Southern-Italian Tomato Sandwich

It is "Tomato" season in most Minnesota gardener's homes, so thought I'd share with you my "simmer" time ideas on tomatoes.  As a child, I can still recall picking one of these ripe tangy tomatoes right off the vine and eating it like an apple and let me tell you; "You cannot get one of these in the grocer's market".  This winter was especially bad in Minnesota; they looked like tomatoes, but had no flavor at all and the texture was like rubber.  

So, every year we wait in anticipation to harvest the first ripe tomato, which sometimes get gobbled up by me, barefoot in the soil of the garden with the warm sun shining down on me like yesteryear, juices squirting abound.  Yummy!  What was your favorite childhood memory of homegrown garden fresh tomatoes? 

My first post this year on tomatoes is Mom Bishop's recipe.  As a child, my husband's, Barry's favorite way to eat the ripe tomato fresh from the garden was his Mom's wonderful tomato sandwiches.  I have to admit I love them too!  Every "Tomato" season, I make Barry tomato sandwiches like his Mom used to, but this year I added a twist of my own - homegrown basil. The beauty of this recipe is it is SIMPLE and DELICIOUS!  The pictures say it all!

We are from the country, so really love the old school Real Hellman's mayo, but you can use your family's favorite brand or even make your own.  If you want a good mayo recipe, just let me know.

We slather a good amount of mayo on both slices of bread and load up the sliced tomatoes.  It is important to add salt and pepper to bring out the tangy juices of the tomato, but if you can't use salt or don't care for pepper, leave it off.  My husband loves fresh cracked pepper.  I added fresh basil, which you can omit or add your own fresh herbs.  I wonder what rosemary or thyme would add to this?  If you try something different, can you let me know what you did and how it turned out?

I am sure my home is no different then your's, my husband serves as the honorary food critic with all my recipes.  He LOVED the addition of the basil.  It took an all American Southern recipe and added an Italian twist - bright and fresh.  (Barry was born and raised in the South). We are so fortunate to live in the Great Melting Pot!  If you try this one, drop me a line on what you think! TTYL!