Tis the season....for tomatoes!

I live in a county known far and wide around here for great tomatoes.  Hanover tomatoes are the best in the area hands down.  Don't know exactly why.....they just are.  Today was the annual "Tomato Festival".....unfortunately, it was also a day of thunderstorms and rain.  I didn't make it to the festival this year, but I had a celebration just the same.

 This week in our local county newspaper there was a recipe for tomato pie.  So I gathered all the ingredients and went to work.

 With newspaper in hand, I followed the recipe that was a family favorite of one of our hometown ladies.  Here's what you need:

 Pastry of a 1-crust 9-inch pie, unbaked.  I used a store bought deep dish pie shell.  Bake the shell at 450 degrees for 5 minutes. 

 Next, fill the baked pie shell with @4 cups of sliced firm ripe tomatoes sprinkled with salt, pepper and fresh chopped basil. (3 or 4 leaves)

 In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1 large clove garlic, smashed and minced.  Mix well and spread over the tomatoes.  I also sprinkled a little mozzarella cheese on top.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 45 - 55 minutes (the recipe called for 35-45 minutes but it was still too soupy).  In fact, the next time I make this I will slice and dry the tomatoes on a paper towel.

Then enjoy!  I thought it was a perfect summer supper along with a green salad and fresh fruit.

Nothing quite like tomatoes in season......especially here in Hanover County, Virginia!

See ya!

Happy 4th of July!

 I hope everyone is having a wonderful 4th of July!  We're grateful to have electricity when so many still are days away from being restored.  I found inspiration for my holiday table from an old Lang calendar I've been working with for the past few months.  This seemed perfect for the 4th of July in the Mid-Atlantic.  Red, white and blue and shells.

 I didn't have a patriotic pail like the drawing....but I substituted this wooden box with a handle.  I used some oasis in the box, stuck in the flags and pinwheels and topped it with shells.

 It made a fun centerpiece for our 4th of July table.

 Won't you join us for: barbeque, cole slaw, cut melons, sliced tomatoes, cucumber salad, iced tea and pound cake with berries and ice-cream for dessert!

 Red rimmed transferware plates over white charger plates and a navy blue napkin embroidered with a star.

A "rim shot" of the dishes.

 My shell flatware seemed to fit right in.

Flag napkins in blue goblets.

 One more look at the Mid-Atlantic 4th of July tablescape. 

Keelyn and Kendall are all smiles for the Red, White and Blue (and a little pink just for good measure!)


I'm linking to Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday.http://betweennapsontheporch.net/http://betweennapsontheporch.net/



See ya!