Friday, February 17, 2012

Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato

Photo courtesy of bonappetit
“Lin, go pick a tomato from the backyard.”

Lindy leaped off her stool, “Okay!”
She fought the screen door, it was always off-track, and ran into the yard. The back of the house lined with vibrant green tomato plants and prickly cucumbers. Lindy sifted her way through the plants; they were about as tall as she was. Her mission, to find the brightest, plumpest red treasure this plant had to offer.
“Got it,” she whispered aloud as she gave a gentle tug.
Find one?” her mom looked up from spreading miracle whip on the toasted bread.

“Ya, it’s a good one mom.” Lindy hopped back up on the stool, elbows on the counter, she cupped her chin with her hands. Her hands permeated with the smell of the plant.
Lindy watched as her mom washed the lettuce, tore it piece by piece and placed it on the toasted bread.
She sliced the tomato, “You grabbed a perfect tomato Lin.”
She sat a little taller, “Thanks, whatcha makin mom?”
“It’s a BLT, you’ve had one before,” She said as she poured herself a Tab.
Lindy’s face scrunched up, “What’s a BLT?”
She took a giant swig of Tab, “Its bacon, lettuce and tomato.”
Her mom slid the sandwich filled plate across the table. “Let’s eat.”
Lindy put her mouth around the sandwich; the crunch of the toast was familiar. Then she tasted the miracle whip, and before she could say she didn’t like it the tomato came bursting through. The finale ended with a salty crunch from the bacon and a fresh chomp of lettuce.
“Good, huh?” her mom nodded.
Lindy nodded furiously, licked a pinch of miracle whip from the corner of her mouth, “Good.”
Lindy spent, approximately, the next four years ordering a BLT at any and every restaurant she went.  
Thanks to Write on Edge for another inspiring prompt.

15 comments :

  1. Awesome! I so love BLT's. I just fried bacon this morning to make this fantastic bacony shrimp dish tonight. I was tempted to steal a couple pieces to make a BLT. Alas, I have no tomato.
    You did a good job with this, Lindy. There are some capital letter and punctuation issues here but overall, I enjoyed this piece:)

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    1. Thanks so much for the feedback. You may need to share that bacony shrimp recipe with us.

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  2. I'm not kidding- I have the same love affair with a grilled cheese. I feel like such a child ordering them at restaurants, but they immediately make me think of my grandma. I thought your food descriptions were fantastic. Cold bread, warm bacon, crunch, fresh. Good stuff, Lindy!

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    1. It's funny how food can bring back such vivid memories. I'm glad the food descriptions worked for you. Thanks for the comment.

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  3. I was never big on BLT 's , not a fan of tomato. But yours sounds delicious :)

    Great visuals crafted with your words

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Carrie. I always appreciate your feedback.

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  4. Only two things that money can't buy and that's true love and homegrown tomatoes. I love that you shared the "instant dislike" that most kids get before they actually try something. This is a charming scene withal.

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    1. Thank you. Store bought tomatoes just won't do.

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  5. I was never a tomato fan but used to steal green beans out of my mom's garden. But I do remember my mom making BLT's for herself at lunch time while we watched Days of Our Lives together.

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  6. I like the way you told it Lindy, it was engaging that way. Plus your descriptions were fresh and vivid for me, her going through the dscreen door, her nodding as she chewed...her face in her hands watching her mom make the sandwich. This is one of my favorites today!

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    1. Kir,
      Thanks for your sweet feedback. I'm so glad you stopped by.

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  7. I haven't had one for years, but there's something about all these posts... Food writing brings out the sensualist in us all, even when we're musing on childhood culinary discoveries.

    I love the hunt for the perfect tomato, and moment of distaste for the Miracle Whip. I still can't stomach the stuff. I'm a mayo girl through and through :)

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    1. I have them all the time with turkey bacon. Not quite the same... but at least the guilt isn't there. Thanks for reading Cameron.

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  8. You really brought the nostalgia back with this--I can remember my mom making me a BLT! This was a great use of the prompt.

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    1. I'm glad it worked. As I was writing it, I so wanted to go back to my childhood when my mom use to make me sandwiches. Thanks for the comment.

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