Tomato Pie

   
A few days ago, my friend, Sandy (who does my hair), begin telling me about tomato pie and how she was planning to make it that night for supper.  Well, I had never heard of tomato pie, even though I grew up eating delicious tomato sandwiches in the summer time.  She told me how she makes it, then told me that a photo of tomato pie was on the front of the Food Newtwork magazine.  I picked up the magazine that afternoon and sure enough, there it was.  I looked at the recipe and wasn't to thrilled about it, cause it seemed to have several ingredients that I didn't have.  A few days later, my August Southern Living magazine came in and there were two recipes for tomato pie or tomato tart.  I made it last night.  My son, Kacey, and I tweeked the Soutern Living recipe a bit by adding fresh basil, mushrooms and green bell pepper, along more filling and another layer of tomatos.  This is the result and is delicious, a great meatless dinner.


Tomato Pie
4 medium tomatoes, (red & yellow if possible)
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 C. mayo (I used olive oil mayo w/cracked pepper which is reduced fat)
2 T. fresh chopped basil
1 1/2 C. shredded parmesean cheese
1/4 C. fresh chopped mushrooms
1/4 c. green pepper
1. C. mozzarella cheese
sour cream pastry (recipe below)
*  You can use bought pie crust, as well

First slice tomatoes and place in a single layer on paper towels; sprinkle with salt.  Let stand 30 minutes. Pat dry with more paper towels on top.  Mix together mayo, basil, 1C. parmesean cheese, mushrooms, and green pepper. Set aside. After crust has baked 8-10 min. Sprinkle crust with the remaining 1/2 C. parmesean cheese and 1 C. mozzarella cheese.  Top this layer with one layer of slice tomatoes. Then add the mayo - cheese mixture.  Spread evenly on top of tomato slices.  Then add one more layer of sliced tomatos.  Top with fresh basil and bake 30-34 minutes.

Sour Cream Pastry
1 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare sour cream pastry or pie bought crust in pie pan or quiche pan.

Stir together first 3 ingredients in a bowl.  Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender until mixture resembles small crumbs.  Add sour cream; stir with a fork until combined well.  Place in fridge for 1-2 hours.

Then pat out pastry in pan.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.