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Tuscan Tomato, Cucumber & Bread Salad

“Panzanella, little swamp, is another tomato favorite, a salad of oil, vinegar, tomatoes, basil, cucumber, minced onion, and stale bread soaked in water and squeezed dry - a true invention from necessity. Since bread must be bought every day, Tuscan cooking makes good use of leftovers.” Nothing could be easier. I used 3 small tomatoes cut up in small bites, half a cucumber also cut up into small bites, minced onion, fresh local basil, 8 slices of leftover hard baguette seasoned with salt and pepper. Like many Tuscan cooks, I added the olive oil and vinegar by eye but you should know the typical ratio is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. The bread was soaked in water and squeezed as dry as possible. At first I didn’t think it would taste very good but after dressing the salad and letting it sit for a while, the bread gave the salad a wonderful texture and absorbed some of the seasoning with the juices from the vegetables. It was amazing.  And it went great with a chilled bottle of Prosecco!

1 1/2-ounce bunch fresh mint 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced 4 to 6 (depending on size) perfectly ripe tomatoes

1. Pick the leaves from the branches of mint, wash thoroughly and chop finely. 2. In a non-metallic serving bowl, mix the mint leaves with the olive oil, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. 3. Slice the tomatoes and place in the dressing, turning the slices so that they are evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.