The basil is finally large enough to use, and use it we do.
I love the way my hands smell after I pull off some basil.
The tomatoes aren't ready yet, so these vine-ripened ones
will have to do. I did get my first tomato off the vine the
other day but some ugly little red worm had gotten to it
first. Does he (a female wouldn't do that to another
female, would they?) know how I look forward to that
first tomato?
In high school I would always have tomato sandwiches in
the early part of the school year. I would put mayo on
some good bread and bring a fresh tomato and a knife
to school to slice my tomato at lunch so it wouldn't be
soggy. That wouldn't happen today! I'd be hauled into
the office for bringing a knife!
Today we are making a wonderful tomato and basil topping
for bruschetta, but we have found it works for so many
other wonderful things.
We were having a dinner party with my daughter's in-laws
when I saw her sister-in-law Lis grab the sugar container
at my place and start spooning it into the tomatoes.
I gasped!
She'd just mistaken the sugar for the salt and
obviously ruined the bruschetta topping.
When I pointed out her error, she laughed and said she
knew it was sugar. Then she proceeded not to add any
oil to the tomato and basil mix.
Mind you, I was really skeptical now.
To my surprise, this is a fabulous version that tastes
so sweet and so fresh and you don't miss the
other traditional ingredients at all and neither
does your waist line.
Lis's Tomato and Basil Bruschetta Topping
3 ripe tomatoes, finely diced
4 T. basil, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tsp. sugar
Combine the above and let sit for about 30 minutes.
Serve over toasted garlic bread,
grilled chicken or steaks.
Tonight we are having it on bread and chicken.
Start by slicing some good, crusty European style bread.
Have your butter at room temperature.
Butter both sides of the bread and sprinkle with this
wonderful garlic and cheese mixture that you can
buy at Costco. Be sure to sprinkle some on both sides.
I get out my griddle so I can get plenty done at once.
That was yummy!
I topped it with a little shaved parmesano reggiano.
Ok, so you had better double or even triple the tomatoes and
basil because with this size of bread and chicken too, it
is going to go really fast.
No oil, no parmesan, no pine nuts, even no garlic
but there is NO WAY
you won't love this.
Hope your garden is doing well, and if not, the
basil at the store is great too.
Give this simple recipe a try.
Thanks for stopping by
Purple Chocolat Home
for another fresh dish.
I will be posting this on
and