Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

My sweet papa brought me a huge bag of cherry tomatoes from his favorite local European-like open air market store called the Milk Pail and I knew we could not eat the whole bag, so I decided to roast them. It was amazing how all the little tomatoes reduced in size and ended up filling just three Weck jars...two to give away to friends and one to keep! 

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes     
1 pound cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves unpeeled garlic
kosher salt

Preheat oven 250°.  Put halved tomatoes and garlic in bowl and toss with olive oil. Spread on baking sheets and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 2-3 hours until shriveled and dry but with a little moisture left in them (check on them periodically between the 2nd and 3rd hour).

Put them into tightly fitting jars with the peeled garlic cloves and cover with extra virgin olive oil. They will keep several weeks in the fridge.

Ways to Enjoy Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes:

• As a snack, straight out of the jar
• Spread a little goat cheese on a multigrain cracker and top with a few tomatoes and fresh thyme for an appetizer
• Toss with pasta, peas, cut up salami, garlic salt and parmesan cheese
• Bake in a zucchini, mushroom and roasted tomato quiche
• Chop up with calamata olives to make an olive/tomato tapenade and serve with sourdough crostini
• Slice fresh mozarella and top with a fresh basil leaf, several roasted tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a side salad     
• Add to your scrambled eggs with sauteed spinach
• Make a greek salad with cucumbers, feta, slow roasted tomatoes and toss with red wine vinegar, a little olive oil, kosher salt and fresh oregano
• Sprinkle slow roasted tomatoes on cheese pizza 
• Make slow roasted tomato soup
• Toss on top of a bowl of cottage cheese and add cubed avocado for a tasty lunch
• When you have eaten all the tomatoes, drizzle the remaining olive oil over pasta and vegetables or mix with a tangy balsamic vinegar for a yummy salad dressing
• Share with your friends!