Heirloom Tomato and Eggplant Terrine

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon pepper black divided freshly ground
• 1.5 inch eggplant 
• 1 tablespoon chives fresh divided finely chopped
• 4 ounces mozzarella fresh cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
• 1 tablespoon thyme sprigs fresh divided chopped
• 2  garlic clove crushed
• 1 tablespoon gelatin powder unflavored
• 4 medium heirloom tomatoes cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 medium leek chopped
• 1.5 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin extra-virgin
• 0.8 teaspoon salt divided
• 1 medium tomatoes quartered
• 1 cup water 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• baking sheet
• paper towels
• sauce pan
• baking paper
• oven
• sieve
• plastic wrap
• loaf pan

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 45
2. Place heirloom tomato slices on several layers of paper towels. Top with a single layer of paper towels.
3. Let stand 15 minutes.
4. Combine 1 cup water, garlic, leek, and quartered tomato in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Strain through a sieve over a bowl, pressing to extract liquid; discard solids.
5. Pour liquid into pan; stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cool to room temperature.
6. Sprinkle with gelatin; let stand 5 minutes. Bring gelatin mixture to a boil; boil 3 minutes.
7. Remove from heat.
8. Lightly brush eggplant slices with oil; arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with parchment paper.
9. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes; turn and bake an additional 5 minutes or until tender.
10. Lightly coat a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap. Arrange tomato slices in a double layer on bottom of pan; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Top tomatoes with a thin layer of cheese; sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme and 1 1/2 teaspoons chives. Arrange 3 eggplant slices over cheese. Repeat layers, ending with tomatoes.
11. Pour gelatin mixture over terrine. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill 8 hours or overnight.
12. Turn terrine out onto a platter.
13. Let stand 1 hour (or until room temperature).