BBLT (Bacon Basil and Local Tomato)

The basil aioli and tomato flavor combination is so good, it would be a shame to let it fade into the archives with the tomato pie recipe. As I took a wander down Main Street today it wasn't difficult to come to a BLT conclusion for how to pair them together again. These organic homegrown tomatoes are mouth-watering. (I should apologize now to the people who are reading this post from another city or country.  You will have to come visit to taste for yourself, but we have a bit of a home-team advantage with this one.) I started with the best tomatoes, then paired with fresh bread from an amazing artisan bakery and bacon from a producer of local, farm-to-table cured meats, who happen to reside side-by-side on our little Main Street.  I keep waiting for the candlestick maker to move next door, but in the meantime I'll be satisfied with the tastiest fresh bread and tempting hand-crafted local bacon.  On Wednesday's the Main Street Farmer's Market is busy with farmer's and local food producers from around the region selling their goods.  So with a walk down Main Street shorter than the length of a department store parking lot, you can buy locally made bread, bacon, and all the fresh, homegrown tomatoes and basil you can eat. Local is the buzz-word among foodies, and for good cause.  But here's the cherry on top: This sandwich is AMAZING.  I scored a rare pumpernickle loaf at Niedlov's Bakery for my sandwich, but you can use whichever is your favorite. As for the bacon, there is nothing quite like this thick sliced hand-crafted goodness from Link 41.

Ingredients:

One loaf of your favorite Niedlov's bread

1 lb Link 41 bacon

One Signal Mountain Farm Tomato

Fresh basil leaves 2 Tbs Basil-Garlic Aioli per sandwich Salt & Pepper

Cook bacon, slice tomato and bread to desired thickness, and layer on bread with torn basil leaves and a generous dollop of Basil-Garlic Aioli on both slices of bread. Invite a friend over for lunch, or you might be tempted to eat it all by yourself.

Tomato Pie with Basil-Garlic Aioli

For this recipe, you may want to prepare these ingredients in advance: One recipe for Basil-Garlic Aioli One recipe for Classic Pie Crust

Ingredients: 3 beefsteak tomatoes 1 large yellow or vidalia onion 2-3 Tbs oil 2 cups of hard aged cheese like aged gouda, gruyere, or dubliner 1/2 tsp paprika 1 cup of basil-garlic aioli Salt and pepper

Method: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the prepared pie crust in the oven "blind" or without the fillings.  Bake for 10 minutes or until the surface begins to ripple and look puffy.  Remove from the oven and let cool.

Slice the tomatoes and put on a plate between layers of paper towel.  Press and squeeze to help draw out the moisture.  Set aside and let continue to drain for up to one hour.  Slice the onion into thin wedges and saute in a pan with the oil and a little salt.  Cook until the onions begin to soften and have browned a little.

Place the onions on the bottom of the cooked pie crust, followed by layers of sliced tomato. Sprinkle salt and black pepper onto the tomatoes. Mix together the basil-garlic aioli, cheese, and paprika, then spread the mixture over the top of the tomatoes.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.  Can be served warm or cold.

Basil-Garlic Aioli

Ingredients: 1 local farm-fresh egg 3 cloves of garlic 1 cup light olive or canola oil Zest and juice from one lemon 20-40 basil leaves, sliced thinly Sea salt and pepper to taste

Method: Put egg, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper in a blender.  Blend until smooth.  Continue blending on medium-low speed and very slowly add the oil.  The mixture should emulsify and become fluffy like mayonnaise, but you can use it when it's still creamy and runs a little.  The texture is really a matter of preference.  Transfer the aioli to a bowl.  Stir in the sliced basil leaves. Add more lemon juice and seasonings if necessary.

Grilled Squash "Slaw" with Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes

Ingredients: 3 medium or 2 large zephyr squash 2 sweet peppers, any variety 1 yellow onion Oil Salt & pepper Fresh basil leaves, sliced (optional) 1 cup Marinated Tomatoes with liquid

Method: Slice peppers in half and remove seeds and stem.  Remove stems from the squash and slice in half lengthwise. Cut the onion in half.  Lightly brush the vegetables with oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.  When your barbecue is very hot, place the vegetables on the grill cut side down.  Leave them there for 5-10 minutes, or until they begin to sweat and the cut sides have dark brown marks from the grill.  If you like softer veggies, you can turn them over and cook both sides.  When they are done, remove from the heat and let them rest until they are cool enough to handle.  Slice thinly or julienne the vegetables.  Add the sliced basil leaves (if desired) and more salt and pepper to taste.  Toss the vegetables with diced marinated tomatoes, adding some of the marinating liquid.  Serve warm or cold.

Marinated Tomatoes

1 large heirloom tomato, or two medium tomatoes of any color 1/4 cup vinegar (balsamic or wine vinegar's are the best with this recipe) 1/4 cup olive oil 2 cloves of fresh garlic, sliced or minced 1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt 1 Tbs herbs de Provence Freshly ground black pepper

Slice or dice the tomatoes into a wide bowl.  Combine gently with the rest of the ingredients and refrigerate for at least two hours.  Can save in the refrigerator for up to two days, but the tomatoes will become softer and lose their form as more time passes.  These are fantastic on a sandwich or as a relish or salad dressing.