Below are the larger and redder than life ripe tomatoes surrounded by favorite blue and white decor on the kitchen table.

Photo: Jini Jones Vail

Hail to Francophiles, blog followers and foodies extraordinaire!

Once again it is time to celebrate the joy of preparing a eating a tasty, fresh, locally sourced main dish. I hope you will try it!

The tomatoes are grown here in Watertown; the chives and basil are from our garden, and the lemon is freshly squeezed on the premises. The cheddar went through my Cuisinart.

Even though we live in an almost 200 year old farm house where at least 3 generations of one family were dairy farmers on 60 acres, I did not make the cheese!

We invited five dear friends for lunch “en plain air” today and enjoyed this late summer dish on the porch. I served it with apple sauce from our tree and finished with and elegant carrot cake skillfully prepared by a friend, “Amanda Bakes”.

The weather did not disappoint! It was nearly 70 degrees on October 8th!

Easy recipe follows:

• Make bottom and top pie crust for 9” pan
• 2 pounds fresh tomatoes peeled and sliced thinly.
• Chopped basil land chives to taste – use generous amount.
• 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar grated
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise (fyi- for info on the discovery and naming of mayonnaise, look it up in my book: Rochambeau, Washington’s Ideal Lieutenant)
• 2 T. lemon juice

Prepare bottom pie crust in plie plate, layer in the sliced tomatoes. Next layer 1 cup of the grated cheese. Next, sprinkle the basil and chives on top of cheese. Mix the many and lemon juice well with a fork, and pour on top of herbs. Top off with the last 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese

Put the top layer of pie crust on last. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes

N.B. If you want to serve it later: after baking, cool, and then store in fridge overnight. The pie can be warmed up the next day just before serving to melt the cheese.

Voila the finished product just out of the oven! The cheese was hot and melty and the herbs fragrant!  Enjoy!

Photo: Jini Jones Vail