The ultimate summer food in my opinion, is not the grilled hamburgers nor corn on the cob nor BBQ ribs nor green beans . . . but rather --
A glass of icy tea and a bacon and tomato sandwich! It is only summer food. Bacon and bread are available year round but tomatoes -- ripened on the vine tomatoes are not! They're available only during the summer.
And most years, we try to pick the first tomato by at least the Fourth of July -- this year, they've been picking them for several weeks!
We had summer food way before it was summer!
To us the "ultimate" bacon and tomato (and notice it is bacon and tomato -- no lettuce at Linderhof!) -- lots of thinly slices of tomato, bacon (we like thick cut the best) and a good spread of mayonnaise -- real mayonnaise (and actually if we have the time homemade is best) Wheat bread, toasted. And, before the top is put on, a good sprinkle of salt and pepper.
No "fancy" sandwich for us -- no basil mayonnaise, no basil to replace the lettuce. Just pure and simple but everything extra good quality -- bread, mayonnaise, local vine ripened tomatoes, and bacon.
Always served with an icy glass of tea. Our special tea brew (as copied from Cynthia from life+style -- it's their signature iced tea) of 2 bags of Luizianne iced tea and 1 bag of Harney's Hot Cinnamon. It's sweet without added sugar and tastes really good with slices of lemon. The first pitcher is made in the morning and if we have lemons, a whole lemon is sliced and added to the pitcher, then the ice is put in and the tea once brew time is finished is poured over the ice and lemon. Often we have to make a second pitcher of tea in the afternoon. The same formula is followed.
During the summer, a bacon and tomato sandwich is often our lunch. We never seem to tire of them. Perhaps because their the is so limited!
12 comments:
It looks delicious - and the tea blend sounds intriguing. I don't know the Luizianne brand, but I will look for it when next I visit WA.
Just got in from watering and trying to clean up some dried seeding flowers. Boy that looks good. Yum-O!
Sounds good to me!! We are real bacon fans in this house and certainly eat our share of bacon sandwiches with tomatoes and yes, lettuce, during the summer. The tea does sound interesting. I have Luizianne in the larder right now but I've never heard of Harney's Hot Cinnamon. I'll have to start keeping my eye open for it.
Your timing on this post is perfect. I was thinking just this morning about my favorite tomato sandwich, but tomatoes aren't ready in Northern California yet. When they come in, they are amazing! My recipe (from Southern Living): slice tomatoes and onions. Lay them in a dish, alternating between a tomato slice and an onion slice. Let the tomatoes "marinate" in the refigerator overnght. The next day, use two slices of your favoties white bread per tomato slice (I use buttermilk bread) and spread them with mayonnaise. Assemble the sandwich and cut the bread with a biscuit cutter to the same size as the tomato slice. The onions are discarded, but the hint of onion flavor left behind on the tomato makes a super tasty sandwich. I serve them as appetizers. The addition of bacon would these way over the top!
That looks soooo good! And on toasted bread. Our tomatoes are lucious and abundant this year. Thanks for the reminder of a good sandwich!
It looks wonderful! And iced tea is one of my favourite things too.
Oh how I love a blt this time of year with a vidalia onion added.
Oh, my very favorite sandwich. We haven't had a ripe tomato yet, but they're almost ready.
I like to add a thin slice of sharp cheese to the bacon & tomato. It adds an interesting texture & taste.
Sounds good to me! we are enduring 105 degree weather here in Atlanta. When I got to the grocery store this a.m it looked like our stores in Conn. before a winter storm. I spent 3 hrs cooking things so that i wouldn't have to cook for the next 3 day.s I am so-o-o ready!
Nothing can beat that, Martha! The tea sounds really good. I'll have to find some of the Harney's Hot Cinnamon.
Martha,
I agree, totally, however, I do love the crunch of the lettuce on mine!!!
Fondly,
Pat
We love BLTs in the summer, too! Thank you for the tea formula! I can't wait to try it! Have a great 4th of July, Martha!
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