You know you might be in Texas if you have cheese burgers with fried okra and fried green tomatoes instead of french fries. That was dinner for us tonight. We are still getting okra, squash, and tomatoes from the garden and will until it freezes.
Fried green tomatoes and fried okra
Green tomatoes sliced thin and/or okra cut to 1/2 inch pieces
1 egg white + 2 tablespoons water
1 cup corn meal and 4 tablespoons season salt or Cajun spice
Dip tomatoes and/or okra in egg wash. Dredge okra and/or tomato slices in corn meal/season salt. Fry until golden brown.
I was taught to cook southern fried foods as soon as I was tall enough to see over the stove top. The dishes include chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken, okra, tomatoes, and fish. I was also taught to make pickles from cucumbers, okra, green tomatoes, and watermelon rind. Later I decided that almost anything can be a pickle so we have pickled carrots and green beans. Later I learned to make homemade bread. All of this cooking and baking was taught at the elbow of one of my grandparents. Margaret taught the frying and pickling, Bill taught the bread baking, and Rhodella taught me never to be afraid of trying new things (thus the weird pickles). They have been gone for a number of years, but every time I cook these old favorites, I feel close to them again.
Letting the garden grow
12 hours ago
I see a new cookbook on the horizon. The many ways to make pickles!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Yum, sounds good! I wish I had been taught how to cook when I was younger, I've been working with my kids. Son is excited that he can cook pancakes now.
ReplyDeleteOhhh I love pickles! Being born and raised up north I'm not familiar with okra...I don't even think I know what it looks like. But if its a veggie I'm sure I would love it!
ReplyDeletefor inadvertent farmer: In high school, a new girl moved here (TX) from "up north". We all went to eat Mexican food, and when her plate of enchiladas came, she said "how funny they would put a slice of okra on top". We sad quiet as church mice as she bit into what she thought was a slice of okra (really jalapeno); then we burst into laughter as her face lit up and she grabbed for water. We handed her crackers, knowing the water wouldn't help a bit, but the crackers would absorb the scorching heat!
ReplyDeleteNola, you bad bad girl. Too funny. I sent a bottle of After Burner hot sauce with Manly Man to work tonight where there were plenty of victims. Maybe we need to do a joint post on remedies to hot stuff overdoses.
ReplyDeleteHI brenda, If I actually did a real recipe with measurments and all maybe I could write a book. I just throw a bunch of stuff together the way they taught me.
ReplyDeleteCinj, do it with your kiddos great bonding stuff.
Inadvertent gardener, there is a picture a couple of posts ago. We eat it fried and pickled and it is a key ingredient in gumbo. Don't let nola feed you anything green or red that is elongated. It might burn.
Fried okra!! Yum-Yum!!! Sounds like you have some really good cooking memories--I think that is very special!
ReplyDeleteIt is yummy Linda, and so are the memories.
ReplyDeleteDebbi- your post makes my mouth water! Wish we'd been at your house tonight for dinner - it sounds yummy. And I loved the memories you shared of the loved ones who taught you to cook. Interesting, as today is the Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos. I made my grandmother's soup recipe and Mom and Dad came to eat and I made an altar with photos of the family members and animals who are no longer with us. Looks like you celebrated the day with your post, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your legacy with us. We both also have such memories and appreciate your warming post.
ReplyDeleteOh... we're also fans of fried tomatoes and okra up here in Seattle. ;)
Diana, odd that I posted on my grandparents on this day. Odd, but good. Thanks for reminding me to honor our dead.
ReplyDeleteShibabuyz, Hugs and fried stuff coming right atcha.
Really nice post Aunt Debbi. I love this site. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks foxy.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - glad to see there's someone else from the 'throw it all together til it looks right' school of cooking. I reckon it stems from learning at grandma's elbow don't you?
ReplyDeletevp, After thinking about it a little, my grandparents cooked what came out of the garden each day. That is pretty much what happened at my house last night. okra and tomatoes were there and that is what we ate. tonight it will be zucchini and maybe radishes.
ReplyDeleteWe do, they just love learning how to cook. They've even started making breakfast for everyone sometimes without being asked. It's a great time. Peanut was upset that I made the rice krispie bars for her class without her, but there was a good reason behind the decision.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little every meal had at least one fried food--often two. My mom loved okra. I never appreciated it until I had fresh okra--I can say the same about most veggies since while growing up I assumed veggies grew in cans. This year I had 6 quarts of green Sungolds--too little to fry--so I made green tomato jam and smiled during the whole process thinking about my grandmother who loved this jam.
ReplyDelete--Curmudgeon
What a lovely legacy to pass down to your family. I love fried okra, it's a real southern treat.
ReplyDeleteCurmudgeon, That jam sounds good. When I have to pick the green tomatoes when we finally freeze, you maybe hearing from me.
ReplyDeleteracquel, thanks okra is pretty much our hands down favorite.