Fried Green Tomatoes

I picked my first tomatoes out of my garden last week~! And when I say picked, I mean they kinda fell off the vine into my hands. Probably because I was sooo excited that they were doing so well, and I probably fondled them a bit too much. At any rate, I had these great green tomatoes so, we made Fried Green Tomatoes. And they turned out super yum!

Ingredients:

3 medium, firm green tomatoes, sliced

1/2 c all-purpose flour

1/4 c milk

2 beaten eggs

2/3 c cornmeal

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

olive oil

Sprinkle tomato slices with salt and pepper. Let stand for 15 min. Place flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.

Now, heat up your olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for about 5 min. on each side or until brown.

What the pho?!

A friend of mine just turned me on to an amazing Vietnamese beef noodle soup...Pho! It is delish...pho sho~! I ate it for lunch at my friend's house and then I served it again for dinner. The same day. It MORE than fills you up. And if you make this, you'll be in awe that I could eat it twice in one day, as filling as it is. Here's what's in it. There's really not that much to it...and best of all...it's a very inexpensive, great tasting meal!

Ingredients:

• 6 c. beef bouillon
• 1/8 c. minced scallions
• a splash of rice vinegar
• 1/4 c. fish sauce
• 1/4 c fresh springs washed and chopped cilantro
• (If you eat meat, you can add flank steak, chicken, or shrimp to this soup too!)

Add:

• chili sauce (add depending on your tastes)
• soy sauce (add depending on your tastes)

Finish with:

• rice stick noodles (boil water in a separate pan than the other ingredients...and then toss in your noodles for 30 seconds only, drain, and pour your soup over them in a bowl)

Serve with:

• lime wedges

Also, for the first time ever, I have started my own little potted garden on my patio. Things are JUST starting to grow, but I'm really, really excited about it!

tomatoes

chili peppers

cilantro

In jewelry news, I am working on more new pieces that feature that amazing vintage brass chain that I got in. I'm designing some new necklaces with it. (Stay tuned for those.) And I just added some new designs with shell and copper. I love the earthy tones of copper. These earrings are modern and chic. I love them!