Carolina Tomato Pie (why the South lost the Civil War)

   

Lahzee!  There were so many battles in the Civil War (some even came all the way out to Oklahoma) that I can't even begin to name them.  But one thing I know for sure, y'all is the South didn't wave a white flag and kiss any Yankee butts boots. No siree! They were way too busy eating Tomato Pie and drinking Sweet Tea, swigging Kentucky bourbon or sipping on Mint Juleps and just completely forgot about what they were supposed to be doing. The North swooped in and kicked our hineys while we were sitting at the supper table.  Plain and simple. Ask any history teacher and they'll tell you a bunch of made-up stuff about being outnumbered or outsmarted by the wiley ways of the Northern Army but it really just came down to good, old Southern Comfort FOOD.  Why, if NYC had Tomato Pie and Sweet Tea instead of hot dogs and beer, things would have turned out a whole lot different, no doubt. The Mets might have been the Rangers, the Capital might have ended up in Atlanta, Georgia and everybody would talk real sweet and never say 'You's' when 'Y'all' is so much nicer sounding.

On my recent visit with The Best Husband in the World to see My Best Friend in the World (and travel buddy extraordinnaire) in North Carolina, certain things were made very clear to us from the gitgo. You eat a lot of good food often and you come home undoing your belt a couple of notches. You pretty much stay as full as a tick.  If you head out on a road trip, you start the day with Bojangles Iced Blueberry Biscuits, then a little later, you stop for a little snack and something to wash it down with--most likely a 'Coke' and that could be anything from an Orange Crush to a Dr. Pepper, or maybe coffee with cream and 'sugah', hon. After a light lunch of Carolina BBQ (slaw-topped), sweet potato fries generously cooked with sugar and cinnamon and a quick stop at the Reynolda Village chocolate store, Cassanova's Confections, for a pound or two of gourmet chocolates, you continue on your day trip to shop for antiques, go to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville or visit Costco (we don't have them here) or World Market or Trader Joes (we don't have them either). For dinner, you might have crab cakes or pulled pork or meatloaf and loaded mashed potatoes with homemade bread, butter and jam and a slice of cherry or peach pie for dessert and don't you dare forget to top it with some old-fashioned vanilla ice cream or you might as well not eat it.  Don't go lookin' for any Sushi cause that stuff's bait for the fishin' hole in these parts.


On our first day in nearby Winston-Salem, we went to a wonderful store in a little house chock full of garden doodads, antiques, jewelry and an old-fashioned-looking glass case holding the treats-of-the-day: Strawberry Cake and Tomato Pie (with wine and/or beer on the side). You can shop and sip and then step outside into the nursery that undoubtedly could fill the White House gardens with so many plants to choose from. After wandering around touching this and smelling that, we headed back into the Briar Patch house and decided we Must Have the Tomato Pie and with much restraint, we did Not buy the strawberry layered cake. We headed home and studied that Tomato Pie. The creator of said pie was kind enough to list most of the ingredients on her label and I snatched it right away and promptly forgot about it.  I can only say we wasted no time heating and eating the Tomato Pie and it was good...REAL GOOD.  The kind of good that makes you close your eyes and purr like a kitten in a sunny window.  We were so pleased you'd think we had good sense.  I knew as soon as I survived getting home through the tornadoes, I would need to make a Tomato Pie and share it with all y'all--each and every one of you.

As y'all know by now, I can never, ever leave anything alone much less not tell you about it.  I figure that way it might encourage you to be adventurous in your cooking and your family will forever be grateful for not having to eat the same old thing.  Although my Tomato Pie was not as pretty as the original because I was very short on heirloom tomatoes and a homemade crust, it turned out as good or better in my opinion than the original. Naturally, this recipe was an experiment as I had no idea what Tomato Pie was made of except tomatoes, cheese and a crust. I like to think by adding some eggs, garlic and a variety of cheese to the mystery dish, it made it even more yummy than the one I had in NC. Another great thing about it  is you can really change this up.  You could add ham or sausage, you could leave off the crust and have a low-carb frittata. You could add other veggies and change the types of cheese(s).  You could ask someone else to make it for you and I'd bet my dog, there'd be someone sweet enough to do it...if you live in the South.   

North Carolina Tomato Pie

1 prepared pastry crust (or make your own--see previous recipes for Peach Cobbler or Lemon Lust Tart)
5 medium tomatoes, sliced
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 TBSP fresh chopped basil
1/4 c mayonnaise
1/4 c half-and-half
5 eggs
1/2 c shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 c shredded Provolone cheese
1/4 c shredded Pecorino Romano cheese
2 tsp salt

Pam your pie plate or dish, press dough in place and make edge with fork or fingers, prick all over with fork and place in 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown.  Remove from oven, turn heat down to 350 degrees and cool pastry shell.

While shell is cooling, place sliced tomatoes in colander, sprinkle with salt and let sit for 10-15 minutes to pull moisture from tomatoes.  Before placing tomatoes in pre-cooked pastry shell, rinse and pat dry with paper towels.   Place first layer in bottom of dish. Sprinkle with combined cheeses (except Pecorino Romano) and continue with another layer of tomatoes and cheese. Continue layering and when top layer of tomatoes is reached, spread mayonnaise on top.

Blend half-and-half with eggs, add basil and garlic and pour over tomato-cheese and top with Pecorino Romano and any leftover remaining cheddar cheese.  Place in oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes until knife inserted comes out clean.

Be prepared to hear complements in Southern accents like, 'I do declare! I think that is the best-tastin' dish I've ever eaten in my life, hon!'   Your husband might be too busy eating to say much but he will love it, nonetheless.

So, raise the Rebel flag and here's to Southern Belles, slow evenings on the porch, swimming in the creek and the sweet smell of Lilacs.

Bon appétit

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC