Southern Food

[Barry]

While the hamdog certainly achieves wreched excess...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-13-southernfood-health_x.htm

...the article doesn't address what I had thought was a large part of what leads to traditional Southern food often being unhealthy: That it's hot in the South, and when it's hot frying foods is a good way to cook them without heating up your already-hot house.

Wondering 'bout the Southerners out there: How much truth is there to the stereotype of Southern food often being fried and greasy?

[bvdr]

[QUOTE=Barry

Wondering 'bout the Southerners out there: How much truth is there to the stereotype of Southern food often being fried and greasy?[/QUOTE]


Yes, there is some truth to it. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables though and new potatoes and yams. In season, baskets of produce seem to appear out of nowhere. I have to agree though that the preparation does negate much of their benefit. I don't think I would refer to our food as "greasy" though. That sounds like a northern opinion.

[Barry]

...I don't think I would refer to our food as "greasy" though. That sounds like a northern opinion.

Well, to this northerner, "greasy" is a compliment. I've got no problem with sweets, but just love salty greasy food.

[Lisa in Katy]

My mother's fried chicken and chicken fried steak with brown gravy was never greasy! Is it true what they say about northern food being bland and boring! :D

Truthfully, I think that adding breading to food and frying it probably was because it adds bulk and flavor to cheap meat and vegetables without adding a lot of cost, thus resulting in a more filling, cheap meal.

[Barry]

Is it true what they say about northern food being bland and boring! ...

My mother was an Irishwoman from Nebraska. Here's her standard recipe:

1. Take what you want to cook
2. Put it in a pot of water
3. Bring it to a boil
4. Simmer until it is no longer recognizable

Yes, I do believe "bland and boring" would be an apt description!

[Wise]

I've had some bland southern food and some rather tasty northern food. I think the cook may have a lot to do with the outcome. I grew up in northern Indiana and ate plenty of fried foods. I have taught myself to eat mostly non-fried foods and have learned I prefer to taste the food more than the breading and grease. That isn't to say that I don't like some good fried chicken or fried chicken livers or fried cornbread or fried fish or fried ice cream (rather southern, amigos) for that matter.

[terryj]

I love to go to the festivals here in our small towns. The fried dill pickles,green tomatoes and twinkies are delicious. My granddaughter eats all the boiled peanuts and kettle corn that I will let her eat.

[Emma]

silly question from a person across the pond!

What is a twinkie?????
Only place I've ever heard of one was in the film 'Grease'! I always wondered what they were

Emma
xxx

[terryj]

Its like a small sponge cake with white icing in the middle. At some of the street festivals here they deep fry them. Not very healthy, but good for a treat once or twice a year.

[Lisa in Katy]

I also saw deep-fried Oreos at a carnival. I've always said that I could eat most anything if it was covered with chocolate, but even I can't fathom chocolate covered in fat!

[Barry]

Well, I would definitely make boiled peanuts an exception to the rule that Southern foods tend to be fried (although bvdr says "greasy" like it's a bad thing).

Had boiled peanuts once. Tasted like one of my mom's recipes. 'nuff said.

Otherwise I'm a fancier of Southern food, and ascribe to the dictum that you can determine the quality of the food at a truck stop diner by counting the number of calendars. The more calendars, the better the food is likely to be.

[ShezaGirlie]

Here's a picture of that good ol' American staple....The Twinkie
Interesting tidbit here:
FATTEST CITIES
1. Houston
2. Philadelphia
3. Detroit
4. Memphis
5. Chicago
6. Dallas
7. New Orleans
8. New York
9. Las Vegas
10. San Antonio (Yikes, we sunk to 10th.. :mad: )

[Barry]

Friend of a friend of mine has - I kid you not - an unopened 40 year-old Twinkie from when she was a kid.

I never cared for them, even as a kid, and as far as I know, they are incapable of sustaining any known life form.