Heirloom Tomatoes With Bacon Blue Cheese And Basil Recipes

HEIRLOOM GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH AND CHUNKY TOMATO BACON SOUP

Steps:

• To make the grilled cheese sandwich: In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Spread a liberal amount of butter mixture on 2 slices of bread. Flip over slices and spread some Dijon mustard on other sides. Place Cheddar cheese on the Dijon side of both slices. Place bacon on top of cheese on 1 slice and sliced tomatoes on top of cheese on other slice. Combine both sides together and place in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook until golden brown and crusty. Flip sandwich and place a weighted cast iron pan on top. Cook until golden brown and cheese has melted. Remove from skillet and serve immediately with tomato soup.
• To make the soup: Puree the crushed tomatoes and set aside. In a heavy stainless steel pot, heat basil olive oil. Add shallots and cook until soft. Add garlic, thyme, chopped basil, bacon, and tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add tomato puree, cream, chicken broth, and salt and sugar, to taste. Bring to a simmer. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with chiffonnade basil. Serve immediately with grilled cheese sandwich.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Rub bread with cut garlic halves; brush bread with 3 tablespoons oil. Combine remaining 1/3 cup oil, currant tomatoes, and green onions in medium bowl; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Overlap tomato slices in concentric circles on platter, alternating colors. Scatter onion and celery slices over tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon tomato and green onion mixture over. Sprinkle with crumbled cheese.
• Grill bread until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Cut each slice diagonally in half; serve with salad.

CONTESSA'S HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• Core the tomatoes and cut the large ones into thick slices, halve or quarter the small ones. Arrange to look pretty on a platter and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
• To make dressing:.
• Place half the Roquefort cheese, maoynnaise, cream, vinegar, 1 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoons pepper in the bowl of a food processor: process until combined but still chunky.
• Drizzle the dressing over the tomatoes. Crumble the remaining Roquefort cheese over the tomatoes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve at room temperature. Enjoy!