I tried Redstone's famous Tomato Sandwich Recipe. WOW.

And it wasn't easy; I was a woman obsessed at work when I came up with the recipe for the pesto mayo, and absolutely slavering for sourdough bread with fresh tomato slices, and Redstone's recipe. I went to Lockheart's Trading Post after work. They always have the ripest, plumpest, most gorgeous tomatoes. So I checked out the baskets of apples, potatoes, & onions & there were, for once, no tomatoes.

Lockheart's is also a grill. I went up to this young guy behind the counter & was like, "Hey, wow, no tomatoes. What's the deal there?" & he told me how expensive they were getting. He explained there was a shortage. So I bought the Rolling Rock per Redstone's suggestion, and I gave it one more try. I told him I'd buy a tomato from the grill for 5 bucks, and he started laughing when I told him why.

So he sold it to me for a dollar fifty, and I thanked him & got in my car & burned rubber. I passed a couple of slow trucks, then, going 52 in a 45 MPH zone, was PULLED FOR SPEEDING. I didn't say much, because I knew anything I had to say at that point would sound insane. He let me off with a warning.

So I came home & gave Sophie some special treats, and finally made the most Perfect. Sandwich. Ever. Was it worth it? Oh, YES it was!



:9 :9 :9 :9 :9

Cute story.

Ten minutes of sheer bliss after not taking the path of least resistance! I would reccommend it, on an easier day, of course.

"1) Make some pesto, or buy a jar of some that you know is made well. Mix 1/3 pesto to 2/3 GOOD mayonnaise, like Hellman's. Add a couple of chunks of garlic, chopped, or roasted if you like a milder flavor. Stick it all in a food processor and whirl until smooth (this works better than just stirring it together, though you can do that if pressed for time).

2) From scratch, though I can't give you exact amounts...you'd have to watch and write down how much: Pre-process some fresh basil to a smooth paste. Throw an egg yolk and a bunch of garlic into the food processor, with a touch of salt, a dab of white pepper, and a splash (or less) of vinegar. Crank up the processor, and start adding some damn good olive oil slowly, and I mean a drop at a time at first, then in a fine stream (be patient, now,) until it sets up nice and firm; you're looking for something about twice as thick as mayonnaise...figure about the consistency of good fresh sour cream. Put the basil paste in about 15 seconds before it's done.

Simple, yes? Heaven when spread on a sandwich with tomatoes walked in from the garden.

And don't forget the Rolling Rock."- Redstone

but if you and Redstone recommend it, it's good enough for me.


Plus, I guess I'm just really HUNGRY right now...gotta go make dinner! :)

:hi:

The texture of a tomato has always bugged the everlovin' HELL out of me, so that I could only take it in certain forms. Pasta sauce. Pizza sauce. V-8. But everything combined so smoothly and so tranquilly on this one sandwich that I gave up my tomato-related predjudices right away & converted.

I still think of a tomato as a vegetable. That will never change. ;)

Because I would never be able to eat this sandwich without thinking of you being saddled with a parking ticket!

I stuttered at the cop, and I saw people slowing down & looking on with interest (Do I know that person who just got BUSTED). I clenched my hands together so I wouldn't start pointing at the bundle of groceries in the back seat. Kept my mouth shut so I wouldn't start babbling about tomato sandwiches.

:)

Pretty please.

My dearest, I will make you as many as you want, and even spoil you rotten by using cookie cutters to make them into cool shapes.

Oh, by the way, that Outdoor Supply Company near my house is having a big sale in March. Maybe we can go pick up some kayaks, or comfy flannels!

:D :bounce: :toast: :loveya:

And I need to be spoiled!

March sounds like a lovely time for a drive.

But just promise me one thing, Sugar (and Joanie and CalPeg and others who have commented on this sandwich): You MUST hold on to this recipe until you can try it with a tomato that you've just walked in from the garden, still warm with the summer sunlight.

Or come to Casa Redstone about the middle of August; we're taking the Big Plunge and planting some Brandywine heirloom tomatoes this year...they're widely reputed to be ambrosia-on-a-vine.

I will baby them and pamper them and share them when they're ripe. But you have to come here, because they don't ship well.

Sugar, you're a peach!

Redstone

It didn't even need to be fresh out of the garden, "Warm from the sunlight blah blah blah!" Does that mean I'm a cheap date?

:D

You warm my old heart on this cold night.

No, being satisfied with hothouse tomatoes doesn't mean you're a cheap date.

I was just saying that there's even more pleasure to be had at the right time of year...that's all.

Redstone

I was looking at the cheap, pasty colored, tasteless tomatoes at the supermarket over the weekend but even they were outrageously expensive. :crazy: I guess I'll have to eat tomato-less sandwiches until summer. :(

The tomatoes given to me at the market didn't lookas lush as I'd thought they would, but I didn't care. I wonder, too, why tomatoes are so precious these days.

:grouphug:

i certainly seems like a natural combo :thumbsup:

You MUST.

I was at the "just enough" point when I finished my first one. Tomorrow, I'll make another.

:D :patriot:

end of a short pier :patriot: :loveya:

And I must say I'm jealous - winter tomatoes are a *total* waste of time around where I live, you're fortunate to have a line on good ones, buck and a half per or not.

:toast:

for a plump, ripe tomato, but that took the fun out of bartering

*and wheedling*

:toast:

Actually, I did look down at my $20 watch and wondered if it was worth the asking price.

... a great sandwich, just add a few slices of bacon and it would be perfect :)