"Foreigners" Eat Funny

       

            Eatin’ habits seem to vary based on what area of the country a person lives in, or at least grows up in.

            I think I’m somewhat of an expert on this subject since I’m married to a Yankee.  Oh, excuse me, a Yankee-transplanted-in-the-South-fellow, which is still pretty much a Yankee, if you ask me.  The Duppster hasn’t been in South Carolina quite long enough to learn how to eat southern.

            He finally tried that southern delicacy we call boiled peanuts.  Much to his credit, Dupp even had a second one.  It’s pretty safe to say, though, that he thinks he can live without ‘em.

            Now, I’ve never professed to be the best cook in the world, but, if I were, Dupp wouldn’t know it.  That’s because he adds ketchup/catsup to just about everything – without even tasting it first. 

            If I fix scrambled eggs and cheese, he adds ketchup.  If it’s scrambled eggs and salmon, he adds ketchup. 

            This past weekend I fixed a big ol’ pot of chicken bog.  First of all, chicken bog is rather peculiar to South Carolina; it’s not even a common meal anywhere else in the southeast, so it’s easy to figure that chicken bog is totally foreign to folks from above the Mason-Dixon line. 

            When this fine concoction of chicken, hot sausage, lots of onion, peppers, a bit of garlic, salt, bacon bits and a few other special additions was ready, what did Dupp do?  He pulled out something with a ketchup base and poured it all over the bog.

            Even as a ketchup-holic, there’s one thing he absolutely won’t put ketchup on, though: hot dogs.

            Go figure!

Just Grits!

            On the way home the other night, I stopped and bought shrimp to boil for supper. 

 

I love shrimp and grits (or fried catfish and grits, or sliced tomatoes and grits, or sausage and grits, or cheese and grits; yes, I like grits!)  

            Well, The Duppster just isn’t “from these parts” – if you know what I mean.  He was born north of the Mason-Dixon line, although he constantly reminds me that he grew up just “slightly” north of that all-important line.  Of course, I tell him that north is north.  Period. 

            Anyway, being a transplant, he doesn’t truly understand or appreciate grits.  Fortunately, a friend from church, Marilyn Tinker Zielke, introduced us to one of her specialties, Southern Comfort Shrimp and Grits.  Dupp loves this concoction.

            I’ve used Marilyn’s recipe quite a few times, so I started fixing that once I got home with the shrimp.  Dupp was already home, so he was in the kitchen also.  As it turns out, we didn’t have any Southern Comfort, so I asked Dupp to help me find a suitable substitute.  He ruled out the rum, Amaretto and Scotch but said the Canadian Club would do.

            So I poured in Canadian Club.  After a few seconds, Dupp asked, “Don’t you think that’s about enough?”  I was tired; I wasn’t measuring. 

            While the food was simmering, I decided the check the recipe.  Okay, so it called for three or four tablespoons instead of three or four cups of Southern Comfort (Canadian Club.)  What’s a few extra ounces anyway? 

            As it turns out, I had peppers from Mom’s garden, and we didn’t know what kinds of peppers we had.  I chopped peppers to use.  They must have been the hottest of all peppers because that’s about all we tasted. 

            Even Dupp might have settled for plain ol’ grits that night.

 

 

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Just a Cheesy Discussion

            Not long ago, Mom asked, “What’s the thing with pimento cheese?”

            I wondered aloud what she meant by “the thing.”

            Her reply was something about so many people raving about pimento cheese as though it’s something newly discovered.

            I knew what she was talking about.   Pimento cheese seems to have popped up lately on menus in all types of restaurants.  There are magazine and newspaper articles promoting pimento cheese in and of itself and also as a “new” topping for hamburgers and hot dogs or something to include in meat loaves and various other staples.  Maybe it’s just a food fad for folks.

            Sometimes pimento cheese is placed in prominent displays near the front of grocery stores, a special of the week. 

            Yep, I knew exactly what Mom meant.  I don’t think I’ve ever  - and I do mean ever - been to a church picnic, a family reunion or a church covered-dish dinner where there was no pimento cheese.  Pimento cheese sandwiches are a staple of gatherings around these parts.

            Several South Carolina restaurants have included pimento cheese as a choice on hamburgers for a long time.  For many years, it was, in fact, the signature item at one Columbia restaurant. 

            However, I’ll admit that the jalapeno pimento cheese sold in many grocery stores  is relatively new to me, and I love it!  Of course, being a certifiable cheese-aholic, I don’t find many cheeses or cheesy items I don’t like. 

            Mom’s going to be real surprised when she learns that one of the newest food fads is another staple: macaroni and cheese. 

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Football, The South, Gadgets & Men

The Duppster – that’s hubby Karl Duppstadt a/k/a Dupp – grew up in Pennsylvania. 

That means he, like many others who didn’t have the privilege of growing up in the South, doesn’t realize that real football is played at the college level and at the high school level.  He thinks real football is the NFL.

In fact, I’ll never forget the time we drove by a recreation department football game involving elementary school children and saw folks tailgating at the game.  He thought that was hilarious.  Dupp just doesn’t get it that football starts at an early age around here, and it’s important in the Southern life cycle. 

Anyway, back to Dupp and watching the NFL on television.

Someone once said, “Men are simple things. They can survive a whole weekend with only three things: beer, boxer shorts and batteries for the remote control.” 

I’ve always thought the remote control alone was probably enough for The Duppster.  That was until this past weekend.

Dupp was watching NFL playoff games.  He doesn’t use the remote as frequently or repetitively  during football games as he does other times, so he had no reason to practically squeeze the remote control every moment.

I guess that freed up his hands and he felt the need to have those hands doing something else.  I glanced over at him – and laughed.

While watching the game, he also was using his laptop computer, his cell phone, an iPad – and he had one of those contraptions in his ear that I believe is called a Bluetooth or something like that.  That was four – as in “one, two, three, four” – different electronic devices in addition to the television.

No doubt, that’s why he hadn’t answered anything I asked him.  He was carrying multi-tasking to its highest level.

He probably didn’t even know I was in the same room until a flash of light let him know I had just snapped a photo of him with all of those contraptions. 

Thank goodness for electricity and batteries, huh?

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How Do YOU Say It????

Here we go again!


Last week we talked about Southern sayings, or perhaps that should be sayin’s. Once again, let’s take a look at some phrases – just ‘cause I’m wondering how you do your communicatin’.

What about that thing you use in the grocery store? Do you call it a buggy or a cart? I’m told that one of those is strictly Southern.

After the trip to the grocery store or market, how do you get those purchases inside? Do you tote them or carry them, or, better yet, wait on someone else to do the work?

When driving, do you slow up or slow down? Maybe you never do either one, you speedster.

At the elevator, some folks push a button while others say they mash the button or hit the button.

Then there’s that light switch issue. Do you switch on the light, cut on the light or turn on the light? The same possibilities apply to the TV and to many other appliances and electronic devices.

What’s the difference in cleaning up and just cleaning? Mopping up and mopping? Sweeping up and sweeping? (Yes, I know: there are those who talk only of “sweeping out” – meaning getting rid of all incumbents in office.)


Now, after getting those groceries inside and getting the house clean, are you done, or through, or maybe finished?


This is all I’m writin’ this time, so I’m either done, through or finished!

                             Take your pic, honey-chil’.



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Do You Understand Southern, Dahling?

Do you understand "southern," dahling?  If so, well just bless yo' pea-picking lil ol' heart!

That's good, 'cause now I’m fixin’ to tell you something.

You do know what that means, don’t you? When you’re fixin’ to do something, you’re about to do it; you’re getting ready to do it. You’re not quite doing it yet but you’re almost at the point of doing it. You just can't do something if you haven't fixed to do it.

This is just one example of an idiom that’s peculiar to parts of the south. There are oodles more.

I thought everybody knew about  cow licks but I found out that’s just not the case the other day when I told somebody I have one. I believe that person thought I had been out in a pasture when a cow licked me! A cow lick is a bit or chunk of hair that does its own thing. Actually, I have two of ‘em, and they’re awfully inconvenient, don't you know?

Have you ever heard someone say “that dog don’t hunt?” This means the story just doesn’t add up; it doesn’t make sense.

When you’re “barking up the wrong tree,” you’re on the wrong track or you’re just plain wrong.

But, when you’re right and you’re doing something special, someone just might ask you to “give me some sugar.” This doesn’t mean the person wants to borrow a cup of sugar from you; this means “give me a kiss.”

We could go on and on with Southern sayings.  I've got lots more favorite ones so we’ll discuss some of those on down the road a bit.

But, that’s it for now, so here’s to you ‘til next time – God willing and the creek don’t rise.

In the meantime, what are some of your favorite ones?  Are there sayings and idioms you've just never understood?

 

 

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Do All NASCAR Drivers Go to Heaven?

Do all NASCAR drivers go to Heaven?

That’s one of the questions we’ll be talking about this week in our Sunday School class. Yes, in our Sunday School class.

We use a series, The Wired Word, in which we apply scripture to current events.

Anyway, with all of the recent NASCAR news - 20-year-old Trevor Bayne winning in Daytona and Jeff Gordon finally getting back in Victory Lane in Phoenix - I started thinking about the first time I attended a race. It was, as any South Carolinian might guess, at Darlington.

Ah, Darlington. Sometimes referred to as “The Lady in Black” and as “The Track to Tough to Tame,” Darlington’s egg-shaped raceway is legendary.

And that’s where I took my three children years ago as we experienced our first-ever live, in-person NASCAR race. The four of us were so excited – for a while.

For one thing, nobody ever told me to take earplugs. You think it sometimes gets loud in a football stadium? That’s not even close to loud compared to the stands at Darlington.

And nobody ever told me how to dress for one of these sporting events. There IS a dress code, even if it’s not in writing. You know how folks really dress up to go to the Carolina Cup and to other horse races, like the Kentucky Derby and such? Well, you do NOT dress “up” for the races at Darlington, although I believe shirt and shoes are required.

We arrived at the “Track Too Tough to Tame” all crisp and clean.

By the time we left “The Lady in Black,” I was another lady in black. We all were filthy. Where did all of that black stuff come from? It covered our clothes, our hair, our bodies. It must have been that so-called “bear grease sealant” they use on the tracks or the rubber burned off the tires.

(When my much younger sister Lorri was “Miss Southern 500,” she didn’t have to worry about getting dirty in the high-falutin’ section where she was stationed.)

NASCAR’s greats have prevailed at Darlington: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Bill Elliott, Fireball Roberts, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon and more.

I don’t know if all NASCAR drivers go to Heaven, but I know they all go to Darlington.

Some would say that’s one and the same.


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WW: Flowertown

Our town, Summerville, just held its annual Flowertown Festival.  Here are just a few reasons Summerville is known as Flowertown.  Believe me, I could fill many blogs with the beauty of this place.

Come back tomorrow for "Thirk Thursday."  Yes, that word is "thirk."  "Thirk" is short for "things that irk me." If you're a blogger, join in; Mr. Linky will be here each Thursday for you to link your post about one thing that irks you.



Other Wordless Wednesday participants are here.
Other Wordful Wednesday participants are here.

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WW: Scenes from Litchfield

Just a few shots from Litchfield Beach, South Carolina.

Marsh/Waterway

There are many large oaks at Litchfield and along much of coastal South Carolina, including this one, known as the Broken Oak.

According to the marker, the Broken Oak has been like that for centuries.

More Wordless Wednesday participants here.
Wordful Wednesday participants here.

WW: Marsh Views at Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island is home to world-famous Pawleys Island hammocks made by local artisans/ropemakers.

The resort town's slogan is "Arrogantly Shabby."

Pawleys Island, South Carolina, located 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach, is

known as one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. 

(information taken from Town of Pawleys Island web site.)

The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700's. The planters knew that it was unhealthy for their families to remain on the rivers during the summer and that the seashore was much healthier. Even though they didn't know about malaria in the 1700's, they knew enough to get away! They moved their families, horses, cows, bedding, provisions and furniture to Pawleys in May of each year, where they remained until the first frost in November!


From this leisurely existence has developed the charm of Pawleys that still remains. Also still remaining are 12 residences in the historic district, which date from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, which includes crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes.

More participants in Wordless Wednesday and Wordful Wednesday.

PH: How Low Can You Go?

This week's PhotoHunt theme is LOW and I've selected a variety of uses of that word for all of these photos.

Which card is low? Well, it depends on what game you're playing?




Here are my scales. When I stand on the scales, the number is never LOW enough!!!

There was a full moon this week. By the time I took this photo in the early, early morning, the moon was LOW.

Our part of South Carolina is called the Lowcountry. The Lowcountry is an area of beaches, old homes, magnificent trees, gorgeous flowers and so much more. So, here are a few Lowcountry scenes.

The walls in my house have Lowcountry scenes as well.

And, speaking of low, here's our South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford, the one who said he was out hiking the Appalachian Trail on Father's Day weekend. Instead of the trail or home with his wife and four sons, he was in Argentina with his mistress - and no one knew how to get in touch with him for 5 days! He neglected his family and our state. How LOW can you go?

To see other photos from around the world in the weekly Photo Hunt, click here.

Home-Cookin'

Sunday dinners aren’t like they used to be for many people, especially in the South. Families used to gather after church – often with extended families – for a big meal with lots of Southern-style “home-cookin’.”

Over the years, more and more families have changed their rituals and traditions; many are going out to eat for Sunday dinner or just picking up food to take home or perhaps just grabbing a quick sandwich. Probably because I just like food in general, I enjoy ALL of those options!


Yesterday at church we had one combined worship service instead of our normal two. Since that meant getting there about an hour earlier than usual for me, I decided to make Sunday dinner ahead of time in my favorite old standby, the crockpot.

I put in chicken breasts, French onion soup, and a variety of other odds ‘n ends, which is the way I usually cook. French onion soup makes just about anything better, and the odds ‘n ends? Well, I don’t know exactly what they do, but they help!

Silently, I considered whether or not to turn the crockpot on "high"or on "low" for the chicken to be completely cooked by meal time, but not overcooked. Finally, I decided to turn the knob to the low setting.


After church, The Dawg asked what I had cooked. As I described the food, I could almost smell the aroma of the cooked meal. I just knew this was going to be yummy in my tummy!

What a shock when we walked in at home: there was no aroma. None. Nada. Zip.

Yes, I had selected “low” instead of “high” – but I had forgotten to plug in the crockpot.

Oh, well. So much for Sunday dinner.

PhotoHunt: BOOKS

Wow! Where does one start with this week's theme - books?

My first thought was a set of World Book encyclopedias, which is what I grew up with; each volume has loads of photos, and this IS a photo hunt after all.

Instead, though, I decided to go with photos of three books.

The first is LUKE: Ambassador of the Word. It's the fourth book by a friend a mine, retired minister George Truett Moore. In fact, I was a reviewer for this and one of his other books. As I read this book, I felt like I was right there with Luke and pulling for him as he made important life decisions. It's a very interesting read and one that gives new insights into Luke's life and ministry. Luke is a good choice for anyone interested in religion, history, ministry and more.

Pastor Moore and his wonderful (and artistic) wife, Elizabeth, are coming to South Carolina; their plans include a local book-signing on June 10th. Click on the picture to find out more about him, his interesting background and his books.

Coincidentally, George Moore was born in Greenville, SC, which is the hometown of the author of the next book. She is Mindy Friddle, the daughter of a friend of mine. Secret Keepers is a delightful book for anyone but especially for folks fascinated by all things southern. Fabulous read for gardeners also. Mindy's first book was The Garden Angel. Click on her book's picture to go to the web site to learn more about Mindy and her books.

Don't you just love those old boots and that old typewriter on the cover?

The final book in today's threesome hasn't been published yet but it's due out in November. C://Mom Run, edited by Beth Feldman, founder of RoleMommy.com, is a compilation of "side-splitting essays from the world's most harried blogging moms." Yep, I'm one of those moms and looking forward to this book's publication. Full of humor, the book may be ordered in advance on Amazon; just click on the picture to reach that site for pre-publication prices.

How's that for promoting books during a photo hunt?

Other participants in the weekly PhotoHunt may be found here.