SUMMER TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350° and par-bake the pie crust. I roll mine into a glass pie plate, poke small holes all over with a fork, cover the top and sides with a piece of foil, and weigh it down with metal spoons (or pie weights if you have them). Bake for about 30 minutes or until the crust is firm. Remove from oven and cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove the slices to a paper towel to drain, then crumble them up. Pour off all but one tablespoon of the fat and cook the onion until soft and just turning brown (stirring frequently, about 10 minutes). When the onions are done, remove them to a bowl and cool.
• Cut the tomatoes across the equator and poke the insides to remove the seeds and their juice. Discard the juice and seeds, or save for another use. Rough chop the tomatoes into about 1 inch pieces. Put the copped tomatoes into a colander and squeeze the remaining juice. You could also wrap them in cheesecloth and really wring them out. (I know it seems like a waste, but the more juice you get out, the less soupy your pie will be.) Mix the drained tomatoes in a large bowl with the basil, cooked onions, and crumbled bacon. Add a good amount of salt and pepper to taste.
• Make the topping. Mix the cheese, mayo, hot sauce, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Brush the partially cooled crust with the egg white, then spread the bottom with the dijon mustard. Next, dump the chopped tomato mixture into the crust, and even it to a flat surface on top. Drop the topping by spoonful on top of the tomatoes. Spread it around with your fingers to create an even layer.
• Bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the topping is turning golden brown. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into it.
• NOTE: if you cut into this pie when it is still warm, it WILL fall apart. The way I see it, this is completely unavoidable. Don't worry though, it will taste freakin' good anyway. The picture at the top of this post was taken the next day, after the pie was refrigerated overnight. This works well served warm, room temp, or cold from the fridge.