Traditional Caprese Salad

Ingredients

• 2 tomatoes, vine ripened, and grown in earth, not hydroponically, tomatoes from your garden are best. If you can
• 1/2 lb mozzarella cheese, wet. Get the traditionally made water buffalo milk version, it can be found easily at any respectabl or greek market. it is often sold skinless in water or skinned also in water. it should jiggle when you handle it. the mozzarella should be slightly larger tomato
• 2 ounces basil leaves, fresh. The basil should be either homegrown or organic. no hydroponically grown basil. for the best flavor the basil needs to be soil-grown. if you basil
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground (or to taste)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1. 1

   Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese to 1/4" thick slices.

2. 2

   Place tomatoes and mozzarella alternately in a pattern around the perimeter of a small serving dish. Alternatively, for single serving dishes, place the mozzarella slices on top of the tomato slices, arranging for 8 servings (arrange for four servings, if using it as a main dish).

3. 3

   Sprinkle the the salad sparsely with the olive oil.

4. 4

   Sprinkle the salad lightly (or to taste) with the salt and ground black pepper.

5. 5

   Place whole (or torn) basil leaves on top of the tomatoes and mozzarella, using pieces that roughly match the size of the tomato and mozzarella slices.

6. 6

   Serve immediately.

7. 7

   Note: do NOT allow the tomatoes and mozzarella sit in the oil for more than a short few minutes. The oil will just soak into the tomato and mozzarella and ruin the flavor. The oil is intended to be a garnish, and not a primary flavor in the dish.