A Harvest of Green Tomatoes
by Arleen Kaptur

With the onset of Fall, many times the cooler weather seems to "creep" up on gardens and harvests that still need a little bit more growing time. Green tomatoes - they worked so hard to get to where they are - but never had the chance to finish growing, and turn into that beautiful red globe that astonishes everyone as they wait for that wonderful sweet taste of a vine-ripened tomato!

Green tomatoes are excellent fried, saut?d, or cooked in sauces or meat stews. Use small green tomatoes for pickling. Large, unblemished green tomatoes will ripen on a sunny window sill, or you can wrap them in newspaper and let them ripen slowly in a cool, dark place.

Be creative Hot Dog Relish: Adjust and change to suit your particular tastes: A combination of finely chopped onion, green tomatoes, green/red sweet peppers chopped, salt, sugar, 1 tsp. celery seed, 1 tsp.mustard seed - Store in refrigerator in a covered jar. Also good on Polish Sausage, Bratwurst, and smoked sausages.

Swiss Cheese Bake:
4 cups croutons
2 green tomatoes, sliced thinly
1 ripe tomato, sliced thinly
1/2 lb. Swiss cheese, shredded
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups milk
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Preheat oven to 350. Arrange croutons in a 9" pie plate. top croutons with tomato slices; sprinkle with Swiss cheese. In bowl, with fork or wire whisk, beat remaining ingredients; pour over cheese. Bake 40 mins. or until puffy and brown. Serve immediately.

Green tomato saut?
1/4 cup salad oil
6 green peppers, cut into chunks
2 onions, chopped
4 large green tomatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large ripe tomato, peeled and cut into chunks
2-1/4 tsp. salt 1-/14 tsp. basil In a pan, over medium heat, in hot oil, cook green pepper chunks, onions, and green tomatoes for 15 mins. Add the ripe tomato together with the salt and basil; cover and simmer until vegetables are fork-tender. Stir the mixture occasionally, for about 20 mins. Serve over pork chops, meatloaf slices, or chicken breasts.

Green tomatoes can be a great asset to your meal plans - with just a little extra preparation they are truly a delight. ENJOY!
?Arleen M. Kaptur

Arleen M. Kaptur has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines.

Arleen Kaptur may be contacted at http://arleenswriting.blogspot.com/  asnorthwoods@centurytel.net