thoughts on the news of the day: tomatoes

hmmm…..

            There’s nothing tastier than a fresh, vine ripened Arkansas tomato in the summertime.  That is, unless it is a cheese and tomato sandwich.  Someone once asked me what my favorite meal was.  I answered, “I’d have to say that a cheese and tomato sandwich with a cold glass of fresh iced tea with lemon is the best.”   

            Before I went to seminary, I worked for a company that published crafts instructions and recipe books.  My job was to design crafts and to edit and proofread the directions for recipes and crafts.  I learned how to write a recipe in a thorough and concise manner.  Now, I am sure you want my tomato and cheese sandwich recipe, so I am going to share it with you:

            Ingredients:

            2 slices whole grain bread (I love “Woodstock” bread from Neighbor’s in Harrison, AR.)

            2 T. mayonnaise (I like Hellmans)

            1 vine ripened Arkansas tomato, thinly sliced

            2 Velveta cheese slices

            Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

            To assemble the sandwich, lightly toast the bread.  Spread the mayo generously across both slices of the bread.  Place cheese on 1 slice of bread.  Place tomatoes on top of cheese.  Lightly sprinkle salt and pepper on tomatoes.  Cover with other slice of bread. Slice sandwich diagonally in half.  Serve with iced tea. 

            That’s my recipe.  I heard once that tomato and cheese sandwiches were Lady Bird Johnson’s favorite also.  Since she grew up in East Texas, close to Arkansas, I guess that would be logical.  But it is kind of amazing that with all of the opportunities she had for exotic foods, she would choose that.  Then again, they have pretty good tomatoes in Texas, too.

            hmmm…..