Cocktails & Appetizers

So, the next thing you may wish is to have a specialty cocktail to offer. You've heard of a long island iced tea, well here's the recipe for a long beach iced tea!

Fill shaker 1/2 full of ice, add 1/2 oz each of vodka, light rum, triple sec, midori, & gin.

shake well, & strain into tall glass nearly full of ice, garnish with lemon wedge, & serve!

Now here is a mocktail sure to please!

Little Manhatten

First, fill a glass with iced water. Then in an iced shaker combine 1/4 cup each cranberry & orange juices, 1/2 tsp. cherry juice, 1/4 tsp. lemon juice, & 2 dashes orange bitters. Shake well, dump iced water from glass, strain in contents of shaker, drop in a cherry, & serve.

Next, we have an appetizer which will be unique to many people outside the south and midwest.

Fried green tomatoes. If you have a garden, perhaps you've been wondering what you can do with those tomatoes that won't make it before the frost, well here you go!

If you don't have a garden, I have found good sources to be farmer's and Mexican markets.

Now, once you have your tomatoes (About 1 tomato per guest should do) slice them in about 1/4 inch slices, sprinkle with dill weed on both sides, lay on cookie sheet(s) in single layer & let stand for 2 hours. Watching a movie would be good way to time this.

Once the movie is over, get one small and one large mixing bowl.

In the small mixing bowl mix together 1 egg & 3 cups milk.

In the large mixing bowl, mix together well 3 cups flour, 1/4 cup salt, & 2 tablespoons pepper. (freshly ground is best)

Dip the tomato slices in the egg dip (small mixing bowl) then toss in the flower mixture, untill well coated. Place coated tomato slices in single layer(s) on sheet(s) of waxed paper.

After you have finished this operation, you may place your tomatoes in the freezer until you are ready to cook & serve.

When you are ready to cook & serve, get a large (preferably cast iron) skillet & preheat on cook top. When it just begins to smoke, add your cooking oil, which ever kind you prefer, enough to cover your tomato slices when laid in the single layer. After The oil is heated, ( a good way to test this is flick some water from your fingers into the oil, when it sizzles, it's ready) Carefully Place a single layer of tomato slices not overlapping in the skillet, and just brown on both sides and serve on an attractive platter lined with red kale, for example, on the edges. For more color add some carrot sticks. Be a little creative, for pity sakes, don't let this be all me!

Check back in tomorrow, and we'll Do a soup & salad!