Showing posts with label basil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label basil. Show all posts

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Recipe for Tomato Pie


 Hello friends.  I thought I'd share a recipe with you today.  I first tasted tomato pie at the "Tomato Pie Cafe" in Lititz, Pennsylvania when we visited in September.  It was so delicious, I just had to make one. 

I used the last of the fresh tomatoes from the garden and fresh basil.  This pie is made with fresh chopped tomatoes, basil and onions, topped with a mixture of shredded cheese and mayonnaise, baked in a pie shell.  



The recipe I used was from Simply Recipes.  



Tomato Pie ~
  • 1 9-inch pie shell
  • 1/2 yellow or red onion, chopped
  • 3-4 tomatoes, cut in half horizontally, squeezed to remove excess juice, roughly chopped, to yield approximately 3 cups chopped tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup sliced basil (about 8 leaves)
  • 2 cups grated cheese (combination of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, or Gruyere or Mozarella)
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (Tabasco)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Pre-bake the pie shell in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.  

2.  Lightly salt the chopped tomatoes and set them in a colander over a bowl to drain while you are pre-baking the crust.  Squeeze as much moisture as you can out of the chopped tomatoes.

3.  Sprinkle a layer of chopped onion over the bottom of your pre-baked pie crust shell.   Spread the drained chopped tomatoes over the onions.  Sprinkle the sliced basil over the tomatoes.

4.  In a medium bowl, mix together the grated cheese, mayonnaise, Tabasco, a sprinkling of salt and freshly ground pepper.  The mixture should be the consistency of a gooey snow ball.  Spread the cheese mixture over the tomatoes.

5.  Place in oven and bake until browned and bubbly, about 45 minutes.  

A savory pie that is absolutely yummy!   


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Delicious Eggplant Gratin

I picked another eggplant from the garden yesterday, a few more tomatoes, and some fresh basil. This is an eggplant gratin recipe.  We loved it!  


Eggplant Gratin 

2 Tbs. pine nuts, toasted
2 cloves garlic chopped
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
1 C chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. lemon juice
S&P
1 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 1/4" slices, salted and drained, and patted dry
olive oil
6 plum tomatoes (I used tomatoes from the garden)
2 balls fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced  (I used shredded)

To make pesto, puree in a blender pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, basil, lemon juice and a bit of olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.

Heat ~2 Tbs. olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.  Brown eggplant slices on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side, and drain.

Grease a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil.  Arrange half the eggplant in the bottom, top with half of the tomato slices, then spread with half of the pesto and mozzarella slices.  Repeat

Bake 400 degrees 30 to 35 minutes.





SO good!

Bon Appetit!  

Friday, July 12, 2013

The July garden

Our garden is growing beautifully this year.  I guess it's because of all the rain we've been having here in North Carolina the last few weeks ~ just really hot humid weather.  We are harvesting tons of tomatoes, cucumbers and banana peppers, so much basil we can't eat it all, and it looks like we will have a lot of egg plant.  











Loving those fresh tomato, lettuce and mayo sandwiches.  







I am planning on canning tomato sauce and dill pickles probably next week.


We are truly enjoying the fruits of our labor!  

Have a great day!