We went to the expert for this fried green tomato recipe— Robert Lorino of The Irondale Cafe in Irondale, Ala. It's the restaurant that Fannie Flagg based her award-winning novel and movie "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." To prepare them like Idgie and Ruth would have Lorino recommends that "you want a hard, green tomato that has not yet begun to turn." In other words, you need to use it when it's dark green and hasn't begun to change to a whitish-green color yet. Read on to really get cooking!
Fried Green Tomatoes
2 medium green tomatoes, chilled
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup hot bacon drippings
Cut tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices.
Stir together mustard and next 5 ingredients. Spread on both sides of tomato slices. Coat with cornmeal.
Fry tomatoes in hot drippings in a skillet over medium heat 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Drain.
Yield: 4 servings
Learn more about the Irondale Cafe and Fried Green Tomatoes at http://www.irondalecafe.com/.