Your mid-week meal made easy: Southern black-eyed peas and fried green tomatoes.

By SHYANNE GRIFFIN

Looking for a little Southern-style comfort food? Then these easy and delicious recipes are for you.

I love these fried green tomatoes that you can enjoy as a side or on a BLT. (Read a little further to find out how I do it.)

(BLACK-EYED PEAS)

WHAT’S IN IT

1 ham hock, about ½ pound

2 quarts water

1 16-oz. package frozen black-eyed peas

2 tablespoons butter

½ teaspoon Lowry’s seasoning salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

½ teaspoon hot sauce (I like Red Devil)

HOW TO MAKE IT

Place ham hock in a stockpot and add water. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook 1- 1 ½ hours.

The longer you cook the hock, the stronger the stock will be. When meat is done, you may need to add more water (1-2 cups).

Add black-eyed peas, butter, seasoning salt, pepper and hot sauce, then return to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and cook over low heat for 20-30 minutes, or until the peas are done to your liking

(FRIED GREEN TOMATOES)

WHAT’S IN IT

2 large eggs

½ cup of cornmeal

2 tablespoons of cornstarch

1 teaspoon of kosher salt

Black pepper, to taste

2 large green tomatoes, sliced ½ inch thick

Vegetable oil for frying

HOW TO MAKE IT

Whisk eggs in shallow bowl. Mix the cornmeal, cornstarch, salt and a few grinds of pepper in a separate bowl.

One at a time, dip the tomato slices first in the eggs, letting the excess drip off, and then in the cornmeal mixture, turning to coat both sides; place on a baking sheet or platter.

Fill a large skillet with ½ inch of vegetable oil; heat over medium-high heat until hot (you’ll know the oil is hot when you sprinkle a little of the cornmeal mixture in and it sizzles).

Add tomatoes to the skillet and fry, untouched, until golden and crispy, 2-3 minutes. Use tongs or a slotted spatula to remove them to a paper-towel lined plate.

One of my favorite ways to eat fried green tomatoes is by building a BLT with them.

Spread some mayonnaise on a piece of toast, layer on two strips of crispy bacon, one to two fried tomato slices, add some fresh lettuce leaves, and top with a second slice of toast.