Talking about Lee Bailey - His recipe for "Tomato Bread Crisp" - Any other Lee Baily Favorites?

gayr

Well-known member
Tomato Bread Crisp

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 long loaf (about 1/2 pound) Italian bread, sliced 1/4-inch thick or 1 Italian peasant bread, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

2-1/2 pounds large beefsteak tomatoes (about 4), thinly sliced crosswise

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup minced parsley

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 English muffins, split and lightly toasted

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees F. Generously butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the butter.

Arrange bread slices in a jelly-roll pan and bake until lightly toasted, 10 to 12 minutes.

Line the bottom of the baking dish with half the toasted bread slices in a single layer. Patch any empty spaces with small bits of toast. Arrange half the tomato slices on top, overlapping if necessary.

Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over the layer of tomatoes, then season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, 1/8 teaspoon of the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper.

Cover the tomatoes with the remaining toast and layer the remaining tomato slices on top. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/8 teaspoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pepper opn top. Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.

Tear the toasted English Muffins into large pieces and process in a food processor to form coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, toss the crumbs with the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the tomatoes and bake uncovered, for 45 minutes. Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes longer, or until the crisp is soft and lightly browned. Serve hot.

Seves 6 to 8

Recipe Source - 1991 Best of Food & Wine

Enjoy! -

 
I'm ignorant--I didn't know about this author. I googled and found several books. Is there one

book of his that you would recommend over the others?

 
I own three of his books "Lee Bailey's The Way I Cook," which is a collection of 1,300 recipes ...

from his various books, also own Lee Bailey's "Cooking For Friends," and Lee Bailey's "Country Weekends" which is a R.T. Tastemaker Award for Best Cookbook.

I love his down home recipes and have not had a bad recipe in all the years of using his books.

Also, I have many old Food & Wine Yearly Books which also contain many of his recipes.

Joe, I would recommend "The Way I Cook," as it is the most comprehensive.

 
Curious1, According to a book jacket he wrote for Food & Wine Magazine, Vogue,...

House and Garden, New York Magazine and various other magazines and newspapers.

 
I'll have to remember which ones but I know the lemon horseradish sauce

that was with one of the brisket recipes was to die for and is one of my favorites. Several of his cakes, cobblers and cookies. A cornbread recipe and dressing recipe are some of the ones I know for sure that I took from his books and have continued to use since I was in my late teens.

 
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