Sunday night's weather forecast was for a Monday night freeze. Seems our Indian Summer was coming to a close and I couldn't put off harvesting the last of our garden any longer. So Monday morning we gathered in the last of our ever-bearing strawberries, a flourishing basil plant, some die-hard bell peppers, a few red tomatoes, and loads of green tomatoes.

It's the green tomatoes that really dazzle ya. These beauties are meant for much more than being breaded and fried. They can wear a LOT of hats. If you haven't yet discovered just how versatile green tomatoes can be, consider these ideas (some my own, and many from Mother Earth News Magazine):

Green Tomato Tart , perfect for breakfast or even as an entrée. (This recipe was submitted by a reader to Mother Earth News and won First Place in the magazine's green tomato recipes contest.) You fill a tart pan with your favorite pie crust recipe then layer slices from 4 medium tomatoes over that. Then you top the tomatoes with sauteed garlic, spinach, and red pepper. Next you pour seasoned and blended cream and eggs over this. Finish it off with a sprinkling of crumbled goat cheese. We made this Tuesday morning and went to "breakfast heaven." (Find the complete recipe at https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/green-tomato-recipe-contest-winner-zb0z1312zmat.aspx#axzz3HRJbDdy6.)

Another Mother Earth News reader won second place with her Green Tomato Cake with Apple Cider Glaze recipe. It's along the lines of a zucchini cake, using lots of chopped green tomatoes, spices, nuts, raisins, and apple cider in the batter. Baked in a Bundt pan, it's rich, sweet, and moist. (For recipe: https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/green-tomato-cake-zwrz1410zsie.aspx#axzz3HRJbDdy6)

Green Tomato Bacon Jam was so good it won third place in Mother Earth News' green tomatoes contest. Diced green tomatoes are combined nicely with diced apple, onion, and ½ pound of cooked and crumbled bacon. (Recipe: https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/green-tomato-bacon-jam-recipe-zwrz1410zsie.aspx#axzz3HRJbDdy6)

Other contest winners included Green Tomato Tamale Pie, Green Tomato and Ginger Pie, Baked Green Tomatoes (a departure from the traditional fried green tomatoes using bread crumbs, herbs, and Parmesan cheese), and pickled green tomatoes.

And you can also make green tomato mincemeat and green tomato relish (my Aunt Annie used to make both of these and they were an important part of our Thanksgiving meal).

But if you want to stick to the tried and true fried green tomatoes, consider adding a super flavor boost to this classic recipe by blending hard grated cheese into the breadcrumb mixture. The cheese will meld with the crumbs and add not just a delicious flavor twist, but a wonderful texture as well.

While it's true that you can ripen your green tomatoes by wrapping them in newspaper and waiting a few days, you might want to consider savoring green tomatoes in all their glory with these flavorful green tomato ideas mentioned above. You can read more details on this at https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/uses-for-green-tomatoes-zb0z1307zsor.aspx#ixzz3HRUtAst4. Meanwhile, my hat's off to this culinary magician that wears a LOT of hats!