La Dolce Vita June 20, 2009

What is summer without homegrown tomatoes? This is my first real tomato of the season. It’s probably sacrilege to have done anything to it other than devour it the moment I plucked it, but I was excited and couldn’t resist a little fanfare. Plus, I have a big ol’ potful of basil right outside my kitchen door, so, really, how could I not add a little cracked-pepper-and-basil-and-balsamic-vinegar-and-olive-oil? And cheese?  It was that or a bog ol’ blob of Blue Plate Mayonnaise, which our local grocery (miraculously!) carries.

I think that I will devour the next one straightaway, standing in the garden. That’s greedy, I know. Tomatoes do that to me. And besides, there’s something to be said for the warmth of the sun in your mouth, the hot juices running all over your hands and chin, and heavy, glistening gobs of seeds tumbling down your shirtfront. It’s like eating the very heart of the earth.  Seems a pity to let all that hot, gooey goodness dissipate into a bowl on the kitchen counter.

The one after that? I’ll eat it with Blue Plate.