What's for Lunch

My favorite late-summer and early-fall sandwich, hands down, is the BLT.

A BLT for those not in the know, stands for the Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich.

Why limit this sandwich to these seasons?

Because this sandwich is all about the tomato,

and only home-grown tomatoes are good enough for a BLT.

Using a commercially-grown tomato that has been specifically bred to survive the trip from the farm to the store to your table but not bred for flavor will leave you severely disappointed.  I can promise you that.

Like any good Foodie, I have my own personal favorite variations on this wonderful theme:

Of course, we start out with the original BLT or Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich.

But even there, one can get a different experience depending upon the lettuce used.

At our house, Romaine is the usual lettuce used, but we sometimes have mesclun on hand as well.

Just do yourself a favor (and a flavor) and stay away from iceberg lettuce.

That old standby has zero flavor and nearly no nutritional value.

But sometimes I turn sideways and go with a BBT, or a Bacon, Basil, and Tomato sandwich.

Basil is admittedly an acquired taste, but it seems that it was meant to pair up with the tomato.

The aromatic leaves of the basil are a nice contrast to the tomato.

I have learned, however, that this is a sandwich best eaten by oneself, as the aroma of the basil does travel and it is never good manners to offend one's neighbors.

And then there is today's offering: the BST, or the Bacon, Spinach and Tomato sandwich.

Simple and yet delightfully flavorful.

I like the bread lightly toasted and I gently squeeze out the seed sacks from the tomatoes to make for a less messy sandwich.  

This sandwich needs no condiments and never receives them.

It is just:

Bread (preferably whole wheat)

Bacon

the green component

Tomato

and Nothing Else

Simplicity at its best.

My soul has been fed for today and I feel healthier already.

And of course, a little bacon never hurts either!