My tomato plants are not doing well this year and several other people I have talked to are having the same problem. But then on Sunday my minister, Tupper Garden, delivered a wonderful sermon (which happens to be featured as the Preacher’s Corner this week; see pg. 4) about his tomatoes and he even brought in his perfect first tomato for all of us to see! Of course his sermon was not just about tomatoes; it was about the The Parable of the Sower. I bet our congregation thought about Jesus as they ate their tomato sandwiches that day!
So even though struggling tomato plants are all around me, I saw in that worship service a healthy tomato, I knew they were out there! So I set out into the community in search of a place to purchase a couple of fruits that would bring summer joy to my taste buds. Luckily, the tomatoes, at the Wertz’s stand on Brambleton, were looking beautiful, so I brought a few home with me and now I am enjoying someone else’s garden fresh tomatoes – which is Biblical too (just read Acts) and could be included in a tomato sermon.
I like a classic mayo, tomato with salt and pepper on white bread, but this fancier version of the classic sounded very delicious. I will be trying it later in the week after my quest for the perfect avocado!
2 1/2 cups (lightly packed) fresh basil leaves
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
12 thick-sliced bacon strips
12 slices (1/2-inch-thick size) fresh country-style white bread or sliced French Bread or Sour Dough Bread
3 large tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
6 lettuce leaves
-Mix basil, mayonnaise and butter in processor until basil is finely chopped and mixture is well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
-Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 8 minutes.
-Transfer to paper towels; drain. Spread half of mayonnaise mixture over 1 side of half the bread slices.
-Top each with 2 tomato slices. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper.
-Top tomato slices with avocado, then with bacon strips, onion and lettuce. Spread remaining mayonnaise mixture over remaining bread slices.
-Place bread slices atop lettuce. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.
