"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein."--Psalm 24:1 (KJV)
Summer's beauty is drawing to a close, and we look forward to cooler days and the outdoor colors of fall. As the gardens give up the last of their bounty, let's enjoy the rich ripeness of homegrown tomatoes. Picked fresh from the vine, these are one of God's treasures He gives to us. If you're looking for a way to serve and beautifully display the harvest from your backyard garden, look no further than your Southern Seasons: 12 Months of Tea-licious Recipes & Ideas. The Open-faced Tomato Basil Sandwiches on p. 145 are a fresh, yummy treat. If you want to serve something extra special, you might try your hand at the Tomato, Basil & Cheese Tart on p. 154.
For a quick and easy option with the same bold flavors, I recommend the Quick-Serve Basil Tomatoes, p. 145. These are just as simple as they sound Take your fresh, delicious tomatoes, and slice them in meaty rounds. Find a good quality ball of mozzarella cheese in the refrigerated section of your local grocer, and slice thinly. Now, just layer these on a lovely serving tray: ripe, red rounds of tomato and thin, white slices of mozzarella. If you have fresh basil in your kitchen garden, pick a few leaves, rinse, stack them flat, and roll them up. Now you can easily shred into decorative pieces by slicing the rolled rounds with a knife. Sprinkle the decorative basil shreds over your tomatoes, and place a few whole basil leaves in the center of the serving tray, if you wish. A drizzle of olive oil will complete this festive, end of summer dish--Voila!