President Millard Fillmore liked simple foods which included basically meat, potatoes and vegetables.

One of the family’s favorites was Mrs. Fillmore’s Whole Stuffed Tomatoes. Her personal recipe is from the cookbook The First Ladies Cookbook-Favorite Recipes of All the Presidents of the United States from 1965.

Abigail Fillmore’s Whole Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients

6 firm ripe tomatoes
1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter or dripping
butter in dabs

Select tomatoes of equal size. Cut a piece from the stem end of each, and remove the centers, being careful not to break the wall.

For the stuffing: Use the centers of the tomatoes diced, crumbs seasoning and the butter or drippings. Mix well. Sprinkle each tomato with salt and pepper. Fill each tomato with the stuffing.

Place into baking dish. Place a dab of butter on each.

Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) until tender, about 1/2 hour.