Simple

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

Oh I like this game. It’s one of my favorite things, in fact.

It could be a smell, or a song, or a food and right away, I’m taken right back. This is the closest thing to time travel that I know of. My kids never knew my young active grandfather, but they know about him and his garden and the magical cottage of my very young child self. I held those memories for literally a lifetime, but shared them with my kids through food.

There are several foods that I can name here that will do this time transport trick, but one came to mind immediately.

Toasted tomatoes sandwiches.

I know, I know, sounds pretty boring.

Some people won’t even try one, or they want to add cheese or other ingredients. Usually if they can let go and accept the simplicity, they LOVE them. It’s simple, but very specific,

First you need the highest quality peak of the season, ripe tomato. The flavor of the tomato is paramount. Good bread is a plus, but if it toasts up well, most bread will do. my grandpa grew those giant sandwich size tomatoes and they were super sweet and flavorful. One bite of a super delicious tomato and bam, my eight year old self is back at the cottage in the late summer, probably with a pink crème soda mustache, sun burned and wet from swimming in the waves.

Mayo. If you make it yourself with avocado oil, points for you, but a good quality one, that is not sweet is fine.

Butter/and or coconut oil.

Salt and pepper

That’s it. You have to eat it as soon as it’s made, yes, immediately. My grandfather was not an actual foodie, but he cared and was the best cook I knew. (I was a little kid, but I still knew the difference between cooking because you have to and loving to cook).

Hot, perfectly golden toasted toast, melted butter, and plenty of it, a bit of mayo, salt and pepper to taste, sliced tomatoes right from the garden (not the fridge). All key.

The juicy tomato makes the perfect sauce as it mingles with the butter and mayo. (Some people don’t like mayonnaise , but this is somehow different).

When I had a garden, I made these for everyone all through tomato season. People who knew me then, will still ask if I’ll make them one. I would, only, again with the tomatoes.

This year, tomato plants are planted…

Hoping sandwiches will be a future option. (I have some doubters to win over)