Tomato Bisque

Many college students are familiar with the never-failing tomato soup and grilled cheese combo. It's a simple, cheap dish, and definitely one of my favorites. When I'm feeling lazy, I'll grab two slices of bread, two slices of cheese, a small handful of spinach, and a couple slices of tomato (attempting to make this healthy) to make a hot, melty, cheesy object of delight. Get a frying pan, melt some butter, and toast until the cheese is melted. But with one of the most delicious, classic sandwiches, you need tomato soup! I had some tomatoes that were pretty close to going bad, so I took them and made soup!

Tomato-Basil Bisque (Makes 2 servings)
2 Cloves of Garlic
5 Plum Tomatoes
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
3 Basil Leaves, Chopped
2.5 cups Water

1. Slice tomatoes into small pieces. I personally like seeds because they add extra texture, so I did not remove them.
2. Heat up a pot, and add oil.
3. Once hot, add garlic and tomatoes at once and mix.
4. Add garlic powder, salt, pepper, and chopped basil leaves.
5. Allow to cook down until tender, about 10 minutes.

6. Add water and mix. allow to reduce until slightly thickened.
7. Remove from heat.
8. Use an immersion blender or food processor or blender to puree the remaining tomato pieces until there are no tomato chunks.
9. Pour into a bowl and serve with a hot grilled cheese. :)

The tomato bisque is an interesting twist to the traditional tomato soup. It is very flavorful, quick, and simple. You can also reduce the tomatoes further to create a sauce that would go perfectly over pasta. Separately cook some onions, ground beef (season with salt and pepper), and mushrooms and pour the sauce into the mixture. Then add noodles and mix until the noodles are coated. 

This is a simple and inexpensive recipe that can be used for a lot of different food. Enjoy!

Fried Green Tomato Salad

Fried green tomatoes are a southern staple. Green tomatoes are under-ripe tomatoes. They are more tart, and their texture is firmer. Because of this characteristic, they are a good product to fry. They don't fall apart in the high heat and the bubbly oil. They also do not have large amounts of moisture that will cause the oil to pop/explode. Instead the texture softens slightly and the tomato holds together well. The final product can be used to put into burgers, dipped in pimento cheese, or placed on top of a fresh salad. I used fresh spinach, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and goat cheese to create a salad that lightens the southern soul food classic. Fried green tomatoes can often be very heavy since they are fried, but it pairs nicely with the components of the salad. Finished with an apple cider and honey vinaigrette, this salad is a healthy and light alternative to heavy and greasy southern soul food.

Fried Green Tomato Salad (Serves 4)
Fried Green Tomatoes
1 Green Tomato
1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
1 Egg, Beaten
1/2 cup Breadcrumb
Vegetable or Canola Oil (For Frying)

1. Use a sharp knife to cut the tomato into 1/4 in thick rounds.
2. Put flour, egg, and breadcrumb each into separate wide bowls.
3. Dip each tomato slice into flour, then into the egg, and then into the breadcrumb. Coat on both sides.
4. Heat the oil to about 375 degrees F. You can test it by dropping a tomato into the oil. it should immediately float and begin to cook.
5. Remove tomato after the color is golden, about 3-5 minutes. If the color is changing too quickly, the oil is too hot and you should lower your heat.
6. Place finished tomato onto a plate with a couple layers of paper towels to soak up excess oil.

Apple Cider and Honey Vinaigrette
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 cup Honey
2 tbsp Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Olive Oil

1. Place all ingredients into a bowl.
2. Whisk quickly to combine and emulsify the mixture. 

Salad Assembly
9oz bag Spinach
4 oz Goat Cheese
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
1/4 cup Chopped Toasted Pecans
Fried Green Tomatoes
Apple Cider and Honey Vinaigrette

1. Thinly chop red onion.
2. Place spinach into a salad bowl.
3. Crumble goat cheese into the spinach.
4. Sprinkle cranberries and pecans on top of the salad.
5. Pour dressing onto the salad.
6. Mix well and serve.