Thursday, July 3, 2008

Delicious Slices of Heaven.

There are some bites so perfectly pleasurable I just want to tuck into a warm bed with a plateful and nosh the night away. I want to indulge without making a mess in my QVC Northern Nights 400 threadcount sateens, acquring heartburn, or adding excess flab. I do believe fresh, hot, glazed Krispy Kremes will be available for daily consumption in Heaven and that new body I'm promised (thanks, Lord!) won't gain an ounce! A DREAM COME TRUE!

Right up there with the delectable glazed beauties would be fried green tomatoes, or as I lovingly refer to them, delicious slices of Heaven on earth. I would be remiss in my Georgian Belle Claim to Glory if I didn't share the wonder that is this southern specialty. We dwellers below the Mason-Dixon line are famous for taking a perfectly healthy vegetable (or fruit--whichever you deem a tomato, and I won't object either way) and dunking it into hot oil, destroying any chance of retaining any semblence of nutrients. But boy--does it make for a delicious party in your mouth. Someone start singing praises now. (That would have to be YOU, Melissa Lee.)

Because I love y'all so much I just have to share this recipe with you. Again, when have I ever steered you wrong? It's not all tampons and baby powder, folks!

Oh, I should preface this by stating I have no recipe...I have no precise amounts or such as that...just follow along, look at the pictures, and we'll all be as gleeful as Dick and Jane. It's super easy, I promise!

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Lula's Fried Green 'Maters ('cause that's what true southerners call 'em.)

3 or 4 Fresh Green Tomatoes, washed and dried
Some flour (I don't know--maybe 3/4 cup)
Some cornmeal (again--I don't measure--so go with 3/4 cup)
Salt
Pepper
Vegetable oil for fying

To begin, get your heaviest & largest skillet and pour in about a half inch of oil. Begin heating the oil on medium to medium high heat. And kiss those green orbs. Seriously. They are about to make you a very happy individual.




Slice tomatoes about 1/4 inch thick. Some folks say 1/2 inch, but I prefer mine to be a little thinner. That's just me, though--you do whatever makes you happy. Then, and this is key, place slices on paper towels (Mrs. R--you think I'm gonna use my good Vivas for this? Oh no--leftover beach cheapies, baby!) and sprinkle them with a little salt. This allows the tomatoes to drain a bit, so they're not soggy and mushy for the frying.


While the tomatoes are draining (5-10 minutes), combine the flour and cornmeal in a shallow dish or bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Once the tomatoes are ready, dredge each slice in the flour and cornmeal mixture, coating both sides well.


After coating all the slices in their fluffy robe of off-white, fry a "test" tomato to make sure the oil is ready--not too hot, not too cool. Once you're certain the oil is doing its job (and you'll know right off, of course!) add in as many slices as your pan will hold, without overcrowding. Brown on both sides, or brown each side twice if you like 'em very crispy. I'll eat 'em any way, shape or form, if you wanna know the truth of the matter!


Once they've gone from pasty to golden brown (much like a teenager preparing for Spring Break), drain the slices on paper towels and allow to cool just a bit before serving. Ahhhhhhhhh...delicious slices of Heaven on earth. Oh, but yes they are. ENJOY!Adorable child not included--she's already promised to Mrs. R's son.

After making these today I pretty much stood at my kitchen island and ate every single one. (I totally offered to share, too--but Kim and Libbey weren't interested. SUCKERS--more for me!) I don't mind owning up to my fried 'mater gluttony. There's zero shame in my love of these delicious slices of Heaven. If I'm serving them with a meal they are a fabulous appetizer alongside cheese grits, and perfect with a green salad, instead of boring ol' bread. But that's when I'm gettin' my Paula on. (You know Paula--my close, personal friend.) Usually we just stand at the island, devouring until we're sick with fullness. Sick, but happy.

Again, someone needs to start singing praise. Melissa, step up to the plate (bring the Julio's, please) and give God the glory. Great things He hath done. Amen.


32 comments:

Nan said...

Perhaps an arrangement could be made for either one of my sons...they aren't promised...yet. That is, if I let go of them:) Would it be a sin to say that my entire family is from GA (except me, but I still consider myself a true Southern gal) and I have never had a fried green tomato? But, they looked yummy! They remind me of my great-granddaddy's friend squash...he used cornmeal only and they were quite tastey!

CaraBee said...

I have long heard of the wonders of the fried green 'mater but not being a tomato person refused to partake. However, lately I find myself craving tomatoes (and no I'm not in a family way!). So I just might give this recipe a go. Thanks!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I haven't had fried green tomatoes since I was a kid! And I won't be having them any time soon. The people in my family are taste bud losers and would gag just seeing green tomatoes in the house. *sigh*

Caroline said...

(in a singing voice with much vibrato) LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! FRIIIIIIIED GREEEEEEEEEEN TOMATOOEEESSSSSS! I'll have to make them! Oh, and that NAN above is my BFF. Don't worry, I can have more than one BFF Lula. You're still on the list!

Unknown said...

now i want some. joey's gonna be pissed when all his tomatoes disappear before they have a chance to ripen. i'll blame it on rabbits.

Lula! said...

Thank you, Caroline, for singing praise. You rock!

Mama Dawg said...

I'm soooooooo with you on the 'maters and Krispy Kreme! I'm so southern this way, it's not even funny.

LaQuintamomof3 said...

Not Southern, woudl love to be- you all are so pretty and polite! And the food, yum! I have never had a fried green tomato, but i have been intersted since i read the book years ago. I may just have to go out and pick some and giveit a try.
Thanks Lula!
Happy 4th.

Heather said...

I like mine crispy and dipped in a little ranch dressing. I'm going to the store right this very minute to buy some. Not sure if they sell green tomatoes in Colorado. I'll let you know.

Insane Mama said...

You are my hero. Are the tomatoes a special kind or are they just not ripe? That is my only question before I start frying and flipping tomatoes into the air.

Insane Mama said...

I spelled tomato wrong! Agg I hate that

Kimba said...

Oh lordy, lordy. How I love fried green tomatos.

Thanks for the sweet comment. You're right. Our Lord is very good.

Happy 4th!

Angie's Spot said...

I must shamefully admit that this life-long southerner has NEVER partaken of the classic delicacy that is fried green maters. In honor of my admiration for your blog, I'm going to cook up some of these little delights this weekend and give them a shot. Thanks for the inspiration! ;-)

TentCamper said...

Great! Now I am going to have to eat IM's attempt at soggy unripe gross vegies...I would much prefer the Krispy Kremes.

But Miss Lula...I have given you an award on my blog anyway!

Pinky Roth said...

Now I love me some fried green maters...wish I was there to have some w/you...your tomatoes look beautiful!

Love,

Mom

Insane Mama said...

will someone please tell me how to spell tomatoes or tomatos... I have seen it spelled both ways here and I am confused.

Caroline said...

For Insane Mama:

Let the record show the correct spelling would be t-o-m-a-t-o-e-s.

CaraBee said...

It's tomatoes, with an "e". It looks so wrong, though.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_plural_of_tomato

CaraBee said...

Ah, Caroline, you're too fast for me!

leezee52 said...

Do you deliver?

John Deere Mom said...

My mouth is seriously watering over here. I need some fried green tomatoes. Now.
BTW, I have a cool Paula Deen story. My mom works in a small sorority thrift shop. One of the sorority ladies had gone to one of Paula's shows and got an autographed apron (by Paula and Michael) and for some unthinkable reason, she donated it to the shop. Well, my mom snagged that puppy and gave it to my Paula Deen-lovin' cousin along with one of her cookbooks. How cool is that?!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Every time I read your blog I can add another tick to my list of things I've never seen, done, or tried. Hey...maybe one day I can make a Thursday Thirteen list of things that Lula does that I do not :-) And my husband insists that I am a Yankee in disguise...bein' born in Florida and all. He's Just sayin'...

Trish said...

ohhh yummm!!

the one thing that i learned during my year spent in Marietta (workin at the Cracker Barrell, mind you) is that I do love me some fried green tomatoes and fried okra!

i'll skip the grits though. thank you very much.

here in the north you just don't see green maters for sale in the supermarket. one would have to grow their own, which would be fine except no one else in my family eats them, so I would have to consume them my self.......
hmmm, that doesn't sound too bad though.

Heather said...

Guess what...NO green tomatoes at the grocery store. Man, Colorado is boring.

Infarrantly Creative said...

Ummm I think you have to born and bred Southern to like those. Sorry friend I will passs on your maters.

Melissa said...

TOWANDA!!!!! That's all I'm going to say.......
I will have to find a gluten-free flour that will fry up nice.:)

Melissa Lee said...

I am sitting here sick as a dog on this 4th of July...and I have absolutely no taste in my mouth. Or I would snatch that plate up and eat it so quick it would make your head spin.

Oh, and where did you rent those children from? I knnnoooooowwww you ain't got kiddos that cute.

What's that? I can't hear you over my comments.

Happy 4th Lulalulaloo,
Melissa

AFRo said...

Why oh why did you have to go and make me want these today?!? I don't have anything in the house to make them and I really don't want to go to the store, but it sounds SO friggin good right now.

By the way, I know the heir to the Krispy Kreme fortune personally. He went to college with me and married one of my old childhood friends.

Unknown said...

I am just not crazy about these green maters...soryy! But now give me some fried squash or okra and I am all over it! And so is Libbey!

Debbie said...

First I loved loved loved that movie...hated hated hated the book. And I've always wanted to try the real thing...so sista, I'm whip me up some fried green tomatoes. Yeah baby. Now where do you find green tomatoes?

Anonymous said...

yummy. I was safe when I could say that there are no Krispy Kreme's around here (or not even around here - I mean within hundreds of miles - we are the land of the yucky dunkin donuts). But now I have to deal with this recipe. How can I resist?

Maddness of Me said...

Just wanted to give you a shout out and let you know that this girl here in Michigan is making these (because I remembered your blog).

It's tomatoe harvesting time here! Time for Lula's fried green tomatoes - YUM!