Light and refreshing with a little tangy zing, this Tomato Salad with Fresh Italian Herbs is a great addition to any summer dinner table.  I have a tomato-loving family.  We plant several different kinds each year in our garden boxes and this year we had quite the variety of small grape, cherry and pear tomatoes.  This tomato salad is a personal favorite and regular go-to side.  It’s simple to make and simply delicious with its tangy dressing and fresh flavors. This salad is simple, and that’s what makes it so great.  It’s primarily tomatoes, herbs and dressing.  As easy as 1, 2, 3!  Let’s start with 1.  First, if your tomatoes are larger than say a nickle cut them in half and place them in a bowl.  You can use your favorite kind.  I use tomatoes straight out of my garden (orange Sun Sugar, yellow Pear, red Cherry and 4th of July).  I love the different colors–it’s like yummy eye candy.  This salad is soooo beautiful. Next add your finely chopped chives, basil and lightly toss.  If you’d like a stronger onion flavor you could add finely chopped shallots, green onions or even a regular onion.  Personally, I like the subtle mild onion flavor of chives. Next add the salad dressing.  I prefer a simple Italian dressing that gives this salad a little tangy zing.  Toss until the tomatoes are coated then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.  One of the great things with this salad is that it’s delicious right after it’s made and perhaps even better if you let the tomatoes marinade in the dressing for a couple of hours.  So, feel free to make ahead. You can also add small pieces of mozzarella cheese if you’d like.  I recommend not adding the cheese until right before serving.  We’ve made this with and without and you can’t go wrong either way. What’s your favorite tomato dish?