Oh my sweet goodness, nothing’s changed since I first posted this back in 2009! A simple, delicious tomato sandwich straight from my garden!  Just take a look at this completely, utterly BEAUTIFUL, perfect tomato! Talk about a simple blessing! It is these kinds of little things that just get me so Add Imageexcited and JAZZED.


The FIRST thing that I do with our tomatoes is SIMPLY slice, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and EAT one JUST AS IT IS! Savor it, taste the sweetness and savory-ness that blend in a fresh tomato! So what else can you SIMPLY do with a fresh ‘mater? Toast some great white bread (yes, white), spread on some Miracle Whip (not mayonnaise, because M.W. is sweeter and tangier), and then layer on super-thick slices of tomatoes. Don’t forget your salt and pepper to taste. SHEER BLISS! Look at this:

Or one can always fix up a traditional BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato) sandwich — cook up some extra-thick smoked bacon, add some crisp lettuce, layer on some Miracle Whip on two toasted pieces of white bread

Maybe you want to jazz this beautifully simple sandwich up a notch or two. Look no further than Ina Garten’s version of this classic summer tomato sandwich:  she adds basil and garlic to the mayo, which are always perfect matches for tomatoes. 

Ina’s tomato sandwich

Well, this is making me hungry, and so I’m just going to go out on the deck and enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon on the acreage!

Hope you do the same, wherever you live!

As a home gardener, here are my best tips to grow the best tomatoes ever! This blog post was published in Acreage Life back in 2016 and was the beginning of my monthly recipe column (no payment, all for free).

How To Grow Outstanding Tomatoes

And here are some of my BEST tomato recipes that you might enjoy:

Caprese Salad

Panzanella

Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Heirloom Tomato and Cheese Tart

Cherry Tomato Basil Pesto Sauce on Farfalle Pasta

Fresh Tomato Basil Bisque Soup

Tomato Sandwich

Classic, Simple Tomato Sandwiches

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Nothing can beat a garden-fresh, perfectly ripe tomato sandwich . . . nothing.  The epitomy of summer along with watermelon and peaches!  Even Ina Garten agrees.  Here’s the classic version of this quintessential summer sammie . . . the perfect simple, unadulterated version!  So grab lots of napkins or paper towels, get out the mayo, salt and pepper, some fresh white bread, and ENJOY!  Happy Summertime!!

Ingredients
  

  • garden-fresh tomatoes, preferably a slicing tomato such as Beefsteak, etc. – sliced thick
  • mayonnaise, we prefer a more tangy Miracle Whip, but any good quality mayo such as Hellman’s or Duke’s is great if you prefer a non-tangy flavor
  • thick-cut white sandwich bread, I use brioche thick-sliced bread
  • salt and pepper
  • Optional: garden-fresh leaf lettuce
  • Optional: fresh basil leaves

Instructions
 

  • Slice tomatoes
  • Spread mayo on toasted bread (or untoasted if you prefer)
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper
  • Add lettuce and/or fresh basil leaves if you prefer
  • GRAB lots of napkins/paper towels and enjoy while the juice dribbles down your chin!
  • HAPPY SUMMER!
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment and send me a photo to share here on the blog! Or share it on Instagram @italianbellavita or use the hashtag #italianbellavita.