Fried Green Tomatoes Sunshiine Style

Our tomato garden this year was a miserable disappointment due to the extremely hot weather. My plants had plenty of blossoms but produced only a handful of tomatoes all summer long. The weather cooled off and all the sudden our tomato plants were flourishing with tiny green fruit. A couple of days ago I picked the last of our crop luckily because we had our first hard freeze last night. I decided to make fried green tomatoes and share them on Instructables! Fried green tomatoes are a delightful dish served from early summer to late fall in the south. I have never met anyone who did not like them. They have a great flavor but very different than that of a regular ripe tomato. I wish I could have them all year round.

This is what you will need:

• 1 cup stone-ground cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• Pinch cayenne (I used paprika because I did not have cayenne)
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (I used a substitute because I did not have Butter milk) listed below
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 large unripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices, ends removed
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (I omitted butter did not see where it was needed)
• Hot pepper sauce, for serving (I used creme cheese, parsley, and bacon)
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• I added chopped parsley to 1/2 of the flour

To make a buttermilk substitute measure 1 1/2 cups whole milk and 1 1/2 Tablespoons of white vinegar and mix. Wait 5 minutes and then use when needed.

Here is where I found a recipe that I wanted to try:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/fried-green-tomatoes-recipe/index.html .

What you need:

• Bowls, spoons, frying pan, cookie sheet, liquid measuring cups, dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula or thongs, platter, and paper towels.

Preparing the ingredients:

• Fry, crumble the bacon and put it into a small dish.
• Wash the tomatoes and parsley.
• Slice the tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices cutting off the ends.
• Chop the parsley.
• Set aside.

Measuring and combining the ingredients:

• In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, and cayenne together.
• Pour the buttermilk into a separate bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Create an assembly line for dipping the tomatoes:

• Place paper towels on cookie sheet to absorb the excess oil.
• Line up the bowls of tomatoes, buttermilk, and flour mixture.
• I added parsley to 1/2 of the flour mixture for a different flavor.
• Dip the tomatoes in the butter milk mixture.
• Dip them into the flour mixture.
• Place them on the cookie sheet.

Prepare the frying pan and oil:

• Place a large cast iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is hot, pan-fry the tomatoes (in batches if necessary) until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
• Carefully remove the tomatoes and drain on paper towels.

Top with garnish:

• Serve with hot pepper sauce and lemon, or:
• Top with parsley, bacon and creme cheese.

I did a little research on frying green tomatoes for the chemical reaction contest. I was raised in the south and southerners eat a lot of fried foods. When I got married and moved away, I learned how to cook without frying so much. My research showed me that the decision to limit frying foods was beneficial to my families health. I was surprised to learn that in 2002 a University in Sweden discovered that cooking foods at a high heat such as frying, roasting or baking forms acrylamide, as the result of a reaction known as the Maillard reaction, which is a chemical reaction between an amino acid (the building block of protein) and a sugar such as glucose, fructose or lactose. The Maillard reaction can cause certain health risks. I found this information here:http:// http:// http://www.eufic.org/article/en/diet-related-diseases/cancer/artid/What-happens-when-we-cook-food-understanding-acrylamide-formation/ .

Another thing I learned is: studies have shown that cooked, or canned tomatoes contain lycopene, a substance that has been proven in studies to be effective in preventing certain types of cancers.

I don't feel guilty by eating fried green tomatoes. I believe if we eat unhealthy foods in moderation it won't kill us.
Here is an interesting link with more recipes and information about tomatoes: https://www.instructables.com/id/EPQ4E4DGUI104WB/ .

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful brisk fall!
Sunshiine