Fried Cauliflower

I don't set the best example of a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. I'm a picky eater, and there's only a handful of either fruits or vegetables that I'm willing to eat. Because of this, I'm always on the lookout for new ways to prepare those items that I am willing to eat. Enter Dr. Ola's Kitchen's Extra Crispy Fried Cauliflower. This recipe was rather tasty and fairly simple to prepare. I do believe I will add more salt and pepper and I'm going to have to think of an herb or spice to add to it the next time I make it.

1 medium sized Cauliflower
1/2 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
Salt and pepper according to taste (or use your favorite spices)
Oil for deep frying

Cut up cauliflower into florets, and cook them in water for five minutes; drain well.

Combine cornmeal, flour, eggs, milk, salt and pepper in one bowl and mix well. Batter should be slightly thin, but not runny.

Place breadcrumbs in a separate bowl. Dip each piece of cauliflower first into the batter and coat complete and then into the breadcrumbs ensuring all sides are covered.

Cook in hot oil until golden brown. Serve!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Southerners are all about frying food... meats, vegetables, desserts. Nothing is sacred when it comes to Southerners and frying. And what could be more Southern than fried green tomatoes? I don't much like tomatoes actually. They're soft and full of seeds, and they kind of gross me out. I love all sorts of tomato products though - salsa, marinara, ketchup. A fried green tomato though is pure genius. So much flavor. I've talked to people who used flour. Some use only cornmeal. I've played with mine over the years and this is how I decided was best to make them.

Green tomatoes
salt
pepper
milk
eggs
flour
cornmeal

Slice the tomatoes thinly. Lightly salt and pepper both sides of the tomato slices. Prepare an egg bath. I used three eggs and a dash of milk (probably a tablespoon or two). Whisk until blended.

Put your bowls in order of dipping toward the skillet - flour, egg wash, cornmeal.

Take each slice and dredge both sides through the flour; submerge the tomato slice in the egg wash; then liberally coat it with the cornmeal on both sides.

I fry my tomato slices in olive oil. Cook until golden on both sides.