made with tomatillos. This will likely mean appetizers and main dishes. If you can come up with a dessert with tomatillos…more power to ya!

Here is a little about tomatillos from Wikipedia (the last paragraph is very informative):

“The tomatillo is a plant of the nightshade family, related to the cape gooseberry, bearing small, spherical and green or green-purple fruit of the same name. Tomatillos originated in Mexico and are a staple of that country's cuisine. Tomatillos are grown as annuals throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The tomatillo fruit is surrounded by an inedible, paper-like husk formed from the calyx. As the fruit matures, it fills the husk and can split it open by harvest. The husk turns brown, and the fruit can be several colors when ripe, including yellow, red, green, or even purple. Tomatillos are the key ingredient in fresh and cooked Latin American green sauces. The freshness and greenness of the husk are quality criteria. Fruit should be firm and bright green, as the green color and tart flavor are the main culinary contributions of the fruit. Purple and red-ripening cultivars often have a slight sweetness, unlike the green- and yellow-ripening cultivars, and are therefore somewhat more suitable for fruit-like uses like jams and preserves.

Tomatillo plants are highly self-incompatible, and two or more plants are needed for proper pollination. Thus, isolated tomatillo plants rarely set fruit. Ripe tomatillos will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks. They will keep even longer if the husks are removed and the fruits are placed in sealed plastic bags stored in the refrigerator. They may also be frozen whole or sliced.”

Come join me to celebrate all that is good about tomatillos. A reminder on what to bring:

· One potluck item per attendee (if you are bringing a guest, please make sure to indicate what you are bringing for each person)

· If you are picking up something from the store, please spend at least $15. We prefer you cook or bake.

· Your own serving platter and utensil.

· An alcoholic beverage for yourself and/or to share (optional). Water and soft drinks will be provided.

· Ziploc bags or plastic containers to take home leftovershttp://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/0/5/2/event_226541042.jpeg