If you're from the South

 

Fried green tomatoes food from the South

 

If you are from the South, or live near the South, or emigrated from the South, or wish you lived in the South, then this word will have you nodding,"Yes.  Yes, of course."

                                                                                    

                                                                This is the way I like grits.

I did not enter the delicious world of grits until I was an adult.  My parents knew all about grits, had been eating them for years, but somehow they never put them on the table.

It was shortly after having an abscess in the lower back molar with a major bad root canal, that I discovered grits. After such a massively painful event, the only foods I could eat had the texture of baby food.  Mashed potatoes were acceptable.

That was when my mother fixed me some grits.  She put a sizable glop of real butter on it, poured a bit cream, and a swirl of maple syrup.  Grits, glorious grits!

**Some Southerners may prefer their grits with bacon and eggs, but I like the sweet better.  This is from Bite and Booze, Jay D. Ducote.  

For any readers who have experienced similar dental experiences, I offer my sympathy.  If I were at your house, I would mix up some grits for us both.

Grits can be purchased at any reputable grocery store, next to the oatmeal.  

 

Southern food: Amazing foods

If you live in Louisiana, please go there and write about it.

 

Only true Southerners know what this is. 

Mint Juleps 

Oh, the Sin! The Decadence!

In 2016 we took a cruise, and personally, it was pretty good. For me it was a great way to get away and relax. I did fall down on the first day and develop a concussion.   It is a long story to tell another time.

Even so, the food was super excellent and every night for dinner I had this most amazing dessert. I had the dessert that many people enjoy when they go on a Carnival Cruise, I had their chocolate melting cake that just cries out to be eaten. You may know this as chocolate lava cake, and honestly it is amazing. It didn’t matter what else they were serving for dinner, this is what I wanted.

Did you know that these are very easy to prepare, and if you are hosting a dinner party, you will look amazing when you serve one of these chocolate desserts. Jean-Georges Vongerichten may not have been the originator of this recipe, but he certainly made this dish popular in the 1980s. This cake is done on the outsides, but the inside a filled with melting warm chocolate batter that you will love.

A lot of people serve this dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. While it does add something nice to the dish, I have served this many times without that scoop of vanilla ice cream.

TIPS FOR MAKING CHOCOLATE MELTING CAKE

Use only the ingredients as listed. You can’t use margarine, it won’t turn out as well. You need to buy a good quality bar of dark chocolate. I find this chocolate in the baking section of the grocery store. Don’t use milk chocolate, you will end up with enough sweetness to throw everyone into a sugar comma. I also like to start out with all of my ingredients at room temperature, I think it makes mixing everything up together go better.

If you are concerned about the eggs, please consider using eggs that pasteurized.

You really do need to let this rest in the refrigerator before baking. The texture will be better. I really suggest using ramekins for this dessert. This way you can make individual portions. These dishes are inexpensive, and you can also do things like bake eggs in them as well.



INGREDIENTS 

6 ounces baking chocolate (ideally 60% cacao)
2 whole eggs
2 ] egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons butter for ramekins
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS
In a small bowl melt together chocolate and butter in the microwave. Melt for 30 seconds and stir, and repeat until chocolate and butter are melted. Whisk together eggs and sugar until they are lighter in color and foamy. Add melted chocolate to egg mixture. Stir in vanilla extract, salt, and flour. Spread butter in ramekins to grease the dishes. Pour batter into dishes.
Cover dishes with plastic and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, you can refrigerate these for up to 4 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. The tops will be firm, but the insides will be melting. Dust with powdered sugar, and serve with a scoop of ice cream if desired.
NUTRITION
Calories: 759kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 509mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 1245IU | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 8.2mg

Yes, I know the nutrition write up is utterly sinful. It is a once in a few days fest of eating.

Measure of a Great Summer

Summer is just starting.  Soon fireworks will burst in the sky and "ahhhh...ooohhh" will drift upwards.

Summer is measured in so many ways.  Not by time or clocks or calendars, but by all things intangible is summer measured. 

Summer is measured by:

* amount of fireflies caught and held in a quart jar. 

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Indiana

* first good ear of sweet corn covered with butter.

* wrinkled fingers of my grandchildren after swimming all day.

* by splashes in the pool by children of all ages.

*  number of the SPF in the sunblock lotion.

* by how high the A/C is set.

* by lack of football games on TV.

* by sales of summer clothes at JCPenney.

Can you add to the list?  I wonder how many measurements our blogging community can add?

F is for..Fantastic Fried Food at the Fair

State Fair information sites are delicious.  Texas and Iowa are special.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, beats a State or County Fair!  Just say those words aloud in a conversation, and see what happens.  Everyone has a memory of a trip to the FAIR.

I believe our memories are firmly anchored by the odors and scents that come with the State/County Fair visit.  Whether it is the walk-throughs of the cow, pig, goat, or sheep stalls or the multiple stops at the food vendor courts, our sense of smell locks in the memories of going-to-the-State-Fair.

So it is with great pleasure, I propose that F is for Fried Foods at the Fair!

Deep Fried Jelly Beans

These foods go beyond unhealthy or indecently pleasurable. These deep-fat fried foods venture into a realm of absolutely unique.  Here is a minimum list of currently-on-the-menu at different fairs:

Deep Fried Beer

 Fried Cola             Fried Margarita    Fried watermelon 

                                          

                        Fried Energy Drink

Fried mac and cheese; cheese on a burger with cheese, on a Krispy Crème Donut topped with chocolate covered bacon

Deep Fried Coca-Cola

Fried Scorpions   Fried Captain crunch burgers  

Made with a bubble gum infused marshmallow

          

          Fried Whole Stick of Butter          Fried Cheese Cake on a Stick 

Deep Fried Whatever

             

            Fried Bloody Mary                        Fried lemonade

Deep Fried Hot Dog and Cotton Candy

Fried pineapple on a Stick         Fried Maggots      Fried Biscuits and Gravy

Deep Fried Butter

Fried chicken pancake      Fried Autumn Pie (pumpkin filling, rolled in ginger snaps)

Need I go on?  These adventurous food vendors spend years on experimenting with new ideas.  Who knows what we will see at the next fair, and absolutely have to try?

I have my nose and eyes ready for Fried Red Velvet Funnel Cake with Cream Cheese topping.