Sliced Tomatoes Plus

The simplest things in life are sometimes the best. This one is quick and easy.

Ingredients should be cold and crisp (well ... not the spices or vinegar):

• A handful of whole fresh spinach leaves
• 1 large ripe tomato - cut two or three slices just shy of 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick out of the middle.
• 1 cucumber - Cut 2 inch length(s) from the fruit, peel about 1/2 of it, cut into 1/4 " square strips lengthwise.
• 5 or 6 Kalamata (greek) olives (or whatever kind you have)
• Feta cheese - a block about 1" x 1" x 1.5" (2 cm x 2 cm x 3 cm)
• 1/2 tsp dried basil (or fresh equivalent)
• balsamic and red wine vinegar
• salt
• pepper

Put the spinach leaves on a dinner plate to form a bed for the tomatoes.
The tomato slices go on top of that (1 layer thick)
Sprinkle the tomatoes with the basil, a little salt and pepper.
Sprinkle cucumber strips over the tomatoes and sprinkle a little salt (or seasoning salt) on them.
Pile up the olives to the side of the plate.
Crumble the Feta over the top. You want enough so that every bite has some of that salty, sour goodness in it.
Pour balsamic vinegar around the edges of the tomatoes but not on top of the salad. Pour the red wine vinegar, but only about half as much, around the same way. DO NOT put vinegar on top of the vegetables but don't obsess if a little gets on them anyway.

Eat and enjoy immediately before the spinach gets soggy..