Old Fashioned Breaded Tomatoes

butter, bacon fat, olive, vegetable or canola oil

chopped Vidalia or yellow onion

unsalted butter

all purpose flour

tomatoes , skinned, chopped, juices retained

light brown or granulated sugar , or to taste, optional

kosher salt

turns of the pepper grinder

chopped fresh herbs (basil, flat leaf parsley, etc.), optional

slices of toasted white bread , cut into 1-inch squares

shredded cheddar cheese, optional

Extra butter , for garnish, optional