Photos by Melanie Einzig (left) and Joseph De Leo

It’s here! The brightest time in our produce-filled summers: tomato season. We're surrounded on all sides by tiny Sweet 100s and Black Cherries, golden Yellow Taxis and blush-colored Brandywines. What are your favorite varieties?

Tomatoes have a hint of umami -- a deep savoriness usually reserved for meats, mushrooms, and cheeses -- which is an unusual quality for a fruit. This characteristic gives tomatoes a versatile range in the kitchen. You'll find us stuffing them in tarts, stirring them in jams, tossing them in salads, and blending them in soups. And the current abundance of these jewel-colored treasures allows us to experiment with them in interesting new ways.

The sky is the limit but the season is short, so we want to know how you're making the most of it. Tell us how you reach tomato heaven in the comments section below. Remember, if you choose to upload a recipe (and we hope you will), please mention it in your comment.

We'll assemble and share some of our favorite ideas next week.

Some of our favorite recipes with fresh tomatoes:

Grilled Tomato and Romaine Salad
My Best Tomato Sandwich (pictured above, left)
Andalusian Gazpacho
Pesto Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad (pictured above, right)
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Grllled Fresh Mozzarella Pesto Croutons
Sweet & Savory Tomato Jam
Greek-Inspired Pasta Salad

Want more seasonal recipes? Check out last week's post: Your Best Ideas for Corn.