the bartlett literary and tomato pie society
About ten or eleven summers ago, during the sweltering peak of tomato season, I made a Tomato Pie for some of my lady friends in Bartlett, Tennessee. Needless to say, the crowd went wild.
Tomato pie, which tastes like pizza in a piecrust, was then requested for every event involving food for months on end. It is light and airy, cheesey and fresh.
Little did we know, our menfolk weren't quite as taken with this pie as the ladies were. They just didn't get it... what was the point, and where was the meat?
The following Valentines Day, we threw a little party and played a version of the Newlywed Game, with yours truly posing as gameshow host, Bob Eubanks.
One of the questions, "What is the WORST thing your wife ever made for dinner?" I was completely flabbergasted when the contestant's reply was, "Well, one time she made this awful tomato pie..." Needless to say, the gentleman was immediately disqualified for offending Bob.
The group could barely contain themselves... laughing long and hard! The silly tale of The Bartlett Tomato Pie lives forever in our hearts and makes us laugh every time it is mentioned.
Here is the recipe... It is still a fave of the lady friends (and no one really cares if the men like it or not!)
Ingredients
2 pie crusts
12 Roma tomatoes, peeled and sliced
Fresh basil leaves
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 c. shaved parmesan
1/3 c. mayonnaise
zest and juice of two nice, fat lemons
1 t. sugar
pinch of salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 egg beaten with a T. of water
Directions
Place one pie crust in pie plate. Peel tomatoes by dropping them for a few seconds into a pot of boiling water. Remove and cool slightly. Skin should slide off.
Mix tomatoes, lemon zest and basil in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, tossing with a spoon to blend. Layer tomatoes mixture, basil and cheese in pie shell.
Whisk mayo, sugar and lemon juice. Pour over ingredients in pieshell. Top with other crust. Crimp edges of crusts together.
Cut vent holes in top of pie. Brush top with egg wash. Place on cookie sheet or pie ring on center rack of 350 degree oven. Bake for 45 minutes, until crust is golden brown.
Little did we know, our menfolk weren't quite as taken with this pie as the ladies were. They just didn't get it... what was the point, and where was the meat?
The following Valentines Day, we threw a little party and played a version of the Newlywed Game, with yours truly posing as gameshow host, Bob Eubanks.
The group could barely contain themselves... laughing long and hard! The silly tale of The Bartlett Tomato Pie lives forever in our hearts and makes us laugh every time it is mentioned.
Here is the recipe... It is still a fave of the lady friends (and no one really cares if the men like it or not!)
2 pie crusts
12 Roma tomatoes, peeled and sliced
Fresh basil leaves
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 c. shaved parmesan
1/3 c. mayonnaise
zest and juice of two nice, fat lemons
1 t. sugar
pinch of salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 egg beaten with a T. of water
Directions
Place one pie crust in pie plate. Peel tomatoes by dropping them for a few seconds into a pot of boiling water. Remove and cool slightly. Skin should slide off.
Whisk mayo, sugar and lemon juice. Pour over ingredients in pieshell. Top with other crust. Crimp edges of crusts together.
Tomato Pie rocks! All the women I know are glad we don't have to share it!
ReplyDeleteThis really looks good, but I can tell you now. It'll have to be prepared for my lady friends. Rick wouldn't go near it!
ReplyDelete