Tomato and Onion Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 large beef tomato, peeled
• 1 small red onion
• a few fresh basil or mint leaves
• 2 tbs good olive oil, virgin is best
• 1 dsp white wine vinegar
• salt, pepper to taste
• Optional: avocado, canned tuna, olives.

The ingredients are very simple, but key in this salad is the way the vegetables are cut and presented. 

Using a sharp or even a serrated knife, thinly slice the tomatoes and the onion.

Chop the basil.

Arrange the tomato slices on a plate and season as you layer them. Top with the thinly sliced onion.

Sprinkle the Basil over the tomato and onion.  Season again. Drizzle with the vinegar and the olive oil.

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Serve as a side dish, it goes particularly well with grilled meat.

Vitamins and minerals found in tomatoes:

• Vitamin C: An essential nutrient and antioxidant. One medium sized tomato can provide about 28% of the recommended daily intake.
• Potassium: An essential mineral, beneficial for blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease prevention (3).
• Vitamin K1: Also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K is important for blood coagulation and bone health (4, 5).
• Folate (B9): One of the B-vitamins, important for normal tissue growth and cell function (6). It is particularly important for pregnant women (7).

Healt benefits

Lycopene and the newly discovered bioflavonoids in tomatoes are responsible as cancer fighting agents. Not only raw tomatoes but also cooked or processed tomato products such as ketchup, sauce, and paste, are counted as good sources of cancer prevention. Tomato is also good for liver health. Tomato has detoxification effect in the body. Probably it is due to the presence of chlorine and sulfur in tomatoes.According to some studies, 51 mg of chlorine and 11 mg of sulfur in 100 grams size of tomato have a vital role in detoxification process. We know that natural chlorine works in stimulating the liver and its function for filtering and detoxifying body wastes. Sulfur in tomatoes protects the liver from cirrhosis, too. Tomato juice is known as good energy drink and for rejuvenating the health of patients on dialysis. 

Rustic Terrine - Meat Loaf

A perfect dish to serve at a summer pic-nic or even a Christmas buffet menu with other cold meats and salads.

Ingredients:

• 150 gr pork liver, minced
• 800 gr minced pork and Beef,  
• 1 tsp of salt, pepper and nutmeg
• handful of mixed herbs, chopped finely
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 slices day old bread, soaked in milk
• 1 egg, beaten

Preheat the oven to 180º centigrade.
Fry the onion in 2 tbsp butter until golden. Combine it with the rest of ingredients. Test the seasoning by frying a spoonful of the mix.
Place the meat in a greased 1 Lt. mold; cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Take the terrine out of the oven and let it cool, weighing down to make it easier to carve once it is cold; a glass jar or tin of beans will do. Refrigerate for 6 hours.
Turn the terrine onto a plate and serve with mustard, a green salad and crusty bread.