Fried Green Tomatoes

                                                                                  

With all the rain here in the Blue Ridge Mountains this Spring and Summer, growing vegetables was either fabulous or disheartening, and I heard both kinds of stories from home gardeners.  I’m a container gardener, and my Better Boy and sweet cherry tomatoes grew profusely – seeming to love the rain, as you can see in the photo below:



These are the lovely cherry  tomatoes that grew on a vine 7’ tall!  I had to get on a step ladder (I’m 5’2”) to pick the ones at the top.  Anyway, I had lots and lots of tomatoes.  I gave them to friends and ate tomato sandwiches until I couldn’t, even offered some to the neighbors and Jess said she was “tomatoed out!”

It’s September now, and the growing season is pretty much over here in the mountains, where Autumn is already bringing cool, misty mornings, but one tomato plant won’t give in.  It’s producing bowlfuls of hearty green tomatoes that will never ripen.



But that’s OKAY!  Because it’s Fried Green Tomato time in my kitchen – one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Fried Green Tomatoes is one of those recipes that everyone makes differently.  If you follow my blog, you know I simplify recipes as much as possible.  Most of us don’t have lives that allow for cooking complicated recipes from scratch. 

Below is a simple three-basic-ingredients recipe that anyone can follow.

You will need: 
A plate with some mayonnaise on it, and a plate with some seasoned Panko.

Slice some of those beautiful tomatoes.  You might even find a little pink inside!


Heat a little oil in a large frying pan.  Dry the tomato slices with paper towels, smear them first with mayonnaise, them evenly coat on both sides with the Panko crumbs.  Fry them, turning to cook evenly until golden.  Drain on paper towels. 


Top with a grind of sea salt and cracked black pepper, and you’ll get one of the most delicious ways to eat tomatoes that will look something like this:


Now I ask you – was that so hard?  Anyone can do this.  Choose the oil that you consider to be healthiest, and don’t eat fried food everyday.  You’ll live to be very old and very happy with Fried Green Tomatoes in your life.  Bon Appetit!  ~Jo

Great Coverup

Now and then a great idea comes along, and I feel compelled to share. Such is the case in this great copycat coverup from Allison at Refunk My Junk, who spent a grand total of $2 to copy what would have otherwise cost her $90 from Ballard Designs.  Check out the link below to be transported through cyberspace to Allison’s fun blog.  Kudos, Allison, for sharing your pragmatic genius!

http://refunkmyjunk.com/ballard-designs-hack-2-00-jute-twine-chandelier-shade-update/

Outside the Box

WHAT TO DO WITH A DEAD TREE…
I’m loving this idea from Pinterest, originally from a blog source that no longer exists, so I can’t even give them credit for this fabulous pin.

This idea would make a great playhouse in a residential or park setting, or a dynamite school bus stop shelter!

I’m a tree hugger, but I also believe in repurposing.  So if a tree can’t be saved or is in danger of causing damage by falling on a building, driveway or sidewalk, why not do this?

 

Silverado

I’m nuts about this wall treatment, and considering it for one wall in my casual kitchen.  Can easily be done with metallic paint, and it takes on the appearance of stainless steel – a great updated look for kitchens.

If your kitchen doesn’t have many windows, this paint technique will also reflect natural light, making your room appear much brighter.

Always remember to keep metallic paint to a minimum, using it on walls broken up with cabinets or large pieces of furniture as in this photo, easing what might otherwise be glaring to the eye.

Flowerless, But Looking Good

Have company coming and no time to run out for flowers?  Just step out into the garden and cut some green things.  Today I chose ivy – it grows profusely around Dove Cottage….and looks great in a mason jar.

World’s Easiest Pot Rack

When my other pot rack fell from the kitchen ceiling to its death, I decided on a more simple replacement that was lighter and could be installed in a matter of minutes.  I looked around in my shed for inspiration and found a travel extender bar for hanging clothes in the car.  It was covered in red ribbed plastic, and could be expanded to the perfect length.  I put two butterfly hooks in the ceiling, and with garden hangers, had the bar up in minutes.  I added more hooks and hung a few pots.  Voila!  Instant Pot Rack!

 

Now to get that ugly ceiling painted!