Even though heirloom tomatoes are no where close to pretty, they have a certain attractiveness to them that normal red tomatoes just can’t match. Trader Joe’s has mini heirloom tomatoes, about the size of grape tomatoes or a little bit bigger. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, feel free to use grape tomatoes or mini roma tomatoes.

1 package mini heirloom tomatoes                         $3.49

2 ounces goat cheese                                                     $1.25

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary                                      $free (from your herb garden!)

1 tablespoon fresh thyme                                             $free (from your herb garden!)

salt and pepper, to taste                                                $free (ish)

Total cost                                                                             $4.74

Wash the tomatoes. Using a sharp knife, cut the top of each tomato, like you would if you were carving a pumpkin. Using a very small spoon, carefully carve out the insides of the tomato. (We didn’t have small enough spoon, so we used the handle of the 1/4 teaspoon!) Be careful, you don’t want to cut the skin of the tomato outside of the top that you’ve carved out. As you finish the tomatoes, arrange them in a small ceramic baking pan.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, herbs, salt, and pepper. To effectively combine them all, use a fork and mash the herbs and cheese together. This is easiest when the cheese is at room temperature – no colder. Using your fingers, get a pinch of the goat cheese and stuff each tomato. At the end of your goat cheese, each tomato should be fully stuffed.

Bake the tomatoes for 10-12 minutes. Let them rest for 5 minutes and then ENJOY!