Plucking that first red-ripe tomato from your garden is more than simply harvesting – it’s a special event – almost the equivalent of Thanksgiving. That’s because after months and months of eating plastic tomatoes grown in hot houses, you can finally slice into a real tomato and enjoy a BLT – bacon, lettuce and a real tomato sandwich.
For that first BLT of the season, I insist on Texas Toast – a double thickness of toasted white bread. That way a I can slather on the mayonnaise. The jury is out on the best mayo on the market – maybe it’s Duke’s, but Helman’s is a close second – a rich, eggy flavor. The bacon should be Hormel Black Label, Thick Sliced Bacon. This is serious bacon for serious bacon eaters. Consistently good, package after package. Wright’s Bacon would also be acceptable. The lettuce must be crisp iceberg and the tomato should be ripe and juicy and piled high.
Some may enjoy a coke with that first Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwich, but if it’s on a weekend, I want an ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. I never tire of savoring that first BLT of the summer. It is a real treat.