grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Baked Green Bean Fries!

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Baked Green Bean FriesI bought fresh green beans at Fayetteville Farmer’s Market last weekend and decided to try my hand at green bean fries. Have you tried the green bean fries that are all the rage at restaurants? Breaded, deep-fried and dipped in some sort of yummy, rich, ranch-like dressing. They’re delicious because, hello, they are fried. My tasty baked green bean fries can be served as an appetizer or as a side dish. Guilt-free, people.Continue Reading

Fried Green Tomato Recipe. Yes!

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The BEST Fried Green Tomato Recipe

The fried green tomato recipe did not originate in the South. Crazy, huh? We all know necessity is the mother of invention, and if you think about it, this makes sense. Down south while we leisurely enjoyed juicy red tomato sandwiches with no thought of winter, our northern friends were in an all out panic trying to use unripe tomatoes before the first freeze.

They outdid themselves.

But let’s be real. Southerners embraced the fried green tomato. And now we claim it as our own.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Since I was planning to be out of town when my tomatoes ripened, I fried a couple of green ones. After reading several recipes on the Food Network and Allrecipes, I  came up with this version. The best I’ve ever eaten! You’re gonna want to try this today.

how to make fried green tomatoes - the best you'll ever eat.

Fried Green Tomatoes.

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Oil
  • 2 medium sized green tomatoes cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 3/4 cups Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
  • Pinch cayenne pepper
  • Parmesan Reggianno
  • Chopped Green Onions

Instructions
 

  • Pour oil in skillet and warm to medium heat. (About a half inch of oil.)
  • Lightly salt and pepper both sides of tomatoes.
  • Mix flour and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
  • In another shallow dish, beat eggs with buttermilk.
  • In a third dish, combine bread crumbs with cayenne.
  • Dredge tomatoes through the flour, then the eggs, and then the bread crumbs.
  • When oil is hot, add a few pieces at a time. Don't crowd them. Cook about 2-3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with Parmesan and chopped green onions (optional).
  • Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, but they don't really need anything else...

The best fried green tomato recipe. Ever.

Oh yes.

Happy eating!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing: (not really)

Spicy Baked Okra

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spicy baked okraI was raised on fried okra (and fried potatoes and fried eggplant), but I rarely fry anything these days. Sad, I know. I have my reasons and I’m sure you can figure them out. Even without the deep fried part of the equation, okra is delicious prepared lots of other ways—roasted, pickled, grilled, etc.

Last week I baked a more slender version of fried. Crunchy. Spicy. Satisfying. This dish serves as a soulful side or southern appetizer dipped in barbecue sauce or homemade ranch dressing.

And did you know okra comes from the mallow plant family—same as cotton? No wonder I love it so.

Spicy Baked Okra

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups okra cut into one-inch pieces
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1-2 Tablespoons corn meal
  • Cayenne to taste
  • Sea Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste
  • Parmesan Reggiano optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Place okra in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Stir.
  • In a separate small bowl, mix together corn meal, cayenne, black pepper and salt. Sprinkle corn meal over okra and toss.
  • Spread on cookie sheet at roast until brown and crispy, stirring once, approximately 15 minutes. (oven times vary)
  • Serve with freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano if desired.

spicy baked okra

 

Grace Grits and Gardening

P.S. Of course okra has health benefits galore.

okra

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

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