Tomato Vine Ruined By A Thunderstorm

Q: My tomato vine was loaded with large tomatoes when a thunderstorm knocked it over and broke the main stem. They were getting ready to ripen!

A: If a tomato has just a bit of pink showing on the blossom end, it is capable of ripening fully. If you have a lot of “pinkies,” wrap some in newspaper and store them in a cool place. Put a few of the pinkest ones onto your kitchen window sill to finish ripening. If the tomato has no hint of pink, cut it into quarter-inch slices, dredge each one in seasoned cornmeal and fry in bacon drippings for a true Southern treat.