"The Guy Cooks!"

This is it: “Insalata Caprese” - my favorite salad. Discovered it in an Italian bistro in San Francisco. It’s a combination of sliced tomatoes, shaved mozzarella, sliced sweet onions and fresh shredded basil leaves. Sometimes, I make enough to make it a meal all by itself. It’s that good!

Here’s what to do: Remember that “mandolin” (see Tools!)? This is where it really shines. (If you don't have one of these gadgets yet, do it with a large knife, slicing as thin as you can without mangling your fingers.)

Slice two or three good-sized washed tomatoes on it with the second-thinnest blade setting, right onto a large plate. Spread the slices around evenly to make a solid base. Next, slice some fresh mozzarella and break it up all over the tomatoes. Then, with the mandolin set to the thinnest blade setting, slice up some sweet onion and spread the rings around the top. Now take the fresh basil and shred several leaves all over. Finally, salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle the best virgin olive oil you can find all over it, followed by a slightly less amount of balsamic vinegar.

Mama Mia! You’ll love it. You might also try it with rack of lamb, combined with potatoes and onions wrapped in foil, done on the grill. Great combo!