Legends of a Redneck Foodie...Recipes that Make You Say YUM!

This week my husband and I received an unexpected gift from our southern homeland...shrimp. Ever since moving to the Midwest, one of the things I've missed most has been fresh, reasonably affordable seafood. I can't deny that Arkansas is a landlocked state, but it's still within a day's drive of the gulf...Missouri, not so much. To celebrate this unexpected ambrosia, we revisited a southern classic that I have been working to perfect for some time now: shrimp and grits. My mom happens to be known for her world famous cheese grits. Unfortunately, the type of cheese that made her recipe so unforgettable has been discontinued by the Kraft company (tsk, tsk). I've been working on something comparable, and this week, I came darn close.


Southern Cheese Grits:
Preheat over to 350 F
Prepare 3/4 cup of instant grits as directed on the package

When the grits are cooked, remove the sauce pan from the heat and add:
2/3 lbs of Velveeta Cheese cubed
Note: This is 1/3 of a normal 2 lbs block, and the kind made with 2% milk works fine to help with calories
1 Tbs unsalted butter or margarine
3 Tbs sour cream (light works fine here too)
4-5 dashes of Tabasco Sauce (or to taste...)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Stir the ingredients until they are thoroughly blended, and then, transfer the mixture to a square baking dish. Add a light sprinkling of paprika across the top for color and bake until the top has a thin skin across the surface and a light crush around the edges. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool until reasonably firm. It should have the consistency of pudding not soup. Don't try to dish it up too early! This service 4 people for a meal (breakfast or dinner) or 6-8 as an appetizer.

Southern Barbecue Shrimp:
In a large saute pan, heat:
4 Tbs unsalted butter
4 Tbs canola oil

When the above are melted and hot, add:
2 Tbs mince garlic
2 canned green chilies, chopped
2 Tbs dried rosemary (thoroughly chopped/pulverized - whole leaves ruin the texture)
1 Tbs dried thyme
1 Tbs dried oregano
4 leaves fresh Thai basil, chopped
1 Tbs ground paprika
1/4 Tbs ground Cayenne pepper
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 lemon - squeeze the juice out over the pan and then thinly slice one half and add the slices

Cook the above ingredients until they are well combined and then add:
1 lbs of shrimp deveined but shells on (the larger and fresher, the better)
Cook until all shrimp are pink through and then remove from heat

This recipe is a modified version of one by Cheryl Smith posted to foodnetwork.com. Thanks, Cheryl, for getting us started!

We like to combine these two dishes for a dinner, but it can get a bit rich.  I recommend a good vegetable and some plain bread to balance it out.  They are also great the way my friend Beth served them for her wedding reception: a dollop of grits in the bottom of a martini glass and a couple of shrimp perched on the side...gorgeous appetizer!

Hope ya'll enjoy this Southern classic. More recipes, book reviews, travel blogs, and reflections on life are on their way. In the mean time, I want to see your best recipes. Show-me what ya got!

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

On the Osage...

I've spent the last week and a half preceptoring for a veterinary clinic in Osage County, Oklahoma. My grandmother lived in Pawhuska with her family until she was sixteen. She talked about this place and the Osage Nation with a certain reverence that always fascinated me. Maybe it's silly to arrange a trip like this around something so simple, but I what can I say? I'm a romantic. Really, I just wanted to spend some time here, and I haven't been disappointed. I've gotten some great experience with a local vet and put some real large animal work under my belt.

As for Osage County, I'm completely in love. You can see for miles and miles across the rolling prairie. The valleys and river bottoms are full of trees and wildlife that conjure up images from the works of John Joseph Mathews and the like. When I was younger, I remember thinking that this part of the country was too flat and barren compared to my home state. This visit has completely changed my mind. Arkansas will always be home, but I've got to tell you, Oklahoma is quickly becoming my new number two.  This place has a beauty that is subtle. You  have to stop moving to see it, and once you do, you find yourself holding your breath so it won't change. You certainly miss it if you never get off the interstates.  One of the best things about working for a vet is spending so much time on ranches and back roads.  I've been staying at a bunkhouse on a local ranch, and I've spent a good deal of time just sitting on the porch there.  In the last week, I've watched storms roll in on the horizon. I've seen a parade of the most beautiful watercolor sunsets I could imagine, all the while listening to coyotes howling in the distance and cows bellowing from across the yard. It makes me wonder what Osage County must have looked like through my grandmother's eyes so many years ago or her mother's before that.

"Drummond Ranch" Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Photo by Jenn Ballard

If you do find yourself visiting Osage County, let me make a couple of suggestions. My family came to visit during my time here and stayed at a local inn called the Wah-Zha-Zhi House (http://www.wahzhazhihouse.com/) (Wah-Zha-Zhi is the name by which the Osage Nation refers to itself in the traditional language.)  The inn was really vintage and well kept. I would definitely recommend it.  Another great, local establishment is Bad Brad's Bar-B-Q for lunch or dinner.  I especially recommend it on steak night, because they cook everything on the grill outside.  There are locations in Pawhuska, Yukon, and Stillwater (http://www.badbrads.com/).  After you find food and a bed, you'll want to see the sites. I recommend checking out the Osage Nation's Museum and Library while you're in town (http://www.osagetribe.com/museum/). It contains a lot of really interesting records, artifacts, and art from the history of the tribe.  My last recommendation is to head north of town to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. There is a lot of history and ecology here, including great birding and a free-ranging bison herd. (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/oklahoma/placesweprotect/tallgrass-prairie-preserve.xml).

Happy Fathers' Day!

 

"African black-footed penguins" Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa 2009

Photo by Jenn Ballard

 

Happy Fathers' Day

to all the dads out there who help make their kids' dreams come true

On the road again....Part II

Continuing my trip from the previous posting, I woke up on the morning of June 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. I headed south out of music city, and, egged-on by the famous "See Rock City" signs every half mile or so, I decided that it would be a good day to make a couple of detours.

First, I stopped at the University of the South, affectionately known as Sewanee. Technically, I believe Sewanee is the name of the town, but having driven around, I can testify that it's hard to tell where the town stops and the college starts. Not that it matters...they're both very beautiful and more closely resemble an old fashion summer camp in the mountains than an institution of higher learning. (If you ever wondered where they got ideas for Hogwarts...I may have found the answer.)

You might be curious why a person would want to visit a university where they don't know anyone.  The reason I wanted to make this stop is because the University of the South was famous among my friends and I in high school.  We were curious about the rumor that the honors students still wear academic robes to class. Since it was summer break, I did not get to witness the robed masses for myself, and their website keeps its secrets. The truth behind this rumor is still a mystery, but I got some great pictures, please enjoy. http://www.sewanee.edu/

"University of the South" Sewanee, Tennessee
Photo by Jenn Ballard

Next, I hit the road again very briefly before taking another detour to Lookout Mountain. This historic landmark is the home of world famous Americana tourist stop: Rock City. This lovely little mountain side amusement park was opened to public in 1932. It advertised by painting the simple slogan "see rock city" on barns across the state. That image, and the place itself, have become legend. If you've never been there, I suggestion you "See Rock City" at least once in your life. http://www.seerockcity.com/

"See Rock City" Chattanooga, Tennessee
Photo by Jenn Ballard

Finally, I got back on the road, promising to keep moving this time. I rolled into Atlanta not too long after that and was quickly reminded why I hate driving in any city that requires six to seven lanes of interstate traffic at a time. I did get cut off by a real life, bonafide Lotus. I had a momentary flashback to the movie "Pretty Woman," but once I confirmed that neither Richard Gere nor Julia Roberts (Circa 1990) were driving, I was forced to honk and move on with my life in bitter disappointment.

I arrived in Athens, Georgia just as my nerves where wearing thin. I found the house where I will be staying and settled in for the next three weeks of training....ah the life of a student. Wish me luck!