Fried Green Tomatoes... And I'm Not Talking Fannie Flagg #recipes

I went to our local farmer's market yesterday… one of my favorite places to visit on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Before I knew it, my cart was filled with local peaches, apples, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, and other beautiful fruits and vegetables. Then I saw it! A huge basket heaped with the largest, plumpest green tomatoes I'd ever seen. That's when I realized that I'd never eaten green tomatoes.

How could I call myself a southerner, I wondered, without ever having tasted the very popular southern dish called Fried Green Tomatoes? I decided, then and there, to rectify the problem. I chose a couple of those luscious, green babies and put them in my cart.

I decided to try a dry/wet/dry method to coat the slices. Don't worry, it's easy. I'll explain in the directions.

Fried Green Tomatoes

2 large green tomatoes

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tablespoon granulated onion powder

1/2 tablespoon granulated garlic powder

Large pinch of cayenne pepper

2 eggs

1 cup panko bread crumbs

Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch slices. 

Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper. 

Heat oil in a skillet.

Dry/wet/dry method:

In one bowl, stir together the flour, onion and garlic powders, and the cayenne pepper.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs until well scrambled.

Put the panko bread crumbs into a third bowl.

Dip the slices into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, then into the bread crumbs (get it… dry/wet/dry).

Fry the slices until golden brown, approximately 4 minutes on each side.

Drain on paper towels.

Enjoy!

Fried green tomatoes taste like nothing else I've ever eaten. The coating is crunchy and spicy, and the inside is firm but moist and has a slightly sour taste. Very delicious! Have you ever eaten green tomatoes? Where you eating out, or did you cook them yourself? How were they prepared?

Bacon Zucchini Fritters #Recipe

I realize it's awfully soon to be offering another recipe, but I've had one of those days today. You know the ones, where you’re feeling creative in the kitchen. I pulled some ingredients out of my refrigerator and pantry, and I wondered what I could make with them. I had bacon, a zucchini, Locatelli cheese, eggs, flour, you get the picture. I came up with a recipe that is so delicious I decided to write it down. When you write it down, you know it’s good.

Bacon Zucchini Fritters

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

5 strips of bacon, fried crisp, drained, chopped

3 cups zucchini, grated (leave the skin on)

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese (I used Locatelli brand)

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced (slice a little extra for garnish)

1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper, or to taste

2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil for frying

Mix together all ingredients, except the oil, until well incorporated. Heat a frying pan on high until its hot, add oil to the pan, and then turn the pan down to medium heat. You want the oil almost to the smoking point. Use an ice cream scoop (a large spoon works too) and fry the fritters in batches for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and fry on the other side until golden. Remove to a serving platter and keep warm.

I served these fritters as a side dish, garnished with thinly sliced scallions and a dollop of sour cream.