yields 14-16 small shortcakes
Biscuits
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon table salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
4 slices extra crispy bacon- chopped (save about 1 slice worth for sprinkling)
1 cup whole milk
Tomato Salad
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound heirloom tomatoes, chopped
Toppings
3 tablespoons heavy or whipping cream
4 ounces goat cheese, softened
extra bacon crumbles
To
make the biscuits, preheat the oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with
parchment paper or a silpat. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt
together in a large, wide bowl. Using your fingertips or a pastry
blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture
resembles coarse meal.
Stir
in the bacon. Add the milk and stir until evenly moistened. Pat out to
3/4- to 1-inch thickness, adding a little more flour if needed, and cut
into 2-inch rounds, re-forming the scraps as needed until all of the
dough is used up. Arrange the biscuits on the parchment-lined baking
sheet, spacing 1-2 inches apart. Bake until they are golden brown on
top, for about 15 minutes.
For the tomatoes: Add the chopped tomatoes to a medium-sized bowl along with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
To
make the whipped goat cheese, in a separate bowl use an electric mixer
to whip the cream until peaks form. Add the goat cheese and beat until
the cheese topping is light and fluffy.
To
assemble the shortcakes, split each warm biscuit in half. Generously
spoon each half with the tomato salad and its dressing. Dollop with
whipped goat cheese and sprinkle with bacon. Eat right away or the
biscuits will get soggy from tomato juice.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Audra Fullerton, The Baker Chick, August 9, 2013
Showing posts with label heirloom tomatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heirloom tomatoes. Show all posts
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, May 15, 2011
2198. WILTED MESCLUN and CHEVRE with ROASTED TOMATO and BACON VINAIGRETTE
3 cups mixed greens and 3 cups baby spinach combined in a large bowl
1 small red onion, peeled and sliced 1/2″ thick
4 strips bacon, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 large heirloom tomato, cut in half
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
1/4 cup combination of chopped parsley and thyme
3 ounces of crumbled Ile de France goat chevre plus extra for garnish
For the vinaigrette:
1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
1/4 cup roasted tomato skins
3/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup walnut oil or olive oil
2 tsp honey
1 tsp dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl, toss together heirloom tomato, first part of olive oil, chopped garlic and herbs, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. When thoroughly covered with herbs and oil, place tomatoes on a baking pan, reserving the leftover oil, herbs and garlic in the bowl for the vinaigrette. Place pan in oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until skins are wrinkled. When finished, remove tomatoes from oven and let cool, 6 minutes. Carefully peel the skin and reserve for the vinaigrette.
While the tomatoes are roasting, in a medium sized skillet on medium heat, render the fat from the chopped bacon by cooking, 8 minutes. When bacon is crisp and cooked, remove from pan to a paper towel. Retain at least 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, and while the pan is still at medium heat, cook onions until soft, 10 minutes. Remove onions from pan and set aside. Continuing the pan on medium heat, add sherry and apple cider vinegar, reduce and heat through, 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
In a food processor, add crumbled, cooked bacon, roasted tomato skins, heated sherry and apple cider vinegar and pulse until bacon and skins are rendered to tiny pieces. Add mustard, pulse. While processing, slowly drizzle oil into vinegar blend until fully integrated. Add reserved tomato marinade, pulse. Add honey and pulse. Salt and pepper to taste. When completed, pour finished vinaigrette into a medium sized pan over medium heat and heat through until vinaigrette is gently bubbling. Remove quickly and set aside.
Add cooked onions and goat cheese to the mixed greens and toss gently. Add half of the heated vinaigrette to the greens and fold continuously. Add rest of vinaigrette, if necessary, until all of the greens are lightly coated with vinaigrette and slightly softened. Pile greens on a plate, top with roasted tomato, and add additional goat cheese for garnish.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Cynthia, Cook of Ages, September 30, 2008
1 small red onion, peeled and sliced 1/2″ thick
4 strips bacon, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 large heirloom tomato, cut in half
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
1/4 cup combination of chopped parsley and thyme
3 ounces of crumbled Ile de France goat chevre plus extra for garnish
For the vinaigrette:
1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
1/4 cup roasted tomato skins
3/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup walnut oil or olive oil
2 tsp honey
1 tsp dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl, toss together heirloom tomato, first part of olive oil, chopped garlic and herbs, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. When thoroughly covered with herbs and oil, place tomatoes on a baking pan, reserving the leftover oil, herbs and garlic in the bowl for the vinaigrette. Place pan in oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until skins are wrinkled. When finished, remove tomatoes from oven and let cool, 6 minutes. Carefully peel the skin and reserve for the vinaigrette.
While the tomatoes are roasting, in a medium sized skillet on medium heat, render the fat from the chopped bacon by cooking, 8 minutes. When bacon is crisp and cooked, remove from pan to a paper towel. Retain at least 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, and while the pan is still at medium heat, cook onions until soft, 10 minutes. Remove onions from pan and set aside. Continuing the pan on medium heat, add sherry and apple cider vinegar, reduce and heat through, 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
In a food processor, add crumbled, cooked bacon, roasted tomato skins, heated sherry and apple cider vinegar and pulse until bacon and skins are rendered to tiny pieces. Add mustard, pulse. While processing, slowly drizzle oil into vinegar blend until fully integrated. Add reserved tomato marinade, pulse. Add honey and pulse. Salt and pepper to taste. When completed, pour finished vinaigrette into a medium sized pan over medium heat and heat through until vinaigrette is gently bubbling. Remove quickly and set aside.
Add cooked onions and goat cheese to the mixed greens and toss gently. Add half of the heated vinaigrette to the greens and fold continuously. Add rest of vinaigrette, if necessary, until all of the greens are lightly coated with vinaigrette and slightly softened. Pile greens on a plate, top with roasted tomato, and add additional goat cheese for garnish.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Cynthia, Cook of Ages, September 30, 2008
Thursday, December 09, 2010
2041. HEIRLOOM GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH and CHUNKY TOMATO BACON SOUP
yields four servings
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, plus 4 tablespoons
8 slices Shepherd's bread
8 ounces white Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 heirloom tomato, sliced into 3 (1/8-inch) slices
8 strips thick sliced apple wood smoked bacon, fried
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin basil olive oil
3 tablespoons finely diced shallots
2 garlic cloves, finely diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped thyme leaves
2 tablespoons finely chopped basil leaves
3 strips thick sliced apple wood smoked bacon, fried and diced
3 ounce tomato paste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
Salt
Sugar, to taste
1 tablespoon chiffonnade basil, for garnish
To make the grilled cheese sandwich:. In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Spread a liberal amount of butter mixture on 2 slices of bread. Flip over slices and spread some Dijon mustard on other sides. Place Cheddar cheese on the Dijon side of both slices. Place bacon on top of cheese on 1 slice and sliced tomatoes on top of cheese on other slice. Combine both sides together and place in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook until golden brown and crusty. Flip sandwich and place a weighted cast iron pan on top. Cook until golden brown and cheese has melted. Remove from skillet and serve immediately with tomato soup.
To make the soup: Puree the crushed tomatoes and set aside. In a heavy stainless steel pot, heat basil olive oil. Add shallots and cook until soft. Add garlic, thyme, chopped basil, bacon, and tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add tomato puree, cream, chicken broth, and salt and sugar, to taste. Bring to a simmer. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with chiffonnade basil. Serve immediately with grilled cheese sandwich.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Rick Massa, "Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Comfort Food," Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Food Network
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, plus 4 tablespoons
8 slices Shepherd's bread
8 ounces white Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 heirloom tomato, sliced into 3 (1/8-inch) slices
8 strips thick sliced apple wood smoked bacon, fried
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin basil olive oil
3 tablespoons finely diced shallots
2 garlic cloves, finely diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped thyme leaves
2 tablespoons finely chopped basil leaves
3 strips thick sliced apple wood smoked bacon, fried and diced
3 ounce tomato paste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
Salt
Sugar, to taste
1 tablespoon chiffonnade basil, for garnish
To make the grilled cheese sandwich:. In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Spread a liberal amount of butter mixture on 2 slices of bread. Flip over slices and spread some Dijon mustard on other sides. Place Cheddar cheese on the Dijon side of both slices. Place bacon on top of cheese on 1 slice and sliced tomatoes on top of cheese on other slice. Combine both sides together and place in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook until golden brown and crusty. Flip sandwich and place a weighted cast iron pan on top. Cook until golden brown and cheese has melted. Remove from skillet and serve immediately with tomato soup.
To make the soup: Puree the crushed tomatoes and set aside. In a heavy stainless steel pot, heat basil olive oil. Add shallots and cook until soft. Add garlic, thyme, chopped basil, bacon, and tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add tomato puree, cream, chicken broth, and salt and sugar, to taste. Bring to a simmer. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with chiffonnade basil. Serve immediately with grilled cheese sandwich.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Rick Massa, "Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Comfort Food," Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Food Network
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
1667. BUTTERMILK BACON CORN SALAD TOMATOES
serves four
4 jumbo heirloom or beefsteak-type tomatoes, or 6 to 8 plum or Roma tomatoes
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 ears corn, shucked and kernels cut from cob (4 cups of kernels)
2 jalapeños, stemmed and chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 ounces soft plain goat cheese
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Core the tomatoes and cut a wide opening in the middle from the core. For plum or Romas, cut the tomatoes lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Set the tomatoes aside.
Add the bacon to a hot sauté pan over medium heat. Render until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour the bacon fat from the sauté pan and wipe it clean (unless you prefer sautéing in the bacon grease).
Add the oil to the same pan and return to medium heat. Put the corn kernels, jalapeños, and garlic in the pan and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes.
While the corn cooks, combine the buttermilk and goat cheese in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Transfer the corn mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the buttermilk dressing, stirring to coat all the ingredients. Add the cilantro and scallions and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spoon the corn salad into the tomatoes. Serve immediately. If serving later, let the corn salad chill and stuff the tomatoes just before serving.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Tara Mataraza Desmond, Serious Eats: A Food Blog and Community
4 jumbo heirloom or beefsteak-type tomatoes, or 6 to 8 plum or Roma tomatoes
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 ears corn, shucked and kernels cut from cob (4 cups of kernels)
2 jalapeños, stemmed and chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 ounces soft plain goat cheese
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Core the tomatoes and cut a wide opening in the middle from the core. For plum or Romas, cut the tomatoes lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Set the tomatoes aside.
Add the bacon to a hot sauté pan over medium heat. Render until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour the bacon fat from the sauté pan and wipe it clean (unless you prefer sautéing in the bacon grease).
Add the oil to the same pan and return to medium heat. Put the corn kernels, jalapeños, and garlic in the pan and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes.
While the corn cooks, combine the buttermilk and goat cheese in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Transfer the corn mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the buttermilk dressing, stirring to coat all the ingredients. Add the cilantro and scallions and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spoon the corn salad into the tomatoes. Serve immediately. If serving later, let the corn salad chill and stuff the tomatoes just before serving.
bacon recipe courtesy of: Tara Mataraza Desmond, Serious Eats: A Food Blog and Community
Sunday, December 28, 2008
1329. SAUTEED OKRA with HEIRLOOM TOMATOES and BACON
serves 6
5 slices bacon
1 pound okra, washed, trimmed, and sliced about 1/2 inch thick
1 large sweet onion (preferably Vidalia), cut into 1/3-inch wedges
coarse salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 medium heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
In a large skillet, cook bacon over low heat until it is crisp and fat is rendered. Remove bacon and set aside. Add okra to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion wedges, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to low. Continue cooking, partially covered, until tomatoes are just heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Crumble bacon slices over tomatoes; serve warm.
courtesy of: The Gift of Southern Cooking by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock, Knopf, 2003
5 slices bacon
1 pound okra, washed, trimmed, and sliced about 1/2 inch thick
1 large sweet onion (preferably Vidalia), cut into 1/3-inch wedges
coarse salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 medium heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
In a large skillet, cook bacon over low heat until it is crisp and fat is rendered. Remove bacon and set aside. Add okra to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion wedges, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to low. Continue cooking, partially covered, until tomatoes are just heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Crumble bacon slices over tomatoes; serve warm.
courtesy of: The Gift of Southern Cooking by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock, Knopf, 2003
Thursday, November 15, 2007
919. HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD with SWEET ONIONS and GRILLED BACON
serves 4
2 large Spanish onions
6 cloves garlic, peeled and blanched in fresh water three times
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for dressing
2 ounces chicken stock
2 tablespoons Banyuls vinegar
1 tablespoon Gula Jawa (Indonesian red-palm sugar)
2 tablespoons bush basil, chopped
1/2 pound good-quality slab bacon, sliced into quarter-inch slices
Mix of 4 medium or large heirloom tomatoes
1 pint mixed small heirloom tomatoes
1 bunch purslane
1 bunch lovage
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the onion marmalade: Dice 1 of the onions and the blanched garlic. In a sauté pan, sweat the onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil, covered, over low heat, for 30 minutes. Add stock, vinegar, and Gula Jawa, return to heat, and reduce mixture by half until it has the consistency of a marmalade. Season with salt and pepper, cool to room temperature, and then fold in chopped bush basil. While the marmalade is cooling, cook the bacon on a grill plate until both sides achieve a good char. (1) Slice the large tomatoes in half-inch rounds; halve the small tomatoes. Slice the remaining onion in quarter-inch rings, removing the center pieces. Pick the purslane and lovage into dime-size pieces. To serve: Arrange the tomatoes on 4 plates and season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Toss the onion rings with the onion marmalade and the lovage. In another bowl, toss the purslane with a drizzle of olive oil.
Layer the tomatoes with the dressed onion rings and the bacon. Finish with the purslane.
courtesy of: Ryan Skeen, Resto, 111 East 29 Street (Park Avenue), New York, New York 10016, (212) 685-5585 / Robin Raisfeld & Rob Patronite, New York Magazine, September 17, 2007
2 large Spanish onions
6 cloves garlic, peeled and blanched in fresh water three times
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for dressing
2 ounces chicken stock
2 tablespoons Banyuls vinegar
1 tablespoon Gula Jawa (Indonesian red-palm sugar)
2 tablespoons bush basil, chopped
1/2 pound good-quality slab bacon, sliced into quarter-inch slices
Mix of 4 medium or large heirloom tomatoes
1 pint mixed small heirloom tomatoes
1 bunch purslane
1 bunch lovage
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the onion marmalade: Dice 1 of the onions and the blanched garlic. In a sauté pan, sweat the onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil, covered, over low heat, for 30 minutes. Add stock, vinegar, and Gula Jawa, return to heat, and reduce mixture by half until it has the consistency of a marmalade. Season with salt and pepper, cool to room temperature, and then fold in chopped bush basil. While the marmalade is cooling, cook the bacon on a grill plate until both sides achieve a good char. (1) Slice the large tomatoes in half-inch rounds; halve the small tomatoes. Slice the remaining onion in quarter-inch rings, removing the center pieces. Pick the purslane and lovage into dime-size pieces. To serve: Arrange the tomatoes on 4 plates and season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Toss the onion rings with the onion marmalade and the lovage. In another bowl, toss the purslane with a drizzle of olive oil.
Layer the tomatoes with the dressed onion rings and the bacon. Finish with the purslane.
courtesy of: Ryan Skeen, Resto, 111 East 29 Street (Park Avenue), New York, New York 10016, (212) 685-5585 / Robin Raisfeld & Rob Patronite, New York Magazine, September 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
918. MAINE LOBSTER CLUB SANDWICH
4 cups Maine lobster meat, cooked, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon Maine lobster roe, cooked
1/4 cup celery, peeled, finely diced
1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1/2 cup lemon mayonnaise
24 slices whole grain or country style bread
4 cups baby arugula
4 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
24 slices apple wood smoked bacon, cooked
2 avocados, sliced
Combine the lobster meat, cooked lobster roe, celery, green onions, and parsley in a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the lemon mayonnaise. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Toast the bread. Generously spread one side of each piece of bread with lemon mayonnaise. Top one slice of bread with the arugula, 2 slices of tomatoes, and bacon. Place a toasted piece of bread on top. Add the avocado slices and lobster mixture on top of that. Place the other piece of toast on top, and secure with wooden toothpicks. Cut the sandwich diagonally into 2 pieces. Place on the plate with the sandwich open about 30 degrees so the guest can see the filling.
courtesy of: Maine Lobster, Maine Lobster Promotion Council, 45 Memorial Circle, Augusta Maine 04330
1 tablespoon Maine lobster roe, cooked
1/4 cup celery, peeled, finely diced
1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1/2 cup lemon mayonnaise
24 slices whole grain or country style bread
4 cups baby arugula
4 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
24 slices apple wood smoked bacon, cooked
2 avocados, sliced
Combine the lobster meat, cooked lobster roe, celery, green onions, and parsley in a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the lemon mayonnaise. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Toast the bread. Generously spread one side of each piece of bread with lemon mayonnaise. Top one slice of bread with the arugula, 2 slices of tomatoes, and bacon. Place a toasted piece of bread on top. Add the avocado slices and lobster mixture on top of that. Place the other piece of toast on top, and secure with wooden toothpicks. Cut the sandwich diagonally into 2 pieces. Place on the plate with the sandwich open about 30 degrees so the guest can see the filling.
courtesy of: Maine Lobster, Maine Lobster Promotion Council, 45 Memorial Circle, Augusta Maine 04330
Thursday, August 30, 2007
842. HEIRLOOM TOMATOES with BACON, BLUE CHEESE and BASIL
serves 6
6 slices firm white sandwich bread
1/4 lb sliced bacon (about 5 slices)
6 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
3 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
4 assorted medium heirloom tomatoes (2 lb total), cut into 1/4 to 1/3 inch-thick slices
30 small fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 oz blue cheese (preferably Maytag Blue), crumbled, at room temperature
Special equipment: a 3-inch round cookie cutter
Garnish: very small heirloom cherry or currant tomatoes
Cut 1 round from each bread slice with cookie cutter. Cook bacon in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until crisp, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off bacon fat from skillet and reserve fat (do not clean skillet). Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then toast 3 bread rounds, turning over once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes total. Transfer toasts to a rack to cool and season with salt and pepper. Toast remaining 3 bread rounds in 1 1/2 tablespoons more oil in same manner.
Cook shallot in 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat and remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and simmer, whisking, until emulsified, about 1 minute. Season dressing with salt and pepper and keep warm, covered. Crumble bacon.
Arrange bread rounds on 6 plates and divide tomato slices among them, stacking slices and sprinkling some basil and bacon between slices. Sprinkle cheese and remaining basil and bacon over and around tomatoes. Spoon some of warm bacon dressing over and around tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
Toasts can be made 3 hours ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Dressing can be made 1 hour ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat before proceeding. Tomatoes can be sliced 1 hour ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
courtesy of: "A Lazy Front Porch Supper," Gourmet, July 2003
6 slices firm white sandwich bread
1/4 lb sliced bacon (about 5 slices)
6 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
3 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
4 assorted medium heirloom tomatoes (2 lb total), cut into 1/4 to 1/3 inch-thick slices
30 small fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 oz blue cheese (preferably Maytag Blue), crumbled, at room temperature
Special equipment: a 3-inch round cookie cutter
Garnish: very small heirloom cherry or currant tomatoes
Cut 1 round from each bread slice with cookie cutter. Cook bacon in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until crisp, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off bacon fat from skillet and reserve fat (do not clean skillet). Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then toast 3 bread rounds, turning over once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes total. Transfer toasts to a rack to cool and season with salt and pepper. Toast remaining 3 bread rounds in 1 1/2 tablespoons more oil in same manner.
Cook shallot in 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat and remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and simmer, whisking, until emulsified, about 1 minute. Season dressing with salt and pepper and keep warm, covered. Crumble bacon.
Arrange bread rounds on 6 plates and divide tomato slices among them, stacking slices and sprinkling some basil and bacon between slices. Sprinkle cheese and remaining basil and bacon over and around tomatoes. Spoon some of warm bacon dressing over and around tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
Toasts can be made 3 hours ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Dressing can be made 1 hour ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat before proceeding. Tomatoes can be sliced 1 hour ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
courtesy of: "A Lazy Front Porch Supper," Gourmet, July 2003
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)