Caprese Tomato Towers

In continuing "Good Daniel Fast Recipes" from the January 21 blog entry:

Caprese Tomato Towers

Serves 4

Salt and black pepper to taste

4 medium tomatoes (preferably different color heirloom tomatoes)

1 tbsp olive oil

16 large fresh basil leaves

1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

6 oz fresh mozzarella

Slice the tomatoes into thick slices (each tomato should yield 4 or 5 slices). Slice the cheese into slightly thinner disks. There should be an equal number of tomato and cheese slices.

Place a tomato in the center of a small salad plate. Top with a mozzarella slice and a single basil leaf. Repeat until you've used up a quarter of the tomatoes, cheese, and basil. If you really want to nail this, salt and pepper each individual layer. If using different color tomatoes, alternate the slices throughout. Repeat with the rest of the tomatoes, cheese, and basil, making 4 towers in all. Drizzle each tower with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and season again with salt and pepper.

Of course if you are on the Daniel Fast you will do all but the cheese slices. It's beautiful and a great snack or side dish, especially if you are a tomato lover!