Recipe: Sweet Cinnamon Tomatoes

SWEET CINNAMON TOMATOES

"When it's impossible to find a good tomato, Jacqueline McMaha has the solution with this recipe: Dip slices of firm tomato in cinnamon-sugar and saute them in butter. They go very well with spicy foods, and make a wonderful accompanimnet to scarmbled eggs or omelets."

2 tomatoes, barely ripe and firm
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt
2 to 4 tablespoons butter

Cut off the ends of the tomatoes and discard. Cut the tomatoes into 1/3-inch slices. Place in a flat glass dish and pour the lemon juice over them. Let marinate for 5 minutes, turning the slices.

Place the sugar, cinnamon and salt on a plate and stir to blend. Drop 2 or 3 tomato slices at a time into the sugar mixture, turning the slices to coat.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet. When the butter is bubbly hot, add a few tomato slices and saute until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat frying the remaining tomatoes, adding more butter as needed.

These go well with spicy foods.

Makes 4 servings
Source: The San Francisco Chronicle Cookbook Volume II