Tomatoes, Peeling, Seeding, and Chopping

To peel tomatoes, core them and mark a small cross at the opposite end with the knife tip. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes and leave for 10 seconds, or until the skin starts to lift at the cross. At once, transfer the tomatoes to cold water until cool, and then drain and peel. To seed tomatoes, halve each one through its equator and squeeze each half so the seeds pop out (if you like, strain the seeds to extract the juice). To chop tomatoes, set a tomato half, cut side down, on a cutting board and slice it. Rotate the slices 90 degrees and slice again. Repeat with any remaining tomato halves, then chop them all together, coarsely or more finely as needed.