Mozzarella and Tomatoes
When tomatoes are at their peek, in Michigan, in August and September, we cannot eat enough of them. BLTs, salads, sliced simply with salt and pepper, but this is our favorite way; with fresh mozzarella, toasted pine nuts, drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
Mozz and Maters is something we have eaten with every meal….it’s easy, it’s seems healthy, the kids will eat it….so here is my version…
Toast pine nuts in pan.
Just a little bit so they look like this a cute and toasty….just a little tan.
Here is all the goodies you will need….it’s so easy…really my eleven year old makes it.
Basil is a beautiful, wonderful, fabulous thing……I could just sniff it all day long and into the night. I think I actually would like to marry it. Is there a perfume? Hmmm I need to find me some….perfuuume de Basil-poo.
Slice your tomatoes or maters if you are me.
Lay them out on a platter….and make sure your golden retriever is not in the kitchen, or that you don’t turn your back on him while you have tomatoes on a platter, if he is a mater eatin retriever like ours….
Then slice up the mozzarella, thin and lay on top, I know I am doing it upside down, I do things topsy turvy often.
Now sprinkle with the chopped basil, drizzle with olive oil, and balsamic vinegar….still keeping an eye on your caprese eating doggie.
Oh yeah baby…..
Sprinkle with coarse salt and fresh ground pepper, and toasted pine nuts….where’s the dog?
Oh life is good….yes sir-eee.
The story behind the dog is that one time when I was having some gals over for appetizers and fun….I had made a platter like the above, Jack our golden retriever laying in the corner…sleeping, so I thought….turned my back to go to the door because I thought my peeps had arrived. Seconds later I heard an odd glass slapping on counter top sound, I turned to find my doggie his hind haunches on the floor, front paws parked on either side of the beeea-UU-teeful platter just havin’ himself a feast!!!!! “Blast you DEVIL dog” I screamed. He scurried out the door so fast, lickin his chops…stinken beast. I so wish I would have thought to grab my camera so you could have a full visual.
Have a great day!
LuvYA!
Caprese Salad
Warm tomatoes fresh your garden, layered with fresh basil leaves, creamy mozzarella topped off with toasted pine nuts, a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic, sprinkled with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
Ingredients
- 3 whole beef steak tomatoes
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
- 10 basil leaves washed and dried
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt to taste
- fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a small skillet over medium heat, place pine nuts in skillet and move around continuously until they start to brown and smell nutty, remove pan to a dish or a plate. Otherwise they will continue to brown in the warm pan and could burn. Do not walk away from this is a step you much keep an eye on.
- Wash and slice tomatoes in to 1 cm thick slices.
- Cut mozzarella into as many slices as you have tomato slices.
- Wash and dry one basil leaf for every tomato slice, if the leaves are large and you don't have enough you can cut them in half.
Assemble
- On a flat serving platter with a bit of a lip to hold in juices. (honestly a dinner plate will do!) Layer tomatoes, mozzarella, basil leaves, then drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and top it off with salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 15gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 357mgPotassium: 52mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 442IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 289mgIron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @eat2gather or tag #eat2gather!
Oh, boy! Now that was the best thing I have ever had…the whole weeks worth.
Burrrrrrrrrp! Sounds like you are having a great vacation. The weather sure has been wonderful this week. Tell Big D I said hi!
Anonymous Karen
Not even a hint as to where the cottage is? We're from Central Wisconsin and are always looking for places to stay.
Wow!!! I think I want to vacay with you next time okay???? HaHa!! Sounds like you all had a belly full-of-a-time!!!