Legends of a Redneck Foodie Part I

I'm here to confess what many of my friends and family have long suspected...I am, in fact, a redneck foodie. What is that exactly? Well, I'm pretty sure redneck isn't a word that needs much explanation. I'll only say that coming from me, it's an affectionate term for those (myself included) who lack a certain "citified" facade while possessing a few charmingly rough edges. On the other hand, a foodie is defined by the urban dictionary as "a person who spends a keen amount of attention and energy knowing the ingredients of food, the proper preparation of food, and finds great enjoyment in top-notch ingredients and exemplary preparation." I'll be the first to admit I'm not a food expert, not by a long shot. I guess that makes me more of a foodie-in-training, but lets not split hairs. I live and eat by two rules: I know what I like and life's too short to eat anything else.

So how does it work, this redneck foodie thing? Truthfully, it's a bit of a ramshackle mishap that occurs when you combine loves for southern cuisine, camp food, smoked food, fried food, food you have killed yourself, and a touch of international flare.  Of course you can't forget about the other key ingredients: watching too many cooking shows, growing your own ingredients, and having a big appetite for life. The result is an oddly perfect combination of new and old. Dishes that frequently surprise and often concern, but in the end, hit the spot.

I'm starting this new blog series because I love food. I also think that foodies are on the rise in this country, and I'm betting there are more than a few of us with a tinge between our shoulder blades. I'm hoping these blogs will spur conversation, a few confessions, or best yet, some new recipes and tips for my collection.

To kick things off with a laugh, my husband and I have put together ten criteria to help identify a redneck foodie (maybe even the one sitting in your chair).  You might be a redneck foodie if....
10. You fully appreciate the fact that nothing (and I mean nothing) cooks great food like cast iron
9. Your favorite seasoning after salt and pepper is camp fire smoke
8. You've ever had to tell your vet that your dog got sick because it ate a [insert odd wildlife species here] off your plate
7. Your grandmother and the Iron Chefs hold equal positions of influence on your culinary style
6. Your most closely guarded family secret is a biscuit recipe
5. You have trail cam photos of the food in your freezer
4. You have side by side shrines to Paula Deen and Johnny Cash
3. You've ever collected shotgun pellets on the napkin beside your dinner plate
2. You agree that vegetables (and everything else for that matter) are better fried
1. Your idea of food safety is killing it and eating it on the same day