Sliced Heirloom Tomato Stack With Mozzarella Cheese Food

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH BACON, BLUE CHEESE, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Cut 1 round from each bread slice with cookie cutter.
• Cook bacon in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until crisp, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off bacon fat from skillet and reserve fat (do not clean skillet).
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then toast 3 bread rounds, turning over once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes total. Transfer toasts to a rack to cool and season with salt and pepper. Toast remaining 3 bread rounds in 1 1/2 tablespoons more oil in same manner.
• Cook shallot in 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat and remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and simmer, whisking, until emulsified, about 1 minute. Season dressing with salt and pepper and keep warm, covered.
• Crumble bacon. Arrange bread rounds on 6 plates and divide tomato slices among them, stacking slices and sprinkling some basil and bacon between slices. Sprinkle cheese and remaining basil and bacon over and around tomatoes. Spoon some of warm bacon dressing over and around tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.

EGGPLANT, TOMATO, AND PESTO STACK

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse 1/2 cup walnuts until finely chopped. Add 2 cups basil and garlic, and pulse while slowly adding 1/2 cup oil, scraping down sides as needed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add Parmesan; season with salt and black pepper; process until pesto is well combined. Heat oven to 400°F. Brush eggplant slices with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with sea salt; roast on a baking sheet, turning once, until tender and golden, 20 minutes. Top each with 1 tablespoon pesto. Alternately layer 2 eggplant slices, 2 tomato slices and 1 slice mozzarella. (Refrigerate any remaining pesto for another use.) Divide balsamic vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons walnuts and basil leaves among stacks.

STACKED TOMATO AND BURRATA SALAD

Steps:

• Place bottom tomato slice onto a plate and season with sea salt and black pepper. Spread burrata cheese over tomato slice and top with torn basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil. Top with next tomato slice. Repeat cheese-tomato layering process with remaining slices, finishing with top tomato slice.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO EGGPLANT CAPRESE STACKS

Steps:

• Rub eggplant rounds with olive olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place rounds on a greased baking sheet. Roast eggplant at 400F 8-10 minutes until just slightly softened.
• Assemble the caprese stacks by topping an eggplant round with a tomato slice and a slice of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers a total of three times to form a three-layer stack. Repeat step 2 with remaining eggplant rounds, tomato, and cheese.
• Broil eggplant stacks on high heat 3-4 minutes until cheese is golden-brown and bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle stacks with fresh basil. Enjoy immediately!

SLICED HEIRLOOM TOMATO STACK WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour buttermilk into a shallow bowl. In a separate bowl spread out the rice coating. Take onion rings and coat with buttermilk, and then cover with coating, shaking off excess. Place coated rings on a tray.
• In a large deep saucepan, heat peanut oil to 375 degrees F. With a slotted wire spoon, carefully lower the coated rings into pan to fry. Do the rings in small batches to allow oil to remain a consistent temperature. Place fried rings on a paper towel on a tray to dry.
• Tomato Stack:
• Cut a small slice from the bottom of the tomatoes - enough so that they will stand. Slice the tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 2 or 3), leaving the stem on top.
• Season the slices with salt and pepper to taste, drizzle with olive oil.
• Place the basil leaves in between the tomato slices, and re-stack tomato. Serve re-stacked tomatoes around a larger stack of onion rings in center of a large serving plate. Drizzle more olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Grate the frozen blue cheese over top.
• Grind the rice in a blender until very fine. Put it in a bowl and add the all-purpose flour, semolina, salt and pepper. Toss until well blended. Store in a sealed container in the freezer for maximum freshness.

MOZZARELLA & TOMATO STACKS WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Remove a couple of leaves from the cut end of each stem of rosemary.
• Mince the removed rosemary leaves add to garlic and olive oil season with salt and pepper to taste. Layer the tomatoes and cheese sprinkle some of the oil as you go. Making 3 stacks.
• Pierce each stack with the sprig of rosemary.
• Pour remaining oil mixture over the tomatoes.
• Let flavors meld for 20 minutes.
• Enjoy sharing a stack with a loved one.

SLICED HEIRLOOM TOMATO STACK WITH MOZZARELLA CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut the bottom of the tomatoes enough so that they will stand. Slice the tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 2 or 3), leaving the stem on top.
• Season the slices with salt and pepper, to taste.
• For each tomato, top the bottom slice with some of the cheese. Repeat with the remaining slices, and build the tomato to its original form, finishing with the top. Top with a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.