Have you been on Pinterest? It’s a virtual pinboard where you can “pin” any image that catches your eye. It’s a great place to tuck, or should I say tack, all those visual bits of inspiration we come across online. Awesome photos, luscious looking food, fabulous style pegs, anything, anything at all that appeals to your sense of gorgeousness.
Suffice to say, I am quite enamored. It’s an effortless way to quickly save any image that inspires me…and because of the endless amount of talent out there in the world, that’s a lot! On the site itself, there are other “pinboards” from all sorts of lovely people, brimming with brilliance. So as far as inspiration is concerned, there is a whole lot to go around. All of it, quite literally, at the tips of your fingers.
And it’s with thanks to Pinterest, and its wonderful members, that I’ve come to this BLT. Not just any BLT, but a BLT with slow roasted tomatoes and a fried egg. A BLT for champions.
Being a lover of porcine delights, it’s no wonder that the mighty BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato if your being formal) is one of my favorite sandwiches. I also happen to love slow-roasting tomatoes. And I love eggs. So when I came across these alluring photos on Pinterest the wheels were set in motion for my next breakfast BLT (because what better time to have bacon that at breakfast?).
This is not so much a recipe as a framework. You choose the quantities. Here is what I did: I slow roasted some tomatoes – this is the way I like to do that. You can do this in advance, in fact, it’s better if you do. Waiting a couple of hours for a sandwich can seem a bit surreal. When you are ready, fry your bacon in a dry, hot pan (I like to use a thickish honey-cured variety from a local deli) – let the fat render and cook exactly the way you like it (for a BLT I like mine just bordering on crisp). While the bacon is cooking toast the bread (I use my favorite whole-grain, sold at my neighborhood market, baked by a former French Foreign Legionnaire…or so they say). Slather on side of the bread quite generously with mayonnaise (or not, if that’s your preference). Arrange the lettuce leaves over the mayonnaise (I like to use arugula) and the slow-roasted tomatoes over that. When the bacon is done set aside on paper towels and fry the egg in the sizzling hot bacon fat, sprinkle the yolk with salt. The egg will sputter and may look quite frayed but that’s ok – take it out while the yolk’s still runny. Place the bacon over the tomatoes and the egg on that. Top with another slice of toast. Press down on the sandwich just enough so the yolk gently ruptures and wiggle the bread a bit so it spreads. Enjoy with abandon.
Inspiration is, truly, everywhere. It can come from a “pinboard” of someone half a world away, or right outside your window. It can come from your neighborhood market or a meal you are about to have. It can come from an ingredient you’ve never come across before. It can come from leftovers. It can come from something you just learned from someone you’ve known your whole life. The key is to always keep your eyes, your mind and your heart wide open to its possibility. It could change your life. Or at the very least give you a fantastic BLT.
Note: If you’re curious about what inspires me, you can visit my pinboards here. Aside from the obvious food, I also have pretty things for myself, my little one, and my home.
Good idea. I had some leftover bacon in the fridge and I don't know what to do with them. Hehe. Anyway, thanks for your support on the cookbook. I am so happy to have you as a friend/reader/fan. Thanks again! 🙂
Fabulous! that is an awesome combo.
Cheers,
Rosa
I haven't eaten breakfast yet, and this is literally making my stomach rumble! I love eggs, I love roasted or sun-dried tomatoes, I love bacon! ♥♥♥
Hi Bee! I am so looking forward to your cookbook! Love your easy approach to Asian cooking…plus all that you make looks absolutely delicious 🙂
Hi Rosa! I am in love with this combo!
Hi Guia! Hope you try it…they are really awesome all together!
Great idea…perfect weekend brunch idea!
I love your thoughts on inspiration! We've been having BLTs every week, and I'm about to include them in a post, too! I also just bought a bunch of cherry tomatoes to roast, so roasted tomato BLT might be in my near future. 🙂
And yes, Pinterest is a great way to organize inspirational thoughts and ideas. It was perfect when I was planning my wedding, and now I'm using it for inspiration in the kitchen and around the home!
And here I was craving for a BLT with fresh avocado for lunch! Oh my!
I am hopelessly addicted to Pinterest:-) Pinning your fabulous sandwich now!
i hope we'll have time for breakfast instead of rushing every day to work.. your BLT looks inspiring! 🙂
Glad you think so Miri! 🙂
Hi Jaqui! Aren’t BLT’s just the best? 🙂 Delicious and so steadfast in a way that it totally comforting, at least for me 🙂 I can see how Pinterest would be perfect for wedding planning and inspiration…wish I had it back when I got hitched!
Hi Midge! Oooh! I’m going to have it with avocado next…sounds fantastic!
Hi Wizzy! Thanks! Me too! I have given myself strict times of when I can get on it, haha!
Hi Tin! I hear you…it’s the most important meal but sometimes it’s just too tempting to trade it in for a few extra minutes of sleep 😉 But I find that it is really worth it!
This look so good. I like the roasted tomato.I can imagine it. A bit of juicy, soft, but with the aroma of burning. But I think I will keep the sandwich bread soft and not toasted. It just right for me. 🙂
Hi Jo! Thanks for leading me to Pinterest! I had to stop myself from playing with it while at work.
now i'm hungry….AGAIN! hahaha
Hi Love Cooking! The roasted tomatoes are indeed delicious…I love their flavor too. I can’t toast my bread too much as well or else I find it hard to eat 🙂
Hi Mieke! Isn’t it lovely? 🙂 What I do is I give myself 5-10 minutes before work – that way I get a nice shot of inspiration to start my day. And then I do the same after work – so I have nice things to think about at the end of the day as well 🙂
Hi G! I know the feeling! Haha!
Looks yum Jo! Have you tried making your own home-cured bacon! You must! Check out Michael Ruhlman's home-cured bacon recipe online!
Hi Annabanana! I have never tried making my own bacon but I have always wanted to! I will check that out, thanks! 🙂
So glad I found this blog; great recipes and ideas – I can feel this one coming on for the weekend breakfast!, and it's only Tuesday today!
This recipe looks and sounds absolutely delicious. Breakfast is by far the most important meal of the day, and this BLT just makes breakfast worth waiting for!
This is even a awesome recipe for Lunch or Dinner! Definitely makes me wish I had one right now.
Great Recipe!
Tomorrow i hope to remember to slow-roast some tomatoes for this. The recipe i tried for home cured bacon is from saveur. Amazing flavor. I only stopped doing it because i was starting to look at the deli/meat slicers at Santi’s with too much longing
Wow! I have never attempted to home-cure anything! Good for you! Laughed out loud at the meat slicer comment though, hehehe! 🙂