Before we get started, we want you to know that if we didn't choose your recipe as a finalist, that doesn't mean we didn't think it was great. In fact, we hope you'll re-submit your recipes for relevant recipe themes in the future.

Now that there are lots of people sending in excellent recipes, our decision-making process has shifted toward shaping the book and thinking about assembling a group of recipes that feels coherent, original and enticing.

For the Best End of Summer Cocktail, we were immediately drawn to the Blackberry Caipirinha because it was a simple twist on a classic drink, and seemed to epitomize summer. The Tom and Ginger, though elaborate, seemed thoughfully conceived and we liked the unusual combination of tomatoes with ginger. Among the others on our short list were the Yuzu, I Zu, which we planned to test but couldn't find yuzu juice; the Thai Ginger Lime Cooler; the Honeyed Peach Melba Bellinis (great sounding but we didn't want to have two fruit drinks and we didn't want to have two complex drinks); the Cantaconundrum; and the Michelada (we're planning to do a beer cocktail theme so please re-enter then!).

For the Best Preserves, there was definitely a tomato theme among the entries, and we wanted to acknowledge this by choosing at least one. We went with the Sweet & Savory Tomato Jam because we liked the blend of vinegar and sugar. And we liked both of KelseyTheNaptimeChef's old-fashioned preserves: Grandma's Canned Tomatoes and Bread & Butter Pickles. Since we didn't want to end up with two tomato recipes we went with the pickles, and were amply rewarded. We also liked the sound of the Tomato Preserves (scented with lemon); Peachy Tomato Jam; Plum and Walnut Conserve; and Fresh Fig and Strawberry Jam (which calls for Harvey's Bristol Cream).

- Amanda

At the end of every summer, we spend a couple of weeks with my husband's family in Wainscott, on Long Island. I pass most of that time running around to farmstands and eating as many peaches, tomatoes, corn and lobster rolls as possible. A few years ago, on my night to cook, I made a pasta dish with roasted tomatoes and corn. Everyone loved it, and then I forgot about it. I revived it again this year, and, determined not to forget it again, I've decided to write it down. Here.

Congratulations to this week's winners!

Meredith Shanley won the contest for Your Best Tomato Recipe with BLT Panzanella.

Sandy Smith won the contest for Your Best Frozen Dessert with Lemon Basil Sherbet.

We asked them both to answer a few questions about cooking and eating.

- Merrill

Canning is one kitchen activity that can intimidate even the most confident cook. The truth is, it's dead simple. Every August I make jars and jars of wild blueberry jam at my parents' house in Maine, and every Christmas I know exactly what I'm giving out as presents. The best part? It takes all of an hour to make the jam, and both the ingredients and equipment couldn't be simpler.

Each week we get more and more great contest entries, and this past week posed the most daunting challenge so far. Both the Tomato and the Frozen Dessert themes inspired an influx of fantastic ideas, and it was really difficult for us to decide which recipes to test. We've made our selections, which we'll announce on Friday -- but in the meantime, we'd love to know which entries you'd choose as potential finalists. So please use the comments section below to tell us which recipes you liked best and why!

"The proliferation of blogs by culinary pros and amateurs alike is changing the landscape and purpose of food criticism." -BusinessWeek.com  

"AH [on the growth of Food52]: It's really more like an art project, you've created this art object and seen its evolution." -Jenn Garbee, LAWeekly.com

One of our first and most enthusiastic users, seattlebonvivant, recently told us about a project that she and some friends have set in motion. It's called Canning Across America (or CAA), and it's a national collective which aims to "promote safe food preservation and the joys of community building through food." We hope you'll pay a visit to their informative website, and then submit a recipe or check out the entries for this week's preserves contest. We also highly recommend  seattlebonvivant's Twiitter stream, in our opinion an exceptional food journal.

Congratulations to this week's winners!

Savour won the contest for Your Best Peach Recipe with Simple Summer Peach Cake.

fisheri won the contest for Your Best Summer Fish Recipe with The (Not Barefoot) Contessa's Fish Pasta.

We asked them both to answer a few questions about cooking and eating.