Summer substitutes

I'm somewhat predictable when people visit - you can be pretty certain I'll throw together an Insalata Caprese. A fast, tasty and pretty dish made up of layers of mozzarella, tomatoes (I use Roma) and basil. Drizzled with olive oil and basil pesto to finish it off.

Unfortunately with the current food scare in the US, I need an alternative. Assuming tinned tomatoes are safe (there's usually sterilization involved) one could make the Insalata, but it's not quite so pretty.

Something which does work well is Bruschetta...

Start by toasting some bread - use slices of 'real' bread rather than sandwich loaves. Some people like to rub garlic into the toast. Pile up some chunks of tomatoes - you might want to drain them a little first to avoid the toast getting soggy.

Tear some fresh basil over the tomatoes, grind some pepper and sea salt (unless the tinned tomatoes were already salted). Drizzle with olive oil and crumble some mozzarella over the top. Melt the cheese under a hot broiler.

Serve with some balsamic vinegar.

As always, there are many options, you could add some pine nuts or use mixed herbs. You could also add some roasted peppers or parmesan cheese.