Tomato Bruschetta - For Lack of a Better Title

What a busy weekend!  We started off power washing  the back deck only to be diverted into a horse roundup.  Neighbor George's herd of red horses found an open gate and decided to visit our herd of horses.  (Very exciting!)  In addition, there was an air show down the road, a classic car show downtown, and a "Dancin' Downtown" event scheduled for later that evening. 

Dearest Friend and I decided to catch a matinee at the little theatre on Main Street though.  I had heard such nice things about the movie "Julie and Julia" that I wanted to see it before it left town.  It's about a young woman who decides to blog her experiences as she tries to master ALL the recipes in Julia Child's cookbook, "Mastering The Fine Art of French Cooking".   We are also given a glimpse into the life of Julia Child, played by Meryl Streep, and how she became a chef extraordinaire.  I must say I loved it, but thank goodness for chocolate raisenettes and popcorn.  To sit through this movie with no sustenance would have been sheer torture.  One of the first dishes we had to endure up on the big screen was fresh Tomato Bruschetta.  Our ooohs and awwws no doubt disturbed the other 2 people in the theatre, but we didn't care.  I whispered to Dearest Friend, "I have a recipe for that at home."

Our theatre feels like it's straight out of the 50's.  I find a great deal of comfort in that.  There's no scooping the mall looking for a parking space, no long lines to wait in while the damp night air ruins your hairdo, and no fear that just as you get to the window the cashier tells you the show's sold out. 

You just walk in and pay Megan at the cash register, and Cheyenne gets your hot buttered popcorn for you.  It's all very civilized.

Historic memorabilia and movie posters adorn the walls.  Here's a photo of how the theatre used to look.

And of course the original "Going My Way" guy, Bing Crosby is not  forgotten.

After the show, we made our way out through the lobby.  There was no one in sight so we took our time looking about.

Plenty of daylight still left ... guess we'll mosy on down Main Street and see what's going on.

There's the old "Weavers" building.  I heard it used to be a fine clothing department store.  Not everyone could afford to buy their clothes there.  If you did, you had money.

And this is where you kept it.

A local barber shop.

Plenty of seating.  Looks like they have two chairs.

The Feed Mill is just beyond the Visitors Center.  My husband and I stop in occasionally for their seafood bread bowl and sweet tea.

Heading down towards the Commons.

They were beginning to block off the street for the evening festivities so we thought it time to head back to the car.  I dropped Dearest Friend off at her house and after I got home the phone rang.  "What's that recipe for Tomato Bruschetta?"  The next day I asked Dearest Friend how the Bruschetta turned out.  She said it was delicious.  *sigh* It was such a lovely weekend.

Since I don't happen to own a copy of "Mastering the Fine Art of French Cooking", here's the next best thing ... although Julia would probably beg to differ.

TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

Source:  Mother Earth News, April/May Issue 2008, p. 109

12 slices of whole wheat bread, about 1 1/2 inches thick.  (They used a baguette loaf in the movie.)

4 cloves garlic

1/2 cup virgin olive oil

2 cups red tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 Tbsp. capers

1 Tbsp. sweet basil (or more to taste), chopped

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan cheese, grated

Make your bread slices small enough to hold easily in your hand, about 3 to 4 inches wide, and toast them golden brown on both sides.  Mince the garlic very fine or force it through a garlic press, then combine it with the olive oil in a work bowl.  Add the tomatoes, capers, sweet basil, lemon juice and seasonings.  Spread the mixture on the toasted bread and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.  Serve immediately.