Peel a Tomato

Sorry no picture but I will get one up soon.

One of the things that takes some getting used with an Aga is no open flame. Hard to light a candle off of the Boil Plate. It's also hard to peel a tomato. I know dip it in boiling water, chill, it peel it. Not when I need only one or two. You just score the flower end as usual and hold it over an open flame until the skin is blistered and your done. I was using a blowtorch but that was a relationship destined to fail. And it did. Again Aga, no open flame, bummer. Here's the solution. Score the tomato as usual and just roll on the Boil Plate. The skin will blister and it will peel off. Use tongs if you have to and don't feel like you need to get every inch. Ripe tomatoes peel easier, unripe tomatoes taste differently and maybe you need to rethink your recipe.

Another Aga miracle.

Drying Herbs

now who went and misspelled lavender?

I received an email from an Aga owner asking about drying herbs in the Slow Oven of his 4 Oven Aga. Not sure, my wife only let me get the 3 Oven so how do I know what that magical 4th Oven can do? I'm also a fan of freezing herbs over drying them. I like the bright color they retain. While I was out raiding my friend's garden I took six big flowers from  dill plants that had gone to seed. I will dry the seeds with the power of Aga. I took one and tied it up and hung it over my Hot Plate with a sheet pan to catch the goods. It took a few days and dried nicely. I also put three heads in a bag (hope Homeland Security doesn't pick up that last phrase) and hung them upside down. It worked well, took a day longer but easy to retrieve to the dill seeds as they fall off. Next up tarragon.