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The Caprese Compromise

That sounds like some sort of international treaty, doesn't it? Gee, how I wish our current regime would remember how to <

> with the rest of the world. Oh, but don't get me started. What's with all this Loose Change floating around? (That's a hint to google in the phrase and start getting our country back, first by being informed). I will say no more as there are still some idiots, oh, excuse me, I mean "faithful patriots" who think this very paragraph is heresy. A true patriot loves his country, but perpetually questions its government. I love this country for I would not have been born if not for this country (three immigrant grandparents, three separate national origins).

But I digress. Back to the caprese. Insalata caprese. By far my favorite spring/summertime Italian appetizer. Back in the summer of 1998, while completing the last port-of-call on a Mediterranean cruise with the family, I actually was in Rome and ate this. In Italy. In Rome! The real deal. (And then I ordered a risotto entree and broke the Roman waiter's heart. That's a northern Italian dish, you know. And it takes forever to prepare. But hey, it was on their menu so they can't really bitch and moan, can they?)

Not sure what caprese is? Well, it's simply an antipasto: sliced fresh mozarella balls alternating with sliced tomatoes and fresh whole basil leaves. Drizzle with EVOO and sprinkle w/salt and pepper. Oh, cravings! So last night, I made a simple A-friendly compromise: no tomatoes (or pepper). And you know what? It was still heavenly. I couldn't get enough! So, hey, there you go fellow As. And Bs for that matter. You can have your cake and eat it too. Really, I don't miss those tomatoes. I mean, the acid, the hives on my hands when slicing the stuff. I'm better off without. Though, man, there is nothing like biting into a fresh tomato right off the vine on a cool summer night. Mmmmmm....stop, Erika, stop. Must! Stop! Fantasizing!



This entry was posted on May 17th, 2006 at 09:31:00 pm and is filed under Erika (A).