Tomato Sandwiches Ala Ruby

Every spring my Dad, Robert would plant a garden, well what we now call a salsa garden, chilies, onion, tomatoes things like that. He would pickle his chilies for his own use and to give out at Christmas time. I would eat tomatoes right out of the garden with salt sprinkled on top even though I am slightly allergic. Fresh out of the garden was best....so juicy! My  mom, Ruby would make her salsa fresca, or tomato salad, but my clear favorite was her tomato sandwich! My kids and I would make them with store bought tomatoes but they are just not the same as when you get a tomato fresh out of the garden. I had planted a garden at my old house, and when we went back to get the chilis and eggplants and tomato plants someone had come and dug them up! I was so upset! But I can't say I blame them hope they are enjoying my veggies!
Last week a coworker of mine brought these beautiful tomatoes from her garden and they were gorgeous and I picked two large ones and ate two small ones right at work on my break! The taste took me back to when I was about ten or so and to the days when Mom would call us in for a lunch of tomato sandwiches on regular ole white bread and Kool-Aid Lemonade. They were always soo good. So when I introduced them to my kids they, well the two that like tomatoes loved them immediately, and whenever we come up on a fresh summer tomato we make these sandwiches, in a kind of more grown up way. We have traded in the white bread for a sour or extra sour dough bread and though I love the jack cheese like my mom used, Swiss or even an extra sharp cheddar are good too!

So go grab a large fresh tomato and enjoy!

Tomato Sandwiches Ala Ruby

Ingredients

1 large garden fresh tomato

4 slices of sourdough round bread/or eight slices of white bread

6 to 10 slices of jack, Swiss, or cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

1tsp mayo or olive oil

Spread the oil or mayo on both sides of the bread place on cookie sheet top each bread slice with a tomato slice or two, salt and pepper to taste, top with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes till cheese is bubbly and browning. Remove from oven and let sit for about 3-5 minutes before eating, the tomato and cheese has been known to burn eager eaters!

That is if you can wait!