Meatless Monday

A good friend recently recommended theme nights to help with meal planning. At first thought, it seemed like a lot of work, but let me tell you, after implementing it for a few weeks, its fantastic and saves me planning time, grocery shopping time and money. The kids look forward to certain meals and have gotten creative with their ideas on variations of the themes.

Here's a great idea sheet for theme nights from Halsa Nutrition. 

So tonight is Meatless Monday, which may sound healthy and it very well could be but tonight we're having Fried Green Tomatoes with a side salad (that's the healthy part;) Fried Green Tomatoes are my absolute comfort food and I'm always surprised to hear that many people have never made them. They're super simple and super satisfying. The Fredericksburg Farmers Market still had a lovely selection of perfectly green tomatoes on Saturday. So grab them while you can!

 My best tip with making these: slice your tomatoes, sprinkle with a little salt and lie them on a few paper towels, flip them after about 5 minutes. This is going to release the excess moisture from the tomatoes and ensure you'll get that good crisp once you begin frying.

 Fried Green Tomatoes

4 Green Tomatoes, be sure they haven't started to turn pink/red

3/4 c. self rising flour

1 c. Panko Bread Crumbs

1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

1/4 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. garlic powder

4 eggs

3/4 c. buttermilk or regular milk

Salt & Black pepper

In a cast iron skillet, heat 1/4" canola or peanut oil to 350. Place flour, Panko and spices in a baking dish and mix together. In a separate bowl whisk eggs and milk together until well combined. Give the tomatoes a quick dredge through the flour mixture then the eggs and then back through the flour mixture. 

Add a few tomatoes to the hot oil at a time, fry until crispy and golden brown, flip and do the same on the other side. Remove from pan and place on brown paper bags, sprinkle with additional salt.