Screw Work, I'm Going to the Market & Caprese Salad

I enjoy travelling, but I always find myself obsessing about what I will cook/bake upon my return throughout the trip. For example, when R and I backpacked around Europe for 3 months in 2003, I had created a list of groceries I wanted to buy upon our return that took up the entire backside of a month long calendar. You know, this kind:



Excessive? Possibly.

Even with only being gone for about three weeks, I was still jonesing to fill my fridge and cupboards. Really, I can only blame Giz for this (yes mom, another thing to blame you for). I'm always shocked at how empty people's fridges are...until I realize that their fridges are probably more around average and my fridge is more on the packed side. But, the apple doesn't fall from the tree on this one - Giz's fridge is just as bad, if not worse.

Giz's comment: You forgot about the fridge in the basement. Hey, I bought you that book "Breaking your Genetic Code"...clearly you didn't read it. I don't feel in the least bit guilty about your inability to restrain yourself while shopping for food.

After today's trip to the market, I think I've sufficiently appeased the obsession for a day or so. Yes, I know it's a work day - but the boss is out of town and I've got priorities: cooking!

Here are today's acquisitions:



Most importantly, for today's post, is that I picked up some sweet, juicy tomatoes and bocchini cheese. Ever since I saw some of the Caprese salad posts earlier in the summer, I had a hankering for trying it out myself.

Since basil is my favourite herb and I've never made Caprese salad, I thought this would be an appropriate submission for this month's No Croutons Required:



This month's theme is showcasing your favourite herb in a soup or salad.



I alternated the tomato, cheese and basil and then blended up a pseudo-pesto of garlic, basil, olive oil, and pepper to drizzle over top. Simple, but so good.



Is it kind of sad that the sweetness of the tomatoes almost brought me to tears? Partly because it tastes so good and partly because in season fruit is fleeting. I started missing the tomatoes as soon as I swallowed them.

I must make another one of these salad before the end of tomato season.