Fried Green Tomatoes

Dry mixture: 2 1/2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups fine corn meal
1/4 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper salt and pepper
Wet mixture: 1 large egg 1c.buttermilk
1 tsp baking powder 5 tsp baking soda
Cut 4-6 large green tomatoes @1/4 - 1/2 inch thick
Dip in wet mixture then in dry. Hold on wire rack (up to half an hour is okay)
Fry in 350 degree vegetable oil til nicely brown and crisp ... turn once.
Drain oil on brown paper bag. Serve immediately.
Serve with any chutney, pickled watermelon rind (yum!), or sweet and sour sauce.
Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange sauce is the best!!!
Despite what the movie shows, these really do not travel at all!

Rachel Ray's Shalotta Spaghetti

1/4c EV Olive Oil
10 shallots, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt and pepper
1 pound whole wheat pasta
1 c. grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
1/3 c flat leaf parsley

Heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook 20 mins stirring occasionally until soft and golden.
Meanwhile bring large pot of water to boil, salt it, add spaghetti, cook al dente. Don't drain yet! Pour 3 scant ladlesful of pasta cooking water into cooked shallots and stir.
Now drain pasta, and add to shallot mixture.Add cheese and parsley, season with pepper and toss.
Serve with arugula salad! Yummy!

Improv Chicken Tagine

For Christmas this year lovely brother-in-law Matt got me an awesome enameled cast iron dutch oven - something I've been wanting for a good long time. I broke it in with this dish, thrown together from whatever I had in the house. Turned out quite nice so I thought I'd share it here. It's not a formal recipe really, and I'm sure could use your own tweaks. Enjoy!

arrange 4-5 drumsticks in bottom of dutch oven

rough chop 3-4 small parsnips and a small handful
of dried apricots into bite-size pieces - add to pot

cut a "ring" of onions from a large sweet onion -
separate rings and arrange over the top

cut 3-4 round lemon slices and arrange over the top

whisk together:
1/2 cup veggie or chicken stock
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup warm water
splash of wine (opt)
squirt of lemon juice
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp cinnamon
dash of cayenne
dash of oregano
pinch of salt
(spices can be adjusted up for more flavor)

pour liquid over meat and veggies.

cover and bake at 325 for 2 hours or until
chicken is tender.

serve or save!