grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Radicchio stuffed with Goat Cheese & Walnuts

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Radicchio stuffed with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

If you’re looking for a fancy-ish salad for Easter or any special gathering, try radicchio stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts. The combination of sweet and salty pairs well with most any protein. These radicchio salads can be eaten the traditional way (with knife and fork), or the naturally cupping radicchio leaves can be wrapped and eaten as a finger food or appetizer (i.e. lettuce wrap).

This recipe calls for both goat cheese and balsamic vinegar—two staples in my house. My favorite goat cheese comes from White River Creamery in Elkins, Arkansas. If you live in Northwest Arkansas, find it HERE.

Also, I highly recommend De Nigris 1889 balsamic vinegar. The 1889 in the label refers to the year Armando de Nigris founded the first vinegar works in Naples, Italy. The rich, flavorful vinegar will take your dish up a notch.  Find De Nigris EVERYWHERE.Continue Reading

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 Method

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

Method
 

  1. Pour oil in skillet and warm to medium heat. (About a half inch of oil.)
  2. Lightly salt and pepper both sides of tomatoes.
  3. Mix flour and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
  4. In another shallow dish, beat eggs with buttermilk.
  5. In a third dish, combine bread crumbs with cayenne.
  6. Dredge tomatoes through the flour, then the eggs, and then the bread crumbs.
  7. 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).
  8. 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)

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!