I Had the [B]est [L]unch [T]oday

Our farm share baskets have been overflowing with tomatoes the last several weeks. We can't keep up! I've had it on pasta salad, my son is eating them whole like apples, and our chopping block still has hardly any free space.

I love the crazy heirlooms!

Last year, upon the suggestion of a fellow yogi, we just popped them in a Ziploc freezer bag whole. It was a great trick, actually, because you simply take one out, rinse it under warm water, and the skin slides right off. Then chop them while they are still slightly frozen for less mess. The only problem?

When chili making time came around, we forgot all about them. So we have only used up a few since last year. I'll probably do the same thing with these because I lack canning time, but I will have to put a note on my freezer door that says TOMATOES! IN HERE!

In the meantime, we are eating our favorite tomato containing dishes. The most popular? The BLT! We love a good BLT, but seldom make them. My oh so picky kiddo even ate his first one this week and LOVED it. That is saying something. I'm also not a big mayo fan (it actually makes me want to gag), but this is the one dish that calls for a tiny shmear of it. But only on one slice. Besides, who doesn't like a good exfoliation to the roof of their mouth?

These are simple and tasty. We've been really piling on the tomatoes, so ours should be called BLTTs. That sounds dirty. To add a little more substance, I have been making them on sprouted breads. It adds texture and some nutritional value to an otherwise nutritionally questionable sandwich. And hey, the healthiness of the bread totally negates the calories in the bacon. Right? That's what I thought.

I have recently caught on to the whole flourless, sprouted bread trend. Ezekiel seems to be the most popular and readily available brand. However, it is expensive and almost always frozen. There is nothing wrong with that, per se, but I have discovered Trader Joe's version, which is not frozen and a whole lot less expensive. It says it has raisins (hiss!) and dates (meh), but they must be ground in, because I would never know.

I really like this type of bread! They are definitely denser and a little dryer than my usual bread, but also have a great nuttiness that is much more satisfying. I am someone who is very, very prone to water retention (i.e. puffy fingers, tight pants), and I don't get that when I eat these. Bottom line: When I'm craving some carbs, these do the job without the bummer side effects. And I feel fuller.

We are a family that tends to get on kicks. We discover/rediscover a dish and can't stop eating it. That is the BLT right now. Tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family which could account for my weird dreams lately, as I've been eating so many.

That's all she wrote, folks. Any kicks of your own?