Need more fruits and veggies?

Susan Bishop and Kathy Oliver have been involved in the local food movement for many years. Between the Sarasota Farmers Market, My Mother's Garden and Mabry's Market these sisters are more than familiar with the many practical facets of bringing local food to the table year-round in our area.

Hence their latest venture, Mabry's Online Market, which brings together local producers and consumers through a great website, and their family farm in Wimauma.

Check it out!

Tomato season in full swing in Ruskin

EASY, FREEZER TOMATO SAUCE

40 large tomatoes
1 large sweet onion

Bring a saucepan full of water to a boil. Place tomatoes in the boiling water for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, until skin becomes wrinkled. Using large tongs, remove the tomatoes and place them in a colander or on a sheet pan until cool. Peel and core, and then place in a large stainless steel pot with a chopped onion or any other vegetables or seasonings you desire (i.e. carrots, celery, green peppers, fresh chopped parsley, oregano, basil, sugar, salt or pepper).

Bring slowly to a boil, stirring often. Lower heat and simmer 30 minutes. Cool slightly, and then measure 3 cups at a time into blender. Cover and whirl at high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Return tomato sauce to large pot and simmer until mixture thickens to your liking. Remove from heat.

Make sure tomato sauce is cool enough not to melt the freezer jars or bags. Pour your favorite serving-size portions, leaving 1/2-inch headroom for expansion when frozen. Seal, label and date.

Makes approximately 6 quarts.

Artesian Farms U-Pick Tomatoes is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2710 College Ave. E., behind the Circle K, in Ruskin.

Meet the winners

Wielding knives, whisks and lots of carrots, their secret ingredient, members of the culinary teams from Riverview and Durant high schools dazzled the judges and cooked their hearts out recently for the first High School Iron Chef competition at the Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon.

Travis Gentile, Ryan Allers and Martin Gendron of Riverview, in solid black, took the title by a close margin and walked away with the grand prize of $1,200 worth of merchandise for their school kitchen.

The chefs prepared a mouthwatering menu for attendees, which included: Tuna Tartare with Kimchi and Carrot Pesto; Steak with Risotto and Candied Carrots; Carrot Cake Pudding with Candied Carrot; Carrot Fritters; Shrimp with Carrot Ginger Sauce; Apple Carrot Cake Cupcakes.

Congratulations to all of the cheftestants on a job well done!

Verna's Heritage, a sweet calling for mother-daughter duo

The mother and daughter team of Shirley Almand and Wendy Ranny just began Verna's Heritage, a cottage industry business selling delicious raspberry bars, chewy cake, jams and other delectable goodies at the SouthShore Sunday Market in Ruskin.

Read about them and their decadent recipe for Strawberry Soup in this week's Table Scraps column on tbo.com.

Tea, scones AND cowboy hats

Destiny Church in Ruskin hosted 104 guests at its annual spring tea on Saturday. The day before I got a sneak peak at the delightful table settings for the event. Every one of them was a "wow!"