Summer Assignments

picture borrowed from: http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/images/i-tomatoes-roma.jpg

This exercise was designed for Ashley who does not care for tomatoes, but it would be useful for any of you interested in tasting tomatoes anew.

Wait until August. Take two sun ripened tomatoes, preferably Roma and purchased at a farmer's market. Slice them thinly and place upon a plate. Slice a red onion very thinly. Break the slices into hoops and arrange on top of the tomatoes. Coarsely chop fresh basil and distribute over the top of the onions. Dress the tomatoes with drizzles of very good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle salt and pepper and if the vinegar is not already too sweet a pinch of sugar. Break up pieces of goat cheese over the top. Wait at least one hour until the cheese is not melty but sits atop the tomatoes like fluffy clouds. For the first bite, make sure you have a sample of all of these elements assembled on your fork. Afterwards, send me an email telling me whether or not you still do not like tomatoes.