I'm on a Diet: Green Tomato Bread

Y'all, I'm on a diet. But not the kind you're thinking of. There are no rice cakes in the house, no point counting, no low-calorie frozen meals.  Instead, I'm on a good food diet.  Since I'm also on a budget, I try to use what I've got without wasting.

This week, here's what I've got:

Yeah, it's a boat load of tomatoes. We had a freeze last Friday night, so that morning, we picked the last of the tomatoes. Many more than I'd ever thought possible.

And while I love fried green tomatoes, I think it's safe to say that even the best good food diet doesn't include one hundred of them in a week unless you're training for upcoming food-binge contest.

So I've searched the webs for ideas, and the first I thought I'd try is green tomato bread.  Think of it as zucchini bread except with 'maters.

It's actually quite delicious, despite being kind of a sickly green color when I popped the batter in the oven.  The top crust is crispy and really satisfying while the inside is moist, a little tart, and not super tomato-y at all. Plus, I have this smug feeling right now since my dessert actually contained a vegetable, I mean, fruit.

Green Tomato Bread

 inspired by Cooking With Michele

1/2 c butter, melted

2 c pureed green tomato, drained

3 eggs

2 c sugar (can be reduced if desired)

1 c plain yogurt

1 or 2 tsp vanilla

3 c flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

1. Mix together the butter, tomato, eggs, sugar, yogurt, and vanilla.

2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, and salt.

3. Bring the wet and dry together in a large bowl.

4. Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans or one larger brownie pan (you know, a square one).

5. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.  

You can add more winter-y spices like nutmeg or cloves if you wish.  

Everyone in my family loved this bread. Enjoy!

Shared at The All Star Block Party.

Man, I'm Broke Monday: Keep it, Repair it

Because we find ourselves tight on cash these days and I'm sure we're not alone, I thought I'd start a series called "Man, I'm Broke Monday".  I might post it weekly, or maybe I'll forget all about this plan after a month, but I thought I'd share what we do to save money or stretch our dollar.

Today I'm going to show you a frightening photograph.  Seems fitting with Halloween coming up to scare the pants off of you (thankfully, since you're safely behind the computer screen or phone, I won't have to witness you pant-less, although now I have an image burned into my brain of your Tweety bird undies).

Washer is the near the stairs, dryer 20 feet away, because that's totally logical.

I know.  Gasp-worthy.  Heart-attack-inducing. Those appliances are so old. And so ugly! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

But let me tell you why I chose to shock you: it has saved us a lot of money to keep these older appliances.  My father gave me this washer a few years ago--it is nigh unto twenty years old and has a huge capacity.  The dryer was "Free with Purchase". That is, when we bought the house, we found the dryer down here. We  needed it, too, since this house is rigged for a gas dryer, and our old one was electric.

The fact the appliances were free to us is not really my point.  What's great about them is that we can repair them. By "we", I mean Ryan.  In fact, you should know that the Great Washer Repair of 2008 sealed the deal between me and my (then soon-to-be) husband.  He took a day off from work a few weeks after we met and replaced the thingamajig that makes the washer spin.  Part cost was less than $20.  The devotion and respect he earned was priceless.

Since that time four years ago, Ryan has also rigged the lid sensor (see photo below of the bread bag tie he used) and replaced the belt on the dryer when it stopped tumbling (about six months ago).  

Ryan will answer to MacGyver.

Ryan insists this work is not overly complicated and that anyone could do it, even a lazy redhead.  There are internet forums and websites where you can find information on DIY repairs.

So...

The next time you're looking at your old appliances thinking, "Why can't I get one of those nifty frontloaders that cost $1000/each? Oh yeah, because my wallet is empty and I'd rather not go on the five year payment plan at Nebraska Furniture Mart," just remember that you might have something you can repair yourself at a fraction of the cost of a new model.  Keep what you have until it just won't go anymore rather than trashing a perfectly good appliance.

Another option is that when your 25 year old Kenmore kicks the bucket, you could try to get a used or refurbished older replacement (on Craigslist, perhaps?), which can tide you over until your financial picture improves or you just can't drown out the call of a royal blue front-loader that promises you'll lose weight and save time if you buy it (It also will chaperone your daughter's dates and make an awesome lemon souffle, which you can't eat since you're on a diet).  Newer models are much harder to repair, especially those with complex electronic systems.  I have a friend who has a swankier washer, and within two years of purchase, she had to replace the motherboard.  She and her husband are handier than most people and quite technologically inclined...I'm not sure if most people on the street could replicate their work as easily.

Above all else, don't get caught in the trap of believing you need to spend a fortune on a new thing that claims to save money and the environment (in this case, water usage).  I know this is hard for some.  I've battled my desire to have things that don't waste water and other precious resources.  But the energy savings are not substantial enough to justify our going into debt or spending beyond our means.** If you love Sarah Richardson but have the budget of the typical working Joe, spray paint your existing model and make believe you have your own Tommy sidekick making witty comments while pointing out this awesome 9.99/yard fabric.  Of course, I've *never* spray painted appliances...

Anyway, I hope our set lasts forever. I know it won't, but I think we'll have gotten our money's worth.

**The claim is that the HE washers can save you about $60/year in energy costs.  I'm all for savings, but if you're struggling, should you buy a new $$ appliance for 60 bucks a year in savings?  For me, the answer is obviously NO.  It can wait for now.

Freeze warning tomato salad

Despite the dire predictions in the dead heat of August, these tomatoes haven't given up.  I wonder if they're related to me because their high level of stubbornness is epic.

Heirloom Amish Paste.

Yesterday, I picked a bowl full of Heirloom Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes.  You'll notice they're a mix of green, brown, and red.  Hybrids tend to be much more uniform in color, but less delicious, while these colorful heirlooms are spectacularly yummy, even if a bit green in spots.  I bought this vine at Home Depot during a 50% off sale and had great success.



Instead of freezing them, I wanted to enjoy my last guaranteed fresh tomato salad of 2012.

I added plenty of fresh mint from the garden.

 And then made up a dressing of oil, acid, salt, and pepper (remember tomatoes like lots of salt).  Mixed it all up and plopped the salad into this awesome vintage dish my mother gave me during our last visit (makes that Hurricane Isaac debacle seem worth it).

For the first time ever, more than half of my offering to book club was actually enjoyed by someone other than myself.  Plus, the hostess asked for some leftovers to save for later.  Add in the Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) we all drank and the books we discussed, and the evening was a success.

Freeze Warning Tomato Salad

Ripe tomatoes from the garden cut in half or in pieces

Mint, Basil, or some other fresh herb

Onion, chopped finely (optional, but it's soooo good)

Olive oil

Fresh lemon juice

Lemon Zest 

Splash of Balsamic Vinegar

Plenty of Salt

Pepper

Combine the tomatoes, herbs, lemon zest, and onion.  Start with a little bit of the olive oil, lemon, and balsamic vinegar.  Taste.  Add more if necessary.  Salt generously. Pepper as desired. Garnish with more herb.

This is one salad you can mix up for awhile because tomatoes aren't that fragile.  Keep tweaking until you're happy.  

P.S. My Winslow is having surgery tomorrow.  Please keep her in your thoughts.

I shared this recipe at Five Days...5 Ways: Feature Friday Free-For-All

Sibling Rivalry: Annuals vs. Perennials

Consider the flora of the earth.  You find large, powerful trees as well as tiny flowers and everything in between.  Some produce yummy things to eat while others would kill you an instant.

Today I'm here to tell you about two distinct types of flowers.  Sisters, if you will.  The Hussy and the Good Girl.

Consider the wildflowers I planted in the spring. One bag of annual seeds covered the south side of the backyard. They were tall and skinny and produced flowers faster than you can say WonderBra.  Yup, those annuals were hussies, putting their goods out there for all to admire.  

Come over here, soldier, and gimme a kiss.

But take a look at these other wildflowers.

Here's the shorter and heftier big sister.  The one who took months to become substantial. The one who made her admirers wait for what seemed like an eternity for a bloom.

I'm worth waiting for.

These gals are perennial wildflowers, which means they should come back year after year.  It took them forever to bloom and grow because they were busy building roots since they're in it for the long haul, not just a one-summer-night's-stand.

My own red-headed flower standing in front of the perennials.

We planted the perennials in front of our (not so) lovely compost pile (which currently has three rather large tomato seedlings growing out of it), in hopes that flowers would distract critical eyes.  They've been fairly low maintenance and have tolerated the drought very well.  I'm glad I managed to stay patient because I was ready to rip 'em out a few months ago.

Yes, Good Girl, you were worth waiting for.  Sure, your sister's a tall drink of water, but you're the keeper.

(So next year when you're planting your garden, think about investing in perennials.  Cheaper in the long run, and they aren't as promiscuous!)

Peanut butter and WHU????

Y'all, I've had a religious experience over here at The Kiefer Cottage, and it's all thanks to peanut butter...

...

...and pickles.

Last night, I read an article from the NYTimes on the cult classic: the peanut butter and pickle sandwich.

At first, I thought that sounded kind of gross.

But I love Bread and Butter pickles, and I love Peanut Butter, so I might as well give it a try.  (I also love liver and pickles together and if you haven't tried the combination, you should. And don't give me that "I know I wouldn't like it" because I've missed out on winning tastes when I refused to try something new.)

First, I spread the peanut butter on a piece of bread (I didn't want to use two pieces in case I hated the thing).

Next I added slices of pickles.

Then I folded it over and ate it.  I felt it needed a lot more pickles, so I doubled the number, and then decided this might be the most delicious new thing I've tried in quite some time.

I shall eat this again.

Ryan, on the other hand, decided, after one bite, that only a crazy fool like me could enjoy such a strange combo.

That's okay. More for me.

Tried anything new lately?

I linked up to The All Star Block Party.