Tomatoes are just now starting to ripen in the region's gardens. Do you have a favorite recipe using local tomatoes? Send it to us and we'll share the best later this summer.

Today's tomato-y recipe was sent by Hershey Dugan of Monroeville.

This is an easy dish to prepare -- about 10 to 15 minutes tops. Serve it with crusty bread.

J.P. Senich of Charleroi writes: "I really enjoyed your turtle soup article. Deer's Tavern on Route 51 in Elizabeth used to have excellent turtle soup. I wish I got their recipe before they closed. If you ever run across that recipe would you please share it with me?"

Tom Herward of Edgewood writes: "I really enjoyed your article about turtle soup. It has been a favorite of mine for years. I first had it at the Penn Grille on Brownsville Road in Carrick. This is most likely the bar that was referenced in your story. I regularly eat it on Fridays at the Grant Bar in Millvale.

"If Ray [Burnett] really likes spicy soup he would probably enjoy the turtle soup at Carmody's in the North Hills."

Patricia Vessalo, Point Breeze: "I am looking for a recipe for orange blossom cake. It appeared in the Spry cookbook in the 1930s or '40s. My grandmother used to make it for my mother when she was a little girl. I would love to surprise her by making this cake for her birthday in August. Any help finding this recipe will be appreciated."

Kay Andrews, Green Tree: "I was wondering if you would be able to obtain two recipes from a former restaurant my husband and I enjoyed. It was the Bella Bistro on Painters Run Road, Upper St. Clair. They closed months ago. They had the best salad dressing made with red wine. We also loved their bread dipping oil, a great taste of various herbs."

Heather Barnett, Friendship: "I wonder if the now retired Simple Treat Bakery (one was in Bloomfield, the other Squirrel Hill) would be willing to share the recipe for those fabulous chocolate swirl cookies. These sugar cookies had a layer of buttercream and a chocolate glaze and were perfectly balanced in flavor and texture. Everything in that bakery was excellent, but I've never had anything quite like those cookies."

PG TESTED

For the tomato salad

• 6 medium tomatoes (halved and cut in 4 to 6 wedges)
• 1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

For the halibut steaks

• 6 halibut steaks (4 ounces each)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Juice of one lemon
• Salt and pepper

Cut tomatoes in wedges and toss with remaining ingredients. Set aside.

Place fish in a glass baking dish. Drizzle with oil, then lemon juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 5 minutes on each side or until halibut flakes.

Serve immediately with tomato salad.

-- Hershey Dugan, Monroeville