Tomato Pesto Pie

The other day was Saint Benjamin’s day/ Saint who? Yes Saint Benjamin. Most people have heard of St. Peter and St. Francis. Few seem to have heard about Saint Benjamin who was martyred in the 5^th century by having sticks poked in his flesh and under his fingernails, removed and then thrust back in, eventually expiring after having his bowels wound out of his living flesh by some sort of knotted instrument for this purpose that the Persians just happened to have laying about.

What jolly fun for the whole family!

I have often heard people say that there were fewer serial killers in past centuries. This is not true, they were just out in the open working for the government, chopping off heads, crushing thumbs and doing “creative” things with meat grinders and sharpened egg whisks.  A swift lopping off of one’s head is most certainly preferable than being gin the hands of a skilled, curious or inventive dungeon master who may be able to keep you alive for quite some time and do all sorts of exciting things with wire brushes and vinegar.

I have a book that shows just imaginative such torturers could get. It is from the1840’s and is filled with illustrations of famous or infamous characters... It has the tale of Ravaillac, the Lee Harvey Oswald of the 17^th century. Ravaillac is described as a fanatic, who went t out one day and killed the rather popular King Henry IV of France. For this crime he was put to death in a gruesome public spectacle lovingly illustrated in an engraving.  It is also described in lurid detail how:  they burned the hand that had wielded the knife, tore at his flesh with red hot pincers, pouring boiling oil and resin into his wounds, then introduced hot lead into his bowels by means of his navel (ouch) and finally he was torn apart by having four horses chained to his limbs.

Yay! While not as violent as hockey it still sounds like a crowd riveting time!

Recipe for 6 marshmallowy peeps:

4 Tablespoons of pesto

4-5 Vine ripened tomatoes

8 oz of fresh mozzarella

30-40 basil leaves torn

Crust for a one crust pie

How you do this? I tell you now:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9 inch pie or flan pan, line with the pastry and trim away any excess. Prick the bottom of the pastry all over with a fork, cover with a sheet of parchment or greaseproof paper and fill with dried peas or baking beans. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Then remove from oven and turn oven down to 375 degrees. While the shell is baking slice the tomatoes into rather ½ inch thick slices. Slice the mozzarella into slightly thinner slices. Spread the warm pie shell with pesto, and then make a ring of alternating tomato and mozzarella, tucking one or two pieces of basil under each tomato slice.  Continue making rings until the bottom of the shell is covered with tomato, cheese and basil. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.