RED RIPE FRIED TOMATO RECIPE

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week the temperatures here were in the 70's and low 80's. Record breaking for the date. Today we're in the midst of an intense winter snowstorm with temps in the 20's. Now is that extreme, or what? Anyway, you may ask what that has to do with a recipe for fried tomatoes Well...during those brief summer like temps spring fever caught me in its grip. We busied ourselves in the backyard cutting back the tall sea grasses and clearing debris from flower, herb and veggie patches. My thoughts flew to planning for the new season. After all it felt like summer was here. Part of that planning was deciding how many tomato plants to put in this year. Since there are only the two of us I wondered if we really need the six stalks we generally grow. Somehow that led me to thinking of all the uses tomatoes provide for us during the summer month. That brought one of my favorite summer dishes to mind. Fried tomatoes. Now I know a lot of folks, esp. in the south, love their "green" fried tomatoes. However, here in Pennsylvania Dutch country where I grew up many of us prefer our tomatoes red ripe to fry. So I got to thinking that perhaps this might be a good time to post my recipe for this delightful dish. It is such a simple dish to prepare, yet so flavorful and delicious.

FRIED TOMATOES - RED RIPE

Fresh ripe tomatoes (about three med., cut into slices a little thicker then you would for a sandwich)
1 cup of Flour
Cooking oil (just enough to cover entire bottom of skillet)
One half teaspoon salt
Dash of black pepper

Add salt and pepper to flour and mix. Generously coat tomato slices on both sides with the flour mixture. Place tomato slices in hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides. Do not crowd. Turn each slice only once.

*Keep oil hot but USE CAUTION NOT TO ALLOW OIL TO OVERHEAT.

This will serve about two people.
We enjoy eating our fried tomatoes with a slice of bread and/or with potatoes cooked in salted water as a side dish.



Enjoy this delectable dish.