When I was 10, the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was released.  The young actress, who played Idgie Throughgood, in the movies was about my age, and we looked exactly alike.  For one solid year; I was a fake movie star. We had the same color hair, rebellious personality, tomboy mentality and hairy legs.

Until my adulthood, I thought Fried Green Tomatoes was just a movie.  Now I know it’s a wonderful asset to any meal as a side dish, an appetizer, an addition to a sandwich or  a salad topper.  Right now is the season since all of our tomato plants are starting to ease off and we have the extra green ones that just won’t turn! Tonight, in honor of our own appetizer week, we have made it a wonderful first course. Add a little homemade mustard sauce and voila!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Serves 4

Total Price $0.79

Total Price per Person $0.20

Average Retail Price $3.61

Total Savings- $2.82

Tomatoes-

2 green tomatoes (Garden- FREE Average Retail $2.99/lb)

2 tsp olive oil (Costco $9.99/ 64oz Average Retail $4.99/16oz)

1 cup of flour (Publix BOGO $1.99/2)

¼ cup panko bread crumbs (Super H $.100 off from Average Retail $3.99)

pinch of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, mustard powder, cayenne pepper and powdered sugar (BIG LOTS)

1 egg (Costco 36 eggs for $1.18 $0.06/egg Average Retail $2.99/12 $0.25each)

¼ cup milk (Costco $1.89/gallon Average Retail $3.49/gallon)

Sauce-

2 tbsp Spicy Mustard (BOGO Heinz at Publix $1.99/2)

1 tbsp Mayonnaise (Publix Buy one Get one Free $3.99/2 Average retail $3.99/1)

1tsp lemon juice (Super H 5 lemons/ $0.99 Average Retail $2/$0.99)

1tsp milk (Costco $1.89/gallon Average Retail $3.49/gallon)

dash of worscershire

pinch of paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder (BIG LOTS)

1. Mix spicy mustard, mayonnaise, lemon juice, milk, worscershire, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into a bowl and set aside. This is the sauce, and feel free to spice it up however you want.
2. Cut Green Tomato’s into thick slices (1/2 inch) and drizzle with olive oil.
3. In a large Ziploc bag add ½ cup flour, and salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, mustard powder, and cayenne pepper.
4. Place tomato slices into the bag and shake until evenly covered.
5. Mix egg and milk in a bowl.
6. Mix the remaining ½ cup flour and panko bread crumbs in a plate.
7. Heat ½ cup of oil in a sauté pan on med-high heat.
8. Dip each tomato slice into the egg and milk mixture and then coat in the flour and panko mixture before placing into the sauté pan.
9. Repeat with each slice and place tomato slices 1 inch apart.
10. Flip tomato slices so they are evenly browned. (Roughly 2 mins per side.)
11. Remove from pan and serve hot with the sauce mixture drizzled on the top or served on the side.  Goes great with a bit of fresh chives.