Toasted Bagel Deluxe

This is especially great in the summertime when you can get tomatoes right off the vine. Also a fantastic summer supper when it's just too hot to fire up the oven. Use the big bakery bagels and not the skimpy frozen ones!

Toasted Bagels Deluxe

4 bagels, any flavor
Softened cream cheese
16 slices crisp-fried bacon, drained well
Very ripe sliced tomatoes

Split bagels and toast lightly in toaster.

Spread cream cheese over entire top and bottom surface of bagels. Place four bacon slices on each bagel and top bacon with thick slice of tomato. Place bagel tops on sandwich. Cut bagel in half, if desired . Serve immediately. Makes 4 sandwiches.

Tomato Skillet

Overabundance of garden tomatoes? This is a deliciously different way to use them up! I found that this pairs nicely as a side dish with just about anything; chicken, beef or pork.

Tomato Skillet
1/3 c butter (I use a little more)
1/4 teas basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c sliced celery
1/2 c green pepper, diced
1/2 c chopped onion
1 c seasoned croutons (or stuffing mix)
4 tomatoes, chopped
2 teas. sugar

In a skillet, melt butter and add seasonings. Saute celery, green pepper and onion until tender. Add croutons and toss to coat. Gently stir in tomatoes and sugar, cover and cook over medium heat until tomatoes are hot.