For a Touch of Romance, Try Heirloom Tomatoes

A Showstopping Heirloom Tomato

Kimberly’s K.I.S.S. Side Dish

Tomatoes add a zing of color to the dinner plate. They also zing your palate when they are fresh from the vine. Last week at the farmers market, this fabulous ribbed tomato caught my eye.

Even though I am on an anti-arthritis, nightshade elimination diet, and avoiding tomatoes, I knew that Keith shouldn’t be deprived of such a wonder. And, with our busy life, I am always on the lookout for “Keep it Simple, Silly” side dishes to minimize meal prep time.

I was able to find two types of ribbed heirloom tomatoes on the internet, one is the Zapotec from Mexico, the other Marmande, from France. Since the  farmer at the market is hispanic, I am guessing I snared a Zapotec.

Since it is a total act of LOVE to serve tomatoes (which I dearly love) while self denying, I thought it would be fun to decorate this ruffled valentine with the word. Much to my surprise, when I cut the basil leaves into strips, they fell easily into place L-O-V-E. It was Kismet.

Last week on The Bachlorette, Ames one of Ashley’s suitors explained the Italian notion of everyday romance called Sprezzatura. Wikipedia explains it as ‘studied carelessness’. I suppose this K.I.S.S. recipe falls into the Sprezzatura category for easily adding a special romantic flair to a meal!

Start with these Two Ingredients Fresh Tomato, Fresh Basil

Kiss Tomato

Ingredients

Serves 6

1 Zapotec or Marmande Tomato

6 dollops of Mayonnaise

Basil Leaves, sliced thinly

Instructions:

Slice tomato and plate. Remove stem from basil leaves and slice thinly (julienne style) from stem end to tip. Form letters on tomato. Add dollop of mayonnaise and decorate with additional basil strips.

Serve.

Kimberly Hartke blogs about real food, health and wellness.

Look for a great source of mayonnaise on my Resources page.

If you want to grow your own heirloom tomatoes, check out my Resources page for sources. For more information about the anti-arthritis nightshade elimination diet see my previous post, Bye, Bye Nightshades.

This post is part of the Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival.