Red. Rosso. It's bold. It's powerful. It signals things with a defined and definite statement which cannot be misconstrued. It stands for love, danger, stop signs, sacrifice, blood, courage, and in some places, happiness. After all, it is the first colour in the rainbow. It's also been proven to enhance your attention span, make you hungry, and bolster your sex drive. Here at Cafe Pump we noticed we haven't braved the cold Dutch winter and taken the bikes out since the warm Mallorcan days of Christmas vacation, so we're hoping that the desire to cycle is bolstered as much as the sex drive.
Anyway, first up for this week's specials is this simple yet satisfying 'Baked Bacon & Tomato Salad'. At first glance it might look much fuss about nothing, but while it will never be a hearty and true 'cyclists lunch', it is a testament to that Italian philosophy that with good, fresh ingredients, less is more.
Ingredients: Tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, red pepper, salt, pepper, olive oil, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red onions, hot sauce, chilli, and cayenne pepper.
Method: In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes, basil, sliced onions, red pepper, salt, and pepper, and leave to stand for a few minutes. Pre-heat the oven to a warm 220c, and spread baking paper on the tray. Bake the bacon for 15mins, turning half-way through. In the meantime, mix the dressing by whisking the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, chilli, and hot sauce. Serve with a fresh drizzle of oil, and basil leaves.
Tips: Baked bacon = more taste and (slightly) less fat.
Music: Little Red Rooster - The Rolling Stones
