A Haven for Vee

Friday, September 28, 2012

Prattle On

It's going to rain for the next four days just when John gets on a roll. Perhaps the Lord knows that he needs a break. Yes, I'm sure that's it.


Such a pretty graphic from Graphics Fairy. And so perfect for us in Oak Alley. Every morning, before checking on the garden, I should don my hard hat because squirrels are pitching acorns furiously. They certainly have been an industrious lot.

***


This is a fried green tomato. I chucked all of it into the garbage and started over with much thinner slices. John ate them, but felt that I may have failed. He's never eaten them before, nor had I. He says that I don't have to go out of my way to ever make them again. Right. I won't. So to anyone who does make fried green tomatoes, what am I doing wrong?

***


My daughter volunteers for a certain campaign this autumn. She works a regular job and donates an additional 20 hours or more a week. Last night found her traveling 40 miles to pick up signs for our hometown. Ten of them. She thought that she would be getting a hundred. Hmmm... Oh well, at least she has one for her vehicle.

Yes, that is John in the background. Quite a work out he had yesterday because this is the garage he built. He says that ripping out his own work is some of the most difficult he's ever done. He does build a thing to last.


Say, do you enjoy fried green tomatoes?

34 comments:

  1. Fried green tomatoes are a sure weakness in our home. Even my non tomato eating kiddos eat them. I faux fried this summer by dipping them in buttermilk, adding a dash of salt & pepper and breading in bread crumbs. Then, I baked them about 15 minutes on 375. They were crisp and really flavorful.

    Hopefully since the squirrels are so busy it is a sign of a super cold winter. SInce we barely even had a frost last year I would love to see some of these bugs and spiders disappear!

    Enjoy your rainy weekend and relax. You guys have earned it! <3

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  2. I love fried green tomatoes! I never had one until I went to a blogger luncheon in Salt Lake and they specialized in them. So Good! I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I'd like to find someplace that makes then in the South and see if they are better. I tried to make them and they turned out HORRIBLE! Maybe there's a secret that Idgie never told anybody. :)

    BTW - LOVE your header. Looks so cool and inviting.

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  3. Our squirrels like to use me as target practice.
    Rick picked up a Romney yard sign yesterday.
    I'm not crazy about fried green tomatoes.
    That's my thoughts for the day and I'm sticking to it.

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  4. I don't like that at all...but I know how to make them! lol SOAK them in buttermilk for an hour or more! (that's the secret!) Thinner slices is good, then double dip them in egg, milk...dredge in flour. Fry until golden and use LOTS of salt and pepper! And then you still might be like me...I don't like them! heeheehee!

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  5. I do like friend green tomatoes, but they have to be thin and crispy. I think Diane has the right idea on how to cook them. I have never made them myself.

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  6. I thought everyone loved fried green tomatoes!! :) Yes, we like them. I haven't had any in years. I've not heard, until now, about dipping them in buttermilk. I've got to try it. I always thought the secret was pepper. It still surprises me that they have a "tangy" taste, but always thought it was part of the treat. (I don't know how else to describe it.)

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  7. I have never had fried green tomatoes. They look good but then anything fried looks good. Our daughter made them yesterday and the picture looked like yours. She said they were good. I should find the recipe to see how the batter is made. Even though I don't have any large green tomatoes. (only green cherry ones). The weather forecast is depressing. For us too. I hope the leaves don't fall off before they peak.

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  8. Ha ha - my husband would say "don't go out of your way to make these again". I've never made them. The garage is progressing nicely. Hope the rain doesn't break the flow of work. Thanks for sharing. ~ Abby

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  9. I love fried green maters! Even my husband who is a non-mater fan loves them! Have a great weekend! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  10. I DON'T like fried green tomatoes. I like BLT's. I agree with your husband!

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  11. Too bad we didn't live closer. John and Ken could help each other out!!

    I've never had fried green tomatoes and probably never will. Just doesn't sound that good to me.

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  12. John is sure working hard these days. The garage is looking great. Hope he doesn't spend the next four days pacing the floors until the rain stops.
    I've had fried green tomatoes but they didn't leave much of an impression either way. Not enough to try making them.

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  13. I never ate a fried green tomato. I think some people coat them with cornmeal, not sure. It's raining here, we are getting some downpours, then it slacks off. Oh well, inside stuff will/should get done by me! xo

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  14. My Jersey raised neighbor got me hooked on FGT back when I was a kid. She dipped quarter inch slices into milk/egg/salt pepper, fried in butter them made a milk gravy from the bits left in the pan. Think cream of tangy cream of tomato soup taste.

    I was very surprised to find the southern version was a corn meal fried in oil thing...bleech.

    Green tomatoes that are just ready to blush are great added to stews btw. Adds a bit of tang and texture.

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  15. I enjoyed the book! LOL
    Beautiful weather here (west of Ottawa Ontario). The leaves are only now beginning to change.
    Have a terrific weekend.

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  16. We both must have had fried green tomatoes on our mind - they were the topic of my gardening column this week. My family only sliced and fried in the pan with a bit of oil but they are traditionally breaded - who needs the extra calories!
    I also gave the recipe for an apple and green tomato pie that you can find by Renee at Renee's Seeds.
    Judith

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  17. I like fried green tomatoes, but I wouldn't want them very often.

    Like the bumper sticker! I must say that I haven't seen many political ads or stickers in my area except for the local election. Not sure what that means.

    The garage is looking good. Love the nice, large storage area inside.

    Have a nice weekend!

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  18. FRIED Green Tomatoes?

    Do you even have to ask me, if we eat them? -chuckle- FRIED!<--Evil word!

    Re: How to Publish my post at a certain time/day... I know how.... I did it... It did NOT work.

    I had to copy my (then old) post and write it again, and Publish it, on the proper day. Yesterday, late.

    Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

    "Auntie"

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  19. Vee,
    I thought about making them this year, but didn't. What the point of that last statement was, I don't know.
    I do love your verbage. It never fails to delight.

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  20. I was chuckling as I read this and envisioning you in your hard hat as the squirrels were pelting acorns at you. I hope it doesn't really come to that ;-).
    I do believe the good Lord knows that John is due a rest from all of his hard work.
    I've tried FGTs once since moving to the south. That was 13 years ago, so I guess you know how I feel about them. Haven't figured out the attraction. Same with grits, but I do looove those soft Southern biscuits.

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  21. I love fried green tomatoes. They might just be an acquired taste because they're a bit tangy, that's why slicing them thin is a good idea. I've had them several different ways, cornmeal or flour and they're both good. Just like grits, if you say don't like them it's only because you haven't had them cooked right. And no, I don't cook fried green tomatoes, I leave that up to the professionals. HA!

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  22. Oh yes, Dear has been keeping his eye on the rain forecast around here, too. He's hoping to get enough done so he can put the rain gutters back up. I think I had a fried green tomato appetizer when Katie and I were in South Carolina but I honestly can't remember if I liked it or not...

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  23. Why are the squirrels throwing nuts at you? haha, your funny!
    I have never had a fried green tomato. I did like the movie though.

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  24. Well, sorry you didn't like them! Maybe it's just an acquired taste from us Southerners--like fried okra which most Southerners love too! I do know that Southern Living magazine has a recipe where they put grated parmesan cheese in with the coating--We use the fishfry cornmeal type coating and fry them in oil in a hot iron skillet! My mom would mix a little flour and cornmeal for green tomatoes and okra. Cooking okra in an iron skillet causes it to turn blackish --it will stay green if fried in a stainless steel skillet. So Vee, do you dislike okra too? Now, I do have some Vermont ancestors, but my culinary tastes are definitely southern! My mom always eschewed the "slick, white bread" dressing/stuffing of northerners. She always dried some white bread in the oven, and mixed it with dried out cornbread for her dressing. With the Thanksgiving holiday right over the horizon, perhaps some shared dressing recipes and comparisons would be fun! Yankee dressing vs Rebel dressing! lol

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  25. No green tomato eaters here...

    John deserves a day off - good thing it rained.

    Is the photo at the bottom of your blog, from the cemetery the boys ride bikes in? It is beautiful! What a lovely photo!

    Deanna

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  26. So glad your daughter is working for the "right" candidate! Good for her for getting involved! I have never had fried green tomatoes, so I wouldn't have a clue about the right way to make them, but I have heard they are very good and my daughter really enjoyed reading the book. Enjoy your weekend.

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  27. I have never eaten a fried green tomato. Something about that name does not appeal, although so many people like them that I occasionally wonder what I'm missing. According to you and John, not much.

    So the rain will give John a little rest from his labors. Hopefully, as soon as he is rested, the skies will clear, the sun will shine, and he'll be ready to tackle that project again. He is doing such a fine job! I know you're excited!

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  28. I love fried green tomatoes and they're really simple to make. Slice them about 1/2-inch thick and sprinkle with salt. Let them sit about 10 minutes. Have three containers ready--#1 flour with a dash of cayenne pepper, #2 egg and 1/2 cup of buttermilk, and #3 cornmeal (or if you like, panko bread crumbs, but cornmeal is the southern favorite). Fry in an iron skillet with about 3 T vegetable or olive oil on medium heat. I like to make a fried green tomato, (veggie) bacon, lettuce sandwich. We're chilly, but haven't had rain in almost 2 monts. Enjoy your weekend. XOXO

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  29. Honey, I live in the South and fried green tomatoes are a staple here in the summer time! Maybe it is an acquired taste. As for my day, I will be sitting quietly learning some new beading techniques. I hope you enjoy a cozy rainy day!

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  30. God bless your daughter for her volunteer work (may the BEST man win this time, LOL) and your sweetie for his hard labor! No, I've never liked fried green tomatoes. Jim fixed them for me once. Notice I said "once." And I adore anything fried, LOL. At least I thought I did. I took a bite of some at a restaurant too, just to make sure that I remembered the yucky taste. I remembered correctly!

    I saw that graphic the other day and jumped for joy when I saw it, along with the various colors. I saved them all on my hard drive. I would love to print some out to make seasonal pillows. Someday, that is - LOL!

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  31. I love your fried green tomatoes dialogue! Made me laugh :-) I have never had them!

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  32. I see my question was answered when I saw you do have a room above the garage space! Nice!

    Someone I know that owns a home in Pennsylvania told me the acorns fell very early this year which is the sign for a severe winter ahead. I hope they are wrong! I can't sell my house during a blizzard...lol

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  33. OK, I answered my own question - I see you have a nice storage space over your garage. I want one.

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  34. Sorry you all didn't like them. They always look tasty to me. So far my green tomatoes have turned red. I think I have at least another week or two of good weather before I have to pull all of my tomato plants.

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