Gluten-free Gourmand

I try to record the first ripe tomato in my garden every year.  This year is a record - June 30th!  It's not even July yet, according to the calendar.  The thermostat on the other hand says differently.  It has been blazing hot in Portland, and it's not looking to let up any time soon. To put this recent heat wave in perspective, I'm usually craving some sun and a hot day on June 30th.  It's usually still reliably 65°f and rainy right about now.  Fourth of July weekend is the first moment a Portlander can expect to see the sun - and she really looks forward to it.

Every year, I try to record my first ripe garden tomato.  Here are my results for the last few years: 2011 - August 5th 2010 - July 23rd 2009 - July 17th 2008 - Sometime in September (I got my garden in late) In 2009 I had a bumper crop.  I had tomatoes ripening as soon as July 17th.  Well, this year is looking promising.  I have at least two ripening tomatoes - and it's not even the 4th of July! These are Sungold tomatoes - they're small, they ripen early, and they are bright orange.  They are amazing in salad .  Since I discovered them, they have been my first tomatoes to ripen every year.  They are incredibly high producers and they are indeterminate - which means they flower continuously throughout the season.  Flavor-wise they can't be beat. I had a few other things to harvest today.  My artichokes are the envy of my community garden. They were delicious with dinner tonight.  Here was the rest of my harvest: My let...