I have to say the big brother of summer vegetables has got to be those colorful and juicy tomatoes, whether you buy them from the market or plant them at home. When fresh, their vibrant colors simply capture the heat of summer. This week, my local farmer’s market was offering truckloads of heirloom tomatoes. They had such inviting shapes and colors. As our summer is quickly drifting away, I saw that I had to try some while they are still at their freshest. So I put together this dish to celebrate. Since little cooking is involved in this recipe, it is perfect for a cool lunch on a hot summer day. This recipe serves 4.

• 6 to 8 heirloom tomatoes, different colors and shapes, thickly sliced
• 12 oz mozzarella fresh cheese, sliced
• ⅓ C fresh basil, leaves only, roughly chopped
• 4 slices rustic polenta bread, grilled on a barbecue or a counter-top grill
• 4 cloves garlic, cut in halves
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

In a 2 inch high baking dish or a serving platter, gently lay down the tomato slices and mozzarella cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.  Be careful not to damage the shapes. Sprinkle with chopped basil. Grill polenta bread slices on a barbecue until grill lines form. To serve, place one slice of grilled bread onto a plate. Rub the bread with a garlic clove. Then drizzle olive oil over it. Spoon the tomato and cheese salad onto the bread. Drizzle even more olive oil onto the tomatoes if you like. Enjoy.  If the tomatoes and basil are fresh from the garden, it will smell like  a distillation of summer. Grill more bread and repeat the process as needed.

This bruschetta is perfectly satisfying on its own for those hot summer days. To make it more interesting, I paired it up with chicken satay and some grilled onion.

Sometimes less is more. Who could have thought that a simple piece of bread topped with fresh tomatoes, cheese, and basil could offer such a delicious meal. As you take your kids shopping at the farmer’s market or pick your own garden’s tomatoes, stop for a moment and savor these last days of summer.

~Lunch on