Wednesday 1 October 2008

I got soul but I'm not a soldier

I've noticed that a lot of my fellow bloggers react with sadness and pity when I confess to not having tried things. And the most pity comes when I admit to not having tried various classics of Southern soul food.

I haven't tried collard greens, grits (although I am a polenta fan), biscuits, country-fried steak, hushpuppies, peas & dumplins or red velvet cake.

But as of today I can hold my head high and say I have had fried green tomatoes cooked in bacon grease. What's more, they were homegrown tomatoes, the bacon was home-cured and it was all delicious.

I used panko breadcrumbs because I didn't have any cornmeal, but apparently that is an acceptable variation.

Now that I have started on this journey, my only problem is deciding what to try next.

12 comments:

Darius T. Williams said...

You need real southern macaroni & cheese - green beans & white potatoes - cornbread dressing - and smothered chicken. LOL! I love all things southern - well, not all things - but most things!

You fried that tomato in panko? Really? Hmmm - I wonder. Next time - try a cajun seasoning or old bay with a little salt on the veggie before you fry it. I'd coat it in buttermilk or egg first before dredging - but still yours looks good.

-DTW
www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

alexandra's kitchen said...

I love fried green tomatoes! and I had to love them last summer when my tomato plant produced only green tomatoes. we ate them for about a month straight. panko is a great idea.

Laura Paterson said...

Oh - now I feel bad - I've never had fried green tomatoes. Though I have eaten soul food in Harlem, was fabulous!

kat said...

Green fried tomatoes are such a treat & I say that as a Northern girl

Sam said...

I can't say I've ever tried these but green tomato chutney, now that's delicious!

Esi said...

I say go with red velvet cake next.

Marie said...

Collard greens would be an easy and fairly uncomplicated dish to knock off your list (although prepping the greens is a bit of a production)! I like them with bacon and garlic.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Darius - thanks for the ideas! I will come knocking for recipes. I don't know what smothered chicken is! I coated the tomatoes in egg before I tossed them in panko, but the egg didn't stick to the uncut bits.

Ali - that is exactly why I was doing them! Frost is coming and those tomatoes just aren't going to ripen.

Kittie - if you have eaten soul food in Harlem you win!

Kat - I agree with you, they are a treat! I will definitely have them again.

Sam - I didn't have enough to make chutney, although I did think about it.

Esi - what does red velvet cake actually taste of? I associate it with the bleeding armadillo cake in Steel Magnolias

Marie - I've never even seen collard greens. They are like cabbage, aren't they?

Deb in Hawaii said...

Love fried green tomatoes and your home cured bacon keeps making me drool!

Marie said...

Collard greens are sort of like a darker, heartier cabbage, but more like leafy stalks than round heads. Don't know how much that helps! :P

Natalie Que said...

Wow, you've been BUSY! This is hilarious. I hope you didn't feel bad, I haven't tried most, okay, SOME, of those things either. I haven't tried these, but they look great! And I love the movie!

puppymomma said...

I totally cracked up when you described how we are so ashamed when we confess to not having tried things - so true! I think I've done that a number of times.

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