Sometimes, when I am in need of an energy boost, and I don’t want to overdo it on the caffeine, I turn to red foods. According the “The Complete Book of Color” by Suzy Chiazzari, red foods give us energy and strength. Lucky for me, there are lots of ripe, juicy, red tomatoes around my house right now. My husband’s parents are growing some delicious tomatoes this year, and they are generously letting us share in their bounty. 
When a tomato is really fresh and tasty, it does not need a lot of preparation. Tomatoes and basil are a traditionally great combination, and we happen to have a lot of basil growing in our garden. So to prepare an energizing snack, I went out in the warm, soft rain and picked a bunch of basil. Then I chopped two medium-sized ripe tomatoes and a handful of the basil, and put them in a bowl. I added two teaspoons of olive oil and one teaspoon of balsamic vinegar to the bowl. (I am a huge fan of balsamic vinegar, and look for any chance I can get to use it.) I put in a tiny pinch of sugar and a generous pinch of salt to the bowl, stirred it all together, and had a delicious, revitalizing tomato salad. To make it more filling, I put the tomato-basil mixture on crackers. If you are looking for a way to use your tomatoes and need an energy boost, this is a great way to do it!
