BLT with Homemade Basil Mayonnaise

Ah summer! It's the perfect time for lazy dishes, because when the tomatoes are as full of flavor as they are now, you don't have to do much of anything to them. Just pile them high with lettuce, bacon, and mayonnaise, and you have the perfect summertime lunch.

I used Udi's Millet and Chia bread, toasted of course, and made homemade basil mayo to be slathered inside. I started with Alton Brown's recipe (see link below), which is always flawless (as is he). To it I added a little minced garlic and tons of chopped basil. It is hard to actually get this stuff onto bread before devouring it. Now slice up a watermelon and enjoy.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/mayonnaise-recipe/index.html

Update on Avocado Toast

I made this for lunch yesterday, and it was so perfect!!

Avocado Toast

Okay, I have to admit that I haven't made this yet.  I stole it from Julie Yoon's blog, but something about it just seems perfect, and I don't know why we all haven't thought of it before.  Easy as pie, healthy, delicious (looking!) breakfast!  Just make some toast, top it with a smashed avocado and a few slices of tomato, and finish it off with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon.  Yumm!!!

Feeling Like a Kid Again

With school cancelled for snow, I am happily holed up in my apartment, feeling like a kiddo. Fortunately ABC Family agrees with me that Christmas classics like Home Alone should be played until spring. But without our moms around to make a kid-worthy meal, William and I had to fend for ourselves. And what did we decide to eat while watching Kevin's crazy antics? Creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches!

Creamy Tomato Soup
In a Dutch oven, roast one large can of whole tomatoes (juice reserved for later use) and half of a large white onion sliced for 30 minutes at 415 degrees. In the last few minutes of roasting, throw in 3 crushed garlic cloves. Remove pot from oven and place on eye of stove set on medium high heat. Add the reserved tomato juice, a little chicken stock, and a touch of heavy cream or coconut milk if you love William and don't want to make him sick. Blend the whole thing in food processor and season to taste.

This really was delicious!! Roasting the tomatoes and onions adds so much rich caramelized flavor to a very simple soup.