catch up blog post: caprese salad ...

as part of the kitchen doorknobs end of summer challenge with tomatoes, i subsequently made a variety of things with the tomatoes pictures below. caprese salad was my favorite, because who doesn't love very fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, basil and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette on a muggy hot summer afternoon ... gratuitous close up makes you hungry picture ...

a small hint of summer ...

somehow some tomatoes are available, as are avocados, perhaps from chili?

lump crab napoleon with pesto vinaigrette and herb goat cheese ...

- handful of grape tomatoes (or vine ripe/heirloom if you can find some)
- basil, lots of basil
- lump crab (maryland blue crab is best, again if you can find some)
- your favorite herb goat cheese
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- extra virgin olive oil
- white vinegar
- 1 tbsp maille mustard
- parmesan cheese
- salt & pepper
- honey

coarsely chop a handful of grape tomatoes with 3 basil leaves, add a bit of salt, put into a round form and pop into the fridge while preparing the rest. add about 20-25 basil leaves into a blender, add in olive oil, vinegar, honey, 1 tbsp parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, mustard and about 3 grape tomatoes. blend well. remove the tomato form from fridge, place onto a plate, top with lump crap and sliced avocado. add as much pesto vinaigrette surrounding the tomatoes as you prefer, crumble goat cheese.

it may be freezing outside, but it's a taste of summer!