Fresh Tomato Salad

No matter what the signs say. No matter what the claims are. You will never find a tomato as fresh and beautiful as one picked from someone's backyard. The grocery stores can shout and scream "organic", "hot house", "local" all they want. It just doesn't even come close.

My dear sweet neighbor (a.k.a. surrogate grandmother) grows the best tomatoes every year (I chalk it up to her dedication to composting). Since I haven't been able to plant my own small garden for a few years now, she has been very generous with the vegetables she grows.

I believe what I have here are Black Pear Tomatoes. I think. What ever they are...they have thin skins that slice oh so easily. A good firm meatiness that keeps them together. And a flavor that is mild, light on the acid and almost sweet. Plus, they are just so beautiful.

Some of you may already know...this has been a trying week for me. I came home Monday night and discovered a letter from Maytag. I almost through it away. I get so tired of being asked if I want to extend or buy a warranty for my appliances. But something caught my eye...probably the word "RECALL"! Thought it would be a good idea to see what the issue was and with which appliance.

Unfortunately it was a serious issue.

With my dishwasher.

That couldn't be resolved for another week.

Are you kidding me? Don't you know that I cook daily? Don't you know that I rely heavily on my dishwasher? Don't you know how much I HATE washing dishes? You can't do this to me!!

I was not a happy camper when I was finished with that phone call.

I was even less happy when Sir Sportsalot instructed informed me that I would not be cooking like I normally do if the dishwasher was going to be out of commission.

Have I ever mentioned how often he ends up cleaning up after me?

I have not turned on the oven all week. I've only made one-dish meals. I even considered serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on paper towels for dinner one night. That way I'd only have to wash one knife, right?

Needless to say, I'm going through withdrawals. I need to make something GOOD! I need to get in that kitchen and make a huge mess and come out satisfied with a great big dinner.

Monday....and I would never have dreamt that I'd be saying this....can't come soon enough.

Meanwhile, I'm keeping it simple.

Real simple

So simple that this isn't even a recipe. It's just good.

Slice a nice fresh homegrown tomato.
Dice a fantastic avocado
Chop a sweet red onion

Sprinkle with freshly ground sea salt, freshly ground pepper medley (you know the one with black, white, red, green pepper corns). Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Mix gently

Serve and experience the gentle combination thats refreshing, simple and satisfying. Sometimes I add a little cilantro or basil. Just to season it up. But often, it hits the spot just as it is. A perfect, unpretentious little salad.

This weekend though, I just might throw caution to wind and cook up a storm like a mad lady...getting every... single .....dish.....pot and pan dirty. That I own. I feel like a pressure cooker thats about to blow it's lid.

And it's not going to be pretty.

Do you think the dishwasher repair person will clean up the mess?