Pots and Pins

Margaret's Apron...

My sweet mom had a little gathering at her home to celebrate her friend's 82nd birthday.  Margaret and my mom belong to the Mutual Admiration Society...they became friends about ten years ago and they just really enjoy each other's company.  Mom asked me to make Margaret an apron - as Margaret always wears one in the kitchen, and she wanted an all white, summery apron.  This is what I made:

 Margaret is probably tinier than my model, Miss Virginia, but at she'll be able to tie it as tight as it needs to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I purchased these strips of roses at a quilt shop a while back, I thought they would be great to use around the collar and front of a sweater...and two of them were perfect on Margaret's apron pockets.  I plan to sew the black strip of roses onto a plain button-front sweater, just to spruce it up a bit.

The rose strips were about $5 a yard, I think, and that's a steal when you think of all the places you could stick a silky rose! 

I have only seen the rose strips in white and black...but I'm really hoping to find some pink and red...if you know of a place that sells those colors let me know!

 

Happy birthday Margaret - I'm so glad you and mom are friends!

Salmon With Asparagus...and Kirkland...

It's been a crazy couple of weeks around here...

1.  I've been working for the mister, and he either fires me or I quit and demand a signing bonus to come back.  There's nothing he likes better than ordering me around...except ordering me around and NOT paying me...which explains his jolly good mood!

2.  I've had several medical tests and lots of visits to the doctors...labwork, 3 ultra sounds and 2 MRI's with contrast...just to be told there is nothing wrong with me...except the pain in my side that stops me in my tracks...it hurts as much as the extremely large hole in my wallet from all of those tests! Godfrey, I could have had an entire house full of carpet for what those tests costs!   Apparently there are more tests that I can be tortured with but the doctor already delivered the bad news to the mister...I'm going to live...looks like wife #4 (or is it 5?!  I've lost count!) will have to wait!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. I've mastered the peach pie.  Over two weeks time I've made six peach pies, fresh peach pies so rich, so flavorful I could just weep thinking about them...oh, and 40 miles of walking to counteract all the pie taste-testing/eating/snarfing.  Now I'm a bit like Pavlov's dog, at the mere mention of Peach Pie I put on my Nike's and head for the door!  I don't know whether that's good or bad!  No, peach pie has nothing to do with the pain in my side, I already asked the doctor about that!  Recipe for Peach Pie up soon...just in time for peach season!

4.  Playing tourist.  In all of my free time from work, doctors and baking, the mister and I set our sights on the quaint little town of Kirkland, Washington, which is about 10 miles from our house, as the crow flies.  Kirkland has wonderful art galleries, restaurants, parks, a great marina and the best outdoor walks around...along the east side of Lake Washington.  We've spent a good deal of time (and $$$) there recently, and so I want to tell you about some of our favorite spots:

Milagro Cantina...their chips, the size of a large pancake, and salsa are not to be missed!  And their food was out of this world good! 

Hector's has a great breakfast...but go early to get a good seat. 

Don't miss the Potato and Leek soup at Wild Rover's...absolutely delectable.  I wanted to lick the bowl.

Olive You is good, fun, loud, and the outdoor seating provides great people watching! 

Of course, Cactus, is still my favorite, their butternut squash enchiladas are amazing.  

And we love Anthony's - formula food at it's best...all of their locations are great but the one in Kirkland is right on Lake Washington...at sunset it's hard to beat. 

Kidd Valley has the best hamburgers and shakes around and you can get everything to go then walk across the street to eat on the shores of the lake...doesn't get any better...unless you walk down to the Marina and sit on the sea wall and eat while you watch people try to paddle surf...so funny when they fall over!  

At the risk of making my California friends regurgitate, I have to say, Kirkland is the Laguna Beach of Seattle...as close as we can get!

 Salmon...what can I tell you...it's the Northwesterners answer to, "What for dinner?"  We've had it every possible way...grilled, baked, fried, deep fried, glazed...and this is one of the easiest and best tasting ways to serve salmon...guarandamteed!  Wrapped in parchment paper and baked in the oven, it is perfect every time and clean-up is a breeze!

 Adding radishes to the mix was a nice touch - they give a light peppery taste.  And baking the asparagus with the salmon means the entree and vegetable are done at exactly the same time.  The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of fresh tarragon, which I would have loved, but the mister is not a fan so I left it off...but I think it would just make this taste even better, if that was possible.

 Salmon with Asparagus - Adapted From Better Homes and Gardens

1 salmon fillet (about 1 1/2 lbs.)

juice of 1 lemon

zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon olive oil

thinly sliced red onion, to taste

4 radishes, thinly sliced

20 asparagus spears, trimmed

sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

parchment paper

kitchen twine, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place the asparagus on the parchment paper and carefully set the salmon on top of asparagus.  (I forgot to do this so I had to stuff my asparagus underneath the salmon - which works - but it's easier to start with it under there!)  Sprinkle salmon with lemon zest, lemon juice and drizzle olive oil over the top.  Spread sliced onion and radishes over the top.  Season with sea salt and pepper.  Wrap up salmon in parchment paper, making a nice little pouch, folding over the ends to seal.  You can tie with kitchen twine to secure, if you want or just fold the ends under.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes.  Serves 4.

 

Southern Fried Chicken...

  We were first in line to see The Help when it came out last Wednesday...and I loved it, as much as I loved the book.  Aibileen, Minny, Skeeter, Hilly, Mae-Mobley...so, so good!  Then there was the food...IF you've seen the movie already, did you notice the 12 layer cake?!?  The chocolate pie - with and without the $#@%!?  The fried chicken??  Black-eyed peas??  Biscuits??  If you haven't seen the movie...keep a look-out for ALL of the stars - that cake is surely one of them - and if you don't leave the theater with a hankering for Southern food then sumptin's wrong wit ya'll!

I'll admit to having more than a hankering...could not stop thinking about Southern food...in all it's greasy glory.  When I told the mister I was going to have to make some fried chicken he practically jumped up and saluted me!  That man likes nothing better than artery-clogging-down-home-fried-food...and would eat it every day if I made it, which is why I only make it once a year...it's our annual Southern Fried Fest...and last night, we done had ourselves a finger-lickin' good feast!

 

 

 

With all of the aromas in the kitchen, we couldn't wait to dive in - I didn't even bother putting the food into serving bowls...we just scooped everything out of the pans and got down to bizness!  Mashed potatoes with sour cream and gobs of buttah, okra with fresh tomatoes and bacon and buttah, biscuits the size of baseballs, basted in buttah, grits made with milk and buttah, corn on the cob drenched in buttah...this is just half of the reason the South lost the Civil war!

 

 

 

Collard greens cooked in chicken broth with a little vinegar, sugar, red chili flakes and buttah, fresh green beans and onion cooked in bacon grease and buttah, black-eyed peas with butter beans and bacon cooked in chicken broth and swirled with buttah, and the star of the show...Southern Fried Chicken...it tasted like buttah!!!  And we also had deviled eggs and watermelon.  Figured we'd go whole hog...and we did!  And that is the other half of why the South lost!  Who could eat like that and then go fight?!?  But dang if it's not delish! 

Here's the secret to my Southern Fried Chicken...you start with beaten eggs and then you add Tobasco sauce...the more the better.  I used about 1 1/2  teaspoon Tobasco...I wanted to use more, but as you know, the mister's delicate constitution just can't tolerate anything spicier than Cream of Wheat...so I went easy on the Tobasco...but you could (and should) add at least 2 teaspoons or even 3!!

 

 

 

 

The rest of the ingredients are put in a large brown paper sack - a grocery bag works just great.  Flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and if you've got a supply of Pepcid on hand, throw in some red chili flakes!  (Since I went easy on the Tobasco I decided I'd use the chili flakes...the mister could chew Pepcid for dessert!)

 

 

 

 

Then, just like Minny showed Miss Celia, you put that egg coated chicken in the sack with the flour and you shake it good!  Then that nicely floured chicken goes into a pan with hot oil...I used peanut oil just 'cause I like the taste but you can use vegetable oil or canola, whatever floats your boat.

 MmmmmmMmmmm!  Crispy friend chicken - can't beat it!  After I fry the chicken, I remove it to a baking dish and put it in the oven for about 10 more minutes, just to make sure the juices run clear and everything is done, plus putting the chicken in the oven keeps it from burning in the pan.  This isn't KFC...or Popeye's chicken...it's better.  It's dang good, with or without all the fixin's...but if you're going to fry chicken, might as well go whole hog!

Southern Fried Chicken - Pots and Pins

3 eggs, beaten

1 1/2  teaspoons Tobasco sauce (or more)

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

2 1/2 lbs. chicken (I used 4 chicken thighs, 4 chicken legs, 4 chicken breasts) rinsed and dried with paper towels

peanut oil for frying

1 large paper grocery sack

In a large bowl, combine the eggs and Tobasco sauce and beat well. In the paper grocery sack, combine the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and red chili flakes.  Dip the chicken pieces in the egg mixture, let excess drip off.  Put chicken pieces in paper sack, about 3 or 4 at a time.  Roll sack to seal and shake it good, so you coat all of the chicken.  Open sack and remove chicken to a plate, shaking off the excess flour.  Repeat with remaining chicken pieces.  

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large skillet (or two) heat peanut oil, about 1/2 inch deep.  When oil is hot, add chicken pieces, being careful not to splatter grease, and don't over crowd, about 5 pieces is all you should cook at one time, which is why you may want to use two skillets.  Cook on one side about 7 to 8 minutes, or until deep golden brown, then turn to the other side and cook for an additional 6 to 7 10 minutes.  Remove chicken from skillet to a baking dish.  Put in oven to finish cooking for about 10 minutes.  Remove and serve.  If you aren't ready to eat, cover chicken with foil, reduce heat to 200 degrees and leave in oven to keep warm until serving time.  Serves 6 to 8.

I needed a bigger plate!  I can't tell you what my very favorite thing was...I loved it all...and everything tasted so good together...but the chicken...man-o-man-alive...crispy on the outside, with just a bit of heat, and like buttah on the inside!  Time to hit the treadmill!

 

Reminder! Get your FREE Dannon Activia Coupon!

The FREE $3.00 coupon for Dannon's New Activia Selects Yogurt is waiting for you!  Just click on this link:

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It's Time For A Winner!

First, thanks SEW much for playing...I was thrilled to see so many comments on my Sewing Machine Cover post!  It did my heart good.  Now...thanks to Random Generator...

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True Random Number Generator Min:   Max:   Result:  31 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

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#31 is Maria Cullen! 

This is what Maria won!! 

Just  bit more than a clock...I couldn't help myself!  Inside this darling little wicker basket I've crammed as much as I could... 

Some fabric for Maria to play with...I don't remember what this fabric is called...American Jane??  But I've had it for a couple of years and I just don't see myself doing anything with it, so I thought, now that Maria has TIME to sew, she could use some fabric!

Just in case Maria doesn't have a pattern on hand, I included a copy of my book...it has some of my very favorite quilts in it...and ALL of them are easy to make!

 

 

 

Lots of quilts and recipes, too!  Because quilters cannot live on fat quarters alone!  My book was published quite a few years ago...but, in my humble opinion, it's still worth a look inside!  (If you want a copy of my book you can find it on clearance for super cheap!)

And, of course, the sewing machine clock!  Isn't is just sew cute?!?  I love mine and I'm sure this little clock will give Maria all the time she needs to quilt! 

Plus, there are a few extra little goodies...I want Maria to be really surprised when she opens her gift! 

Thanks everyone, thanks for stopping by, for entering, for reading, for signing up to be my "friend" and for making this post possible!!!

And congrats to Maria! 

Grapefruit Mint Salad...

Mister:  What kind of crap is that?

Me:  Isn't it pretty?  And it's good, too, try it!

Mister:  I hate grapefruit and what's that green stuff?

Me:  You love grapefruit and that's mint...c'mon, try it!

Mister:  Why can't I just get a piece of boiled chicken and some mashed potatoes?  Is that too much to ask?  I work all day to keep a roof over our heads and I just want to come home and have a normal meal!  Can't you ever just serve me a slice of ham with some canned green beans?  Geeze!  What's a guy got to do to get a decent meal around here?!?

For the record, along with the grapefruit, onion and mint salad, the mister was served grilled pork chops and asparagus.  Now you know what is NOT a decent meal.  But he ate it, even had seconds, the undecent was devoured.  While I licked my lips with satisfaction, the mister snarled at me.  He snarles so much that I just assume it's his way of saying he loves me...wouldn't you assume that?

 

 

 

Grapefruit salad - it is different, unusual, out of the norm...yet refreshing, bright and healthy.  The tartness from the grapefruit goes perfectly with the red onion and the mint provides the BINGO that will have you going back for seconds!!  Drizzled with a bit of olive oil and you have the perfect salad for a hot summer day.

 

 

 

I've made Grapefruit Salad twice in the last week - it's super simple and easy and tastes just as good the next day...if you have any left.  Last Thursday we went on a picnic - it was a beautiful sunny day and we found the perfect spot on the shores of Lake Washington...in the background of the umbrella shot above, you'll be able to barely make out Mt. Rainier...Yes!  The Mountain was OUT! (click on pic to enlarge).  We sat in front of the Leschi marina and feasted on Grapefruit Salad, Kale Salad with Apples, Roman Farro Salad, Chicken and Basil Pizza, Olives, fresh cherries, roasted garlic hummus, Pita chips with Peach Pie and Carrot Cake for dessert!!!  And the BEST part was the Blue Angels were flying over head!!!  I LIVE for Seafair Week when the Blues come to town!   I was hoping to get a great shot of the Angels...I took dozens and dozens of pictures and the picture above is the best of all of them...Blue Skies sans Blue Angels!!! They were just too dang fast for me and my camera...translation:  I was too busy eating to get my camera up and ready before they flew past!

 

 

This recipe is from Delish.com by Donald Link and if you haven't been to Delish, you need to check it out - I have found some great recipes there, thanks to Chef Donald! 

Okay, here's the thing...it's August...Dog Days and all that...we've grilled corn, chicken, ribs, steaks, and eaten so many burgers and dogs that we'll be taking statin drugs for the rest of our lifves!  So it's time for something fresh, new, exciting...it's time for Grapefruit Salad to be on your patio table...it's different and different is a good thing...at least, that's what I told the mister when he started foaming at the mouth because I served him Mexican food twice in one week..."You want something different?!?!  Oh you'll get different alright!  I'll show you different!!"  The was the night before I served him Grapefruit and Mint Salad.

Grapefruit Mint Salad - From Delish.com and Donald Link

2 perfect seasonal grapefruits

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 small red onion, sliced very thin

1 tablespoon good extra virgin olive oil

dozen mint leaves, torn

With a sharp knife slice the skin away from the grapefruit leaving it whole and skinless.  Slice into 1/4 to 1/2-inch slices and remove the seends.  Lay the slices slightly overlapping on a plate and sprinkle with sea salt, followed by the onions.  Distribute the sliced onion and drizzle olive oil on top.  Finish with the torn mint leaves.  Serves 6.

Google Friends Button...

Dear Rose Grace, my very first friend on my brand new Google Friend Connect Button...THANK YOU!  I was totally friendless for about ten minutes - which was torture for someone as insecure as I!!!  And then someone friended me...what a glorious feeling!   (Having a friend button is like having a popularity button...like being in Jr. High School all over again - with acne and the wrong jeans and having to ride the bus!) 

****Update!!  I went to bed with 8 friends, woke up with 125!  (I'm sure that's what Charlie Sheen says every morning!)  So glad to have new friends!!!  Thank you all so very  much!

Sewing Machine Cover Tutorial...

I am guest posting over at Sew We Quilt/Stash Manicure - thrilled to have been asked back!  And along with my brilliant post (yawn) Madame Samm is giving away a SEWING MACHINE!  That's right!  So please make sure you head on over and enter to win...oh, tell her Nan sent you, then if you win, I'll win something, too!

Sew...just in case you win a new sewing machine, I thought you might need a new sewing machine cover to go with it! 

Sewing Machine Cover:

**2 pieces of fabric that measure 28" x 12" for the outside of your cover

**2 lining fabrics and 2 pieces of batting to measure 28" x 12"

1 piece of coordinating fabric to measure 34" x 6"

1 piece of lining fabric and batting to measure 34" x 6"

binding fabric to measure 3" x 34"

**I measured the height and length of my sewing machine, and I have three sewing machines that I use on a regular basis; they were all within 1-inch of each other in length, so that's how I arrived at the size.  Just to be safe, please measure your sewing machine.  My cover was made to go over just my machine and not the plastic table that slides on and off.  Think about whether or not you want your cover to be big enough to go over something like that, if you have one.

I first picked a darling yellow rooster fabric (fabric is called Metro Market by Ellen Krans for Robert Kaufnam and the black check fabric is called Grande Gingham by Holly Holderman for Lake House Dry Goods...LOVE them SO much!!!) for my cover...sewed it up in a snap and was tickled pink to have it fit so perfectly over my machine...it perked up my entire nerve center/workroom...and it wasn't until I saw the cover in a photo that I noticed the roosters were sideways!!  So...IF you are using a directional fabric, please make sure it's going in the right direction!  And just because I didn't want you to think I was a total idiot, I made a second cover, and this time the roosters are upright!  But, just between you and me, I like the sideways cover best...it's really ME!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can cut all of your pieces at one time (I'm all about making things quick and easy!)  After you have cut your fabric, batting and lining to the size of your machine (measure length and height), round the top two corners, or you could leave them, depending if you want your cover to be squared or rounded...I prefer rounded...since I'm so well rounded!

 

 

 

 

 

Pin all three layers of your center strip (outside fabric, batting and lining) to all three layers of one outside set of fabrics, right sides together.  If you're not big on pinning like me, at least pin the corners!  Sew all around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin the other side of the cover, all three layers, right sides together, and sew all the way around.  Trim edges.

Turn right side out...you're almost done and isn't it looking great!  (Oh, maybe I should have pressed my fabric before hand, but not to worry, I did press it after!)

 

 

 

 

 

Cut your binding strip, fold in half (press if you must) and sew it, right sides together to the bottom of your cover.  Now, you can either hand-stitch the binding down or you can do what I did, fold it under and machine stitch it into place...Presto!  Change-o!  Just like that you've got yourself a beautiful new sewing machine cover!

 To make the little loop on top, I took a 6" x 2" piece of binding fabric, folded it, stitched it down the center and then attached it to the top center, to use as a pull...this step is optional but I do like how it looks.  I liked my new cover so much that I made another one...now my Kitchen-Aid has one, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now...It's time for a giveaway!  If you're visiting my blog from Sew We Quilt/Stash Manicure, then you already knew about my wee little give...Madame Samm can't have all the fun!  Besides, I figured it was time...time to give away something you will love and use and smile at every time you take the time to look at it...it's a timely kind of thing...

I'm giving away a Sewing Machine Clock!  Isn't it cute?!?!  I have one and I just love it!  It runs on batteries and has a nice little "tick" - makes my workroom sound alive!  It's the perfect size for a sewing room (because who has room for anything more in their sewing room?!?)  It's only 5" long and 5" tall and while it's made of resin, it's beautifully crafted!  

I have a brand new one just for you...and all you have to do is become a follower of my blog...in my sidebar you'll see the "Follow ME" button, it's brand-spanking new! Just click on it to become a follower (just so you know, I have resisted adding a "follow" button on my blog because it's a little like a "high-school-popularity-contest" and while I really, really want followers, I'm scared spitless that I'll not get any!  And then I won't be able to sleep because I won't be followed and now I'll have just one more thing to discuss with the therapist!  So save me some time in therapy and click the dang button!!) THEN...leave me a comment on this post telling me your favorite time of day...lunch time?  Dinner time?  Nap time?  Ha!  If you're a quilter then you don't have time for naps! 

No entries after 9:00 PST Wednesday.  Winners annouced Thursday, August 11th 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Dannon Activia Selects Yogurt...FREE Coupon!

I think I may have mentioned that I was late to the Yogurt party...didn't think I would like it, didn't think anything that was called yogurt could be good...basically, I didn't think.  But since arriving at the party, I have not looked back.  My name is Nan and I am a yogurt eater.  Let me rephrase...My name is Nan and I am a Dannon Activia Selects Yogurt eater. 

This is my new love...creamy, thick and so, so good and it goes so well with summer (what little summer we have in the Northwest!) and it's the perfect ingredient in my Morning Mocktail, (an acquired taste for sure!) 

Dannon's Activia Selects Greek yogurt (full of zing!) is great eaten right out of the container but can I just tell you how amazing it is to use as a salad dressing!!!

 

 

 

This is one of our very favorite salads - light, refreshing and the salad dressing is dang delicious!  Now, here's some really good news...Dannon is giving away a $3.00 coupon so you can try their yogurt for FREE!  I have already used my free coupon - it was great and Dannon's new yogurt is absolutely delicious!!

Visit the Activia Selects Facebook page to get your FREE coupon now!  Now go on, scurry on over and get yourself a FREE coupon, you can print it out - couldn't be easier!  Then, you can be a yogurt eater, too!   Let me rephrase...a Dannon Activia Selects Yogurt eater - just like me!   Hurry, the coupon is only good until August 15th! 

Strawberry Yogurt Salad Dressing - Pots and Pins

1 container (6 oz.) Dannon's Activia Selects Greek Strawberry Yogurt

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 cup orange juice

Mix all together.  Refrigerate until serving time.  Makes about 1 cup of dressing, enough to dress a salad for 8. 

Green Leaf Lettuce and Strawberry Salad - Pots and Pins

1 large bunch green leaf lettuce, or butter lettuce, rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces

1 cup strawberries, washed, dried, stems removed, hulled and quartered

1 cup blueberries, washed and dried

1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup roasted sunflower seeds

1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbles

In a large bowl combine all ingredients.   Add 1/2 cup Strawberry salad dressing (or more if you like) and toss to coat.  Serve immediately.  Serves 8.

**************************************************************************************************************************** This sponsorship is brought to you by Activia Selects who I have partnered with for this promotion. FREE coupon offer good 8/3 /11 - 8/15/11, up to 1 million coupons, on any Activia Selects Single Serve, up to $3.00. One coupon per household. Offer valid in the U.S only. VOID IN LA, NJ, CA. Coupon valid until 8/15/11. Residents of LA, NJ, CA will be given a '$1 off 3 Activia Selects' coupon.

Disclaimer:  I did receive compensation for this post...which is sad for the Dannon folks because I would have said all of this for free!

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Tomato Pie...

I've told you about my tomato-growing-saga...19 years of trying...fertilizer, plants, vitamins, stakes, cages, soil...hundreds and hundreds of dollars down the $hitter drain for a few measly and mealy tomatoes each September.  You just can't grow tomatoes in a cold, rainy forest...with slugs, deer, raccoons, bunnies, Sasquatch, etc.  But I have not yet thrown in the proverbial towel...this year I planted TWO cherry tomato plants...the guy at the nursery practically promised me they would grow...and so far, he's not a total liar...they are still alive but they have not grown...not one inch! 

And lookie there!  I found one very tiny orange tomato...I was overjoyed!!  Could it be that this year I might get more than five?!?  After all, it's only August!!!  Hope SPRINGS eternal!!

 

 

 

 

Fortunately I did not have to rely on my two pitiful plants for the tomatoes in this pie...farmers markets are teeming with wonderful fruits and veggies so we headed to the market and bought some of the best tomatoes we've ever tasted. We enjoyed them with just salt and pepper and then, coincidentally, my friend Joni sent me her recipe for Tomato Pie.  Joni's savant-cooking ability is just one of her many talents, so if she says it's good then I know it will be...and she was right!

 

 

 

 

 

This Tomato Pie reminded me of my dad.  He loves fresh tomatoes and he grows amazing ones...and when I was a kid, dear old dad introduced me to one of my very favorite summer-time lunches...the tomato and cheese sandwich...white bread, fresh sliced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, salt and pepper...that's it...and now, each bite of a tomato and cheese sandwich is a reminder of summer at mom and dad's.  Tomato Pie is essentially my favorite sandwich in a pie...pastry crust, fresh sliced tomatoes topped with mayo, cheese and the surprise of basil.  We could not scarf this up fast enough!  

The secret to this pie is it's simplicity...it has NO eggs, which I loved!!  So please don't think of this as quiche or a fritatta...it's neither.  (This pie would be great with zucchini slices, and I also like to sprinkle the top with crushed Cheez It crackers...so good!)  There was one tiny sliver left and I had it for breakfast the next day...cold, straight from the fridge, and I think I liked it that way as much as hot from the oven!!

Tomato Pie - From Joni Hilton

4 large tomatoes, peeled and sliced (I skipped the peeling part)

salt

10 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1/2 cup chopped green onions

black pepper

1 (9-inch) prebaked deep dish pie shell

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place the tomatoes in a colander in a layer.  Sprinkle with salt and allow them to drain for 10 minutes.  (Salting and draining the tomatoes not only makes them taste better but allows for the juices to drain so your pie crust won't get soggy.)  Pat the tomatoes dry with paper towels.  Layer the tomato slices, in the baked pie shell, sprinkling green onions between the layers.  Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.  In a medium bowl, combine cheeses, mayonnaise, and basil.  Spread the mixture on top of the tomatoes and bake until the cheeses are melted and the top is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.  Cut into slices and serve.  Makes 6 servings.  

Just look at all that ooey-gooey cheesy goodness!  And with the sausage it looks like a heart attack!  I probably should have served this with a nice green salad but the mister roared in the door with his usual flair (growling and grumpy) and so I quickly grilled some sausage to calm the savage beast.  Worked like a charm.