Saturday, June 13, 2009

Vegetable Gardens Are Very "In Vogue"

Have you planted your vegetable garden yet?
Growing lettuce, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, hot, red, green and butter peppers, and cherry tomatoes are easy and quick to grow and will save on your grocery bill all summer long.
Lettuce will start growing in the early Spring, and on into the Fall and early winter. After harvesting your lettuce, soak it in cold salt water, then rinse. Dry the lettuce thoroughly and place in large Zip lock plastic bags with paper towels layered throughout. Replace wet paper towels with new, dry paper towels as you use up the vegetable. This will keep the lettuce (and most other vegetables and some fruit) longer. I also use paper towels with onions, grapes, carrots, and mushrooms.
Butter peppers go well with tuna fish for lunch. Save your bacon grease all year long for Fried Green Tomatoes. Melons are good for breakfast and go well with prosciutto ham for a healthy hors-d'oeuvre. Tomatoes are good any time loosely chopped with a dollop of mayonnaise on top and fresh ground pepper. Enjoy!

Recipe for: Fried Green Tomatoes

1 Medium green tomato (per person)
2 eggs, beaten
White Cornmeal
Bacon grease drippings
kosher salt
fresh ground pepper

Slice tomatoes 1/4 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper. Dip in eggs, then in cornmeal. Season again with salt and pepper. In large iron skillet, heat up enough bacon grease to cover bottom of pan. Fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sides. Dry on paper towels until warm, then eat and enjoy!