Summer Tomatoes

This is for my Massachusetts dear friend, Jane of Joy of Voice. Jane, you asked for one of my favorite hot summer dishes and this is one of them!

I LOVE summer tomatoes...

There is NOTHING like vine ripened summer tomatoes... I eat cherry tomatoes like candy... and these big ones... I put them in everything...

It's one of those dishes where there are no proportions, I make this like I paint, pulling together whatever is on hand... tasting as I go, just using intuition and what I like...

Summer Tomatoes

Ripe tomatoes, diced, or sliced
Mozzarella cheese packed in water (chop into small pieces)
Fresh Basil (chopped or torn)
Olive oil (I used Meyer Lemon Olive Oil)
Sea salt
Fresh ground pepper

and don't forget the sweet red onion!!!

Mix the chopped tomatoes, cheese, onion, and basil leaves together...

Drizzle with olive oil, stir... sprinkle in sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste,stir... and place in a beautiful dish to serve...

Enjoy as a summer side dish with large chunks of crusty french bread for dipping into the juices, to which you can also add some balsamic vinegar... yum... or you can top a large green salad with these tomatoes...

or as a main course by adding hot pasta! This melts the cheese as you stir it all together... it is so yummy, melting in your mouth with bursts of flavor and texture... we had this last tonight for dinner!!! Serve the pasta with a large green salad and your favorite red wine (Murphy-Goode is always a good choice!!!) or a tall glass of your favorite iced sun-tea and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!

A little bit about my favorite sea salt. This was first given to me by my dear Kimberly Saward, Californian turned Brit... It comes from Malden near where Kimberly lives in England (you can find this in specialty stores) and it is my favorite salt to cook with...

Not only can I taste the difference in the flavor of the salt... but I believe the crystal configuration is really important to cooking and my health... and beautiful...

Aren't these crystals amazing and beautiful!!!! For like my painting and art-making, cooking to me is all about exchanges of energy and putting combinations together that are beautiful to you... that way... you feed the aesthetic palate as well as creating nourishment for body and soul...

Comments

[carole]

Lea:
I have never used Lemon olive oil; I will try it. I wish I could enjoy your salad as I type : )
Thank you for sharing
carole

[Stephanie]

Yes, yes....I live on this all summer!

Fresh basil, fresh mozz, fresh tomatoe's...mmmmmmm

I have a salt grinder along with my pepper grinder and will have to search out Maldon's when next I run out.

thanks for your visit!!!

[Lea]

Mo'a, The tomatoes in my picture are called Heirloom tomatoes. They are really, really yummy!

[Mo'a]

Ok!!!I will just call it a Lea meal today...our Jersey tomatoes are at their sweetest and juciest right now.
I have never seen such a dark red almost maroon tomato before...Is it a special variety?

[Jane Lowey]

Hi Honey!
Thank you for the recipe...and the reminder of the glory of summer's creations...tomatoes. I'll try this recipe tomorrow (with any luck). I'm in the middle of my weekend of gospel singing, and we finish up tomorrow. Then I have the fantasy..which I hope to make a reality ...of taking a card table to the most beautiful beach on Cape Cod. I want to dress it fancifully, bring the food you suggested, and invite my loved ones and sister singers to join me at surf-side for a sunset dinner. I will toast a glass of Murphy-Goode to you Lea. In gratitude.

[somepinkflowers]

this is so my favorite
sort of meal in the summer!

in italy i lived on insalata caprese and
i grow basil for this dish alone.

looks like you feel the same way,
everything has got to be the best you can find!

and good mozzarella is expensive where i live.

when i travel to europe i alway look
for different kinds of sea salt.
someday i will be arrested for ***smuggling salt***,
i just know it.

why doe it make a difference? i do not know but it does.
i want to belong to a salt-of-the-month club!

:-)

[Mélanie]

I love this tomatoe , it looks so yum .
MIAM MIAM

[rochambeau]

I would like to help myself to a gigantic virtual serving of your beautiful salad right now if that is alright with you Lea! It looks so colorful and delish!

I've never tried Maldon Sea Salt. Looks like it has that perfect crunch factor!