Tomato Pie & 74 Years Old!!!

 Hello and happy hump day everyone! Have you seen this commercial yet? My kiddos at school love to imitate the camel...:) Anywho, I'm just popping in for a bit to share a recipe that I made over the weekend. It's an altered Paula Deen recipe called Tomato Pie. Hers is baked in a pie shell, but I prefer mine as a pizza pie! The only ingredients in mine are fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, grated cheese, mayonnaise, and pizza crust.

As I've said before, I don't really measure most things I have been making forever. I just know about how much to add. For two pizza crusts I used approximately 1 cup of mayonnaise, 10-15 chopped, fresh basil leaves, 2 cups of cheese, and 3 tomatoes. 

Here is my fresh from mama's herb garden basil! I love basil! I couldn't live without basil or cilantro...they are my two favorites! Maybe because Mexican and Italian foods are my favorites...:)

Here is the mayo, chopped basil, and cheese mixed together. You may be thinking mayo on a pizza sounds gross, but I assure you it isn't! It is so tasty mixed with the basil and cheese. I do NOT eat mayo on sandwiches or anything unless it is mixed with something, so you can trust me on this. Another tip...for the tastiest, creamiest mashed potatoes, add a big dollop of mayo in when you are making them....YUM! It gives them the best flavor.

OK....back on topic! Here is the topping and tomatoes on the crust. I used pre-made pizza crust similar to Boboli's...it was called Mama Mary's. I usually use Boboli's but they were sold out and so I went with this brand. It was very good and I will be buying this brand from now on!

Fresh from the oven! Yummm! 

I prefer my pizza with no meat but if you are a meat lover, you may want to try this with Italian sausage or maybe Canadian bacon....I am just not a big meat eater. My other favorite pizza has white alfredo type sauce, fresh mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes....:)

I finished off the last of this pie today for my lunch at school.

I had to have a piece fresh out of the oven when I made it!

On Monday (Labor Day) I went to my classroom to work for a few hours. While I was there, I went through all the books I inherited when I moved in the room. I really like sorting and categorizing my books by genre, topic, level, etc and placing them in baskets labeled for the kids to easily find and return them. I started this daunting task Monday and was able to get them all sorted and some in baskets, but the labeling will have to wait for another day! Here is what my little library area looks like now...

My cute little chairs I found at Wal Mart.

The other shelf....:)

Anywho, I said all that to say this! I found a couple old books when I was cleaning out. This one is in ratty condition, but it is so cool. 

I love the illustrations....:)

Check out the copyright date....74 years old! So cool!

I also rescued this little paperback book. It was beginning to come apart and the pages are very brittle. It's only from the seventies, but wasn't a high quality book to begin with. I do love the illustrations though and thought I may use them for something over the years.

Aren't they awesome? I love books of all ages, shapes, and sizes! I love the variety of illustrations found in children's books too. Do you have a favorite children's book or author? Leave me a comment and let me know if you do! I would love to hear about your favorite and why it is your favorite! 

Well folks....that's all I got! Have a blessed week my friends.

Until next time.....