Tomato "Flowers" for Stuffing

Fresh summer tomatoes are wonderful stuffed with a salad such as tuna fish or even cottage cheese.

To make the tomato "flowers," cut out the stem end and, with a sharp knife, cut through the tomato but not all the way through to the bottom, forming 8 wedges that look like flower petals. In the picture the tomato rests on a bed of fresh basil leaves. Basil is a natural complement to tomatoes.

Here are some suggested fillings:

Cottage Cheese - sprinkle with chopped fresh chives, thin slices of green onions, or snipped fresh dill
Tuna Fish Salad
Chicken Salad
Salmon & Chickpea Salad
Tuscan-Style Tuna Salad
Tabbouleh (Middle-eastern salad made with bulgur)

There are many other fillings that would work equally well.