Fried Green Tomatoes & Pulled Pork ...inspired by Fried Green Tomatoes for Food 'n Flix

Fried Green Tomatoes is one of those movies I pull out and watch about once every couple of years. Evelyn Couch is a woman who gets no respect- from others or herself.  By chance she meets Ninny Threadgood at a nursing home when she and her husband go to visit his grouchy old aunt.  Ninny regales Evelyn with tales of strong women, full-lived lives, great endeavors of love, and the mouthwatering food that went hand-in-hand.  Some parts make me laugh...some tug tears from my eyes...and some just plain make me hungry.  Ruth and Idgie run The Whistlestop Café with Big George on hog duty.  Most days the smell of barbecue drifts from the back, luring folks in this lazy Alabama town in to eat some lunch or some supper.  Evelyn learns confidence and strength from Ninny's tales...changing who she is (for the better) as a person.  "Face it girls.  I'm older and I've got more insurance."  ha ha ha...

Listening to old Ninny Threadgood's lively stories of Idgie and Ruth's adventures as she relates them to Evelyn never fails to make me want to go barefoot, charm bees, and eat some good Southern food.  Some days, I just need to yell.... TOWANDA!

"Funny what you miss when you're away from home.  I miss the smell of coffee...and bacon fryin'.  Oh, what I wouldn't give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the café."  ~Ninny Threadgood to Evelyn

Fried Green Tomatoes

adapted from/inspired by Bo's Bowl

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green tomatoes (unripe), sliced ~⅓" thick

flour

salt, pepper, seasonings (as you wish)

eggs

panko bread crumbs

oil, for frying

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I rarely measure ingredients out when using the standard breading procedure (flour, egg wash, bread crumbs)...so, please click on the link to Bo's Bowl for more precise instructions, if you like.

Basically, slice up as many green tomatoes as you need.  Season up some flour with salt and pepper...add other seasonings, if you wish (this is gonna add flavor to the finished dish...I always season my flour).  Put all of that in one wide, shallow dish.  Beat up some eggs and put those in another dish.  Add bread crumbs to a third dish.  Heat up about an inch of oil until it is shimmering.  Bread your tomatoes by dredging them in the seasoned flour and shaking off any excess, then dipping in egg, then into the bread crumbs to coat.  Carefully slide them into the hot oil until golden on both sides (flip, if needed).  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate while you cook up the rest.

Serve as is or with a dipping sauce.  I used a Spicy Ranch like Bo suggested...although I didn't realize I was out of Sriracha until I was already making them.  So I just spiced it up with some Tabasco.  So tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.  I loves me some Fried Green Tomatoes!

Pulled Pork w/ Vinegar Barbecue Sauce
(Carolina-Style BBQ ...in the slow-cooker)

adapted from Patricia Wells
yield ~8 svgs

pork
~2 lbs. boneless pork butt, cut into large chunks
¼ c. cider vinegar
1 Tbs. brown sugar
½ Tbs. sea salt
couple big pinches crushed red chile flakes

vinegar-barbecue sauce
1½ c. cider vinegar
⅓ c. brown sugar
¼ c. ketchup
1 Tbs. hot sauce
½ tsp. sea salt
freshly ground pepper
½ tsp. worcestershire sauce

Combine all of the pork ingredients in a slow-cooker.  Cook on high for ~5 hours or low for ~10 hours.  Drain off most of liquid and pull the meat apart with two forks.

While pork is cooking, make sauce.  Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Let cool and refrigerate until ready to use.

Add sauce to pulled meat in slow cooker and continue to cook for another hour or two.  Pile on buns, rolls, or bread (drizzle with more of the sauce in the pot) and serve with Fried Green Tomatoes!

This dish clears your sinuses and packs a punch!  Plus, it freezes well.

Fried Green Tomatoes was chosen by Glennis of Can't Believe We Ate, who is the Food 'n Flix host this month.  It's not too late to join in!  Click HERE for details

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