Tomato ~ Basil Tart

   June 1st I left for a four week holiday to see daughters and grandchildren. We returned home Sunday evening, June 29th. By mid~morning Tuesday, everything needing laundered was done and the rest was unpacked and all put away, house was vacuumed, mopped, dusted, bathroom cleaned and kitchen surfaces and appliances wiped down, the needed mowing was done while gone and now the needed tidying in the yard was done, all of the lawn furniture has been cleaned, the mail had been gone through and a quick catching up of email was accomplished. Sigh.... then it was on to the rest of this wonderful summer. First thing was to assemble and bake a Tomato ~ Basil Tart.

   Before leaving I planted some flower seeds, flowers and herbs. When we returned home one variety of the flowers, and the basil and lavender were truly flourishing. In my last post I promised that this one would have a recipe for a savory pie I made from one of my favorite cookbooks in my personal collection by Phylliss Pellman Good, Favorite Recipes With Herbs. Here it is using some of that wonderful basil.

   Tomato ~ Basil Tart

I wish you could smell the lovely fragrance that was coming from those warm sun drenched leaves.

Simple and few ingredients. Yes, I am using a store bought pie crust. I had been gone a month, back a day and a half, ‘nuff said.

I pat the tomatoes with paper towel and then give them plenty of time to dry. You want them as dry as possible.

Basil cleaned, dried off and ready to chop with the garlic.

The cheese melts quickly and nicely in the hot crust.

Add the tomatoes.

Distribute chopped basil and garlic.

Evenly spoon and spread cheese mixture on top. 

Protect crust.... and to the oven!

Golden and Bubbly!

Can be eaten warm, but it must cool some to slice properly and not burn your mouth. I also really enjoy this cold.

 
   Please forgive me for not getting a piccie of the served tart. We were ready to eat and I did not want to hold things up grabbing my phone to snap one. I thought for sure there would be leftovers for that later. Wrong. Mental note, in the future, snap piccie then eat. This recipe is very good. For me it isn't Thanksgiving without Dad's Stuffing, Christmas without my Danish Kringle, spring without Strawberry Shortcake, or summer without this Tomato ~ Basil Tart. I hope you will try it. Please let me know if you do, I would love to know how you liked it.

This is the the cookbook I so enjoy that the recipe is in.

The recipe.

Tomato~Basil Tart

Makes 8 appetizer servings or 4 main dish servings.

9" pie crust

1  1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

4  medium-sized tomatoes

1  cup loosely packed basil leaves (1/3 cup dried)

4  cloves garlic

1/2  cup mayonnaise

1/4  cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/8  tsp ground white pepper

Fresh basil leaves for garnish

1. Bake pie crust. Remove from oven Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese. cool on wire rack.
2. Dice tomatoes. Drain on paper towels. Arrange tomato chunks on melted cheese in baked shell.
3. Combine basil and garlic in food processor. Cover and process until chopped. Sprinkle over tomatoes.
4. Mix together remaining Mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and white pepper. Spoon cheese mixture over basil mixture, covering evenly.
5. Bake at 375° for 35 to 40 minutes, or until top is golden and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve warm.

   Before I left for my wonderful time with family, I began reading the book, Crash the Chatterbox. I mentioned that here. On the first page of the Introduction, I wanted to grab my highlighter and start capturing significant points the author was making. That urge continued throughout the first chapter. I went to the library to see if an extended due date was a service they offered. It is and they extended the date to a few days past my expected arrival home. My daughter is buying books from a list of "to read books before high school" for two of her children. I wanted to check Barnes & Noble for Crash the Chatterbox, and possibly the author's book that preempted it, Greater, to purchase both if possible. She wanted new books for the kids. Barnes & Noble, and lunch at Chipotle Mexican Grill became our Sunday afternoon. There was one copy of each book I was hoping to find! I bought both. I then chose to stop reading Crash the Chatterbox and read them in order, Greater first. So far I am enjoying these books and may share more about them later.

   Of course lingering in the bargain books area at the front of any Barnes & Noble is my common practice. I mean after all, one has to go right through there to check out. :-) I have plenty of a variety of cookbooks, and of course the internet is a wealth of excellent recipes. I have to say, I have become very prudent and exercise tremendous self control when it comes to purchasing cookbooks.

   This gem had me the moment I saw that scrumptiously titillating Beef & Stout Pie on the cover. Dang photographer and printer... geez. This book was $9.99 and a great find at twice the price. Cookbook purchasing moratorium or not, I happily purchased it, and carried it home with glee. I just love reading the recipes, and the photos are lovely. I am very certain you will see some of the recipes I make from its pages. In fact, the Dublin Coddle on page 68 has been speaking to me. I am about to answer. :-)

  In the meantime, out at the garden, the sage and parsley are really doing well and I need to clip some of both. I am going to do just that and make the Sage Beer Bread on page 72 of the Favorite Recipes With Herbs Cookbook. Who knows? I may just make it to serve with the Dublin Coddle instead of the traditional Soda Bread.

   It is already the middle of, July. Enjoy your summer ~ it is slipping by.