The Tomato and Buffalo Show

One of our favorite salads is the infamous Caprese Salad. While in Ft. Myers for a business trip, I found out that the restaurant next door to the office makes their own fresh pulled mozzarella cheese. I was excited to bring it back to Tampa and use it in my favorite salad. I know tomatoes have a bad rap lately, but we got a hold of some heirlooms that are "safe" and also very awesome. Petey even got his dad to grow some heirlooms that came out all different colors last year. Have you ever tried a purple tomato? With the fresh mozzarella and growing our own basil, this has been one of our favorite summer meals!

Caprese Salad

Ingredients

1 Heirloom Tomato

1 "ball" of fresh mozzarella sliced into 1/4 inch rounds - don't use the aged stuff!

5 basil leaves per serving

really good olive oil (we use this stuff we got in Napa last year called Round Pond. it really makes a difference.)

balsamic vinegar

grey salt

What we did:

1. Layer one slice of tomato. add a pinch of grey salt

2. Layer one slice of mozzarella cheese. add a pinch of grey salt

3. Top with basil leaves

4. Top with another slice of tomato. add a pinch of grey salt

5. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Enjoy!

Check out our basil plant!!!

Lazy Sunday Cheese Tasting

Every once in a while we treat ourselves to artisan cheeses at Whole Foods. This particular Sunday, we are tasting Rolf Beeler Gruyere, Drunken Goat, Valdeon Blue, Tete Du Moine.

Rolf Beeler Gruyere is one of our favorite Gruyere Cheeses. It has the small gritty salt crystals in it that add texture and really make it interesting. It goes great with almost any wine.

The Drunken Goat is a new cheese that we picked up that has a rind that has been rubbed with red wine. Very mild - not very sharp like most goat cheeses with a semi-soft texture that is easy to cut.

Valdeon Blue is a blue cheese-- we always have to pick up at least one Blue cheese because Petey really enjoys the stinky cheeses. This particular one is wrapped in sycamore leaves and has a very creamy texture. It is slightly pungent - it is a strong cheese that could hold up to a big Zinfindal.

Tete Du Moin- We purchased this cheese instead of our regular La Petit Agour. What makes this cheese interesting is the smell is VERY strong (think smelly feet) but the taste is mild and nutty, almost like a gruyere.

We also added an assortment of olives and cornichon pickles (also known as Gherkins).

and of course..WDWD? (What did we drink?)

2007 Spier Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa. Great wine to get through the heat of the summer - you should go check it out!