SUDDENLY SOUTHERN
16 AUGUST 2004
We've experienced some more wonderful southern cuisine this trip, too! I have a friend here who seems determined to make sure we try every southern tradition there is. (Black-eyed peas must be a lot better fresh or frozen than canned, or- I don't get it!) We even found a family seafood restaurant nearby that has the freshest seafood I can remember having since we were in Philadelphia a few years ago. Steamed shrimp and scallops that were SOOOOO good they didn't even need butter or seasoning. And all the sweet tea you can drink! (of course.) I froze a gallon of fresh butterbeans (pardon me- I put up butterbeans) this week and even learned the right way to prepare them. =) We watched someone making southern bbq sauce for his chicken- which means, pour a bunch of vinegar into a pan and then start adding stuff. (You do not write these ingredients down, because the whole idea is to never be able to duplicate this recipe again, apparently.) We've also had smoked picnic ham prepared with new potatoes, baked beans, rutabagas, banana pudding, blueberry crunch with homemade ice cream, hush puppies, biscuits, more bbq (bbq is always pork unless otherwise specified), tea, tea, tea and (thank you, Debbie!) even some unsweetened tea. Still haven't tried greens or grits!
We're finding out there are a few truths about Southern Living. One is, don't be in a hurry. Ever. Last week it took me an hour to open a checking account, another hour for Katie to get her hair cut, and 40 minutes to get the oil changed in the van. (Thank goodness it was a quick lube type of place, otherwise I might still be there.)
And: I'm told my kitchen won't be complete down here without adding a few tools to my cupboards:
1) a big deep fryer
2) a pressure cooker
3) a pressure cooker deep fryer
You'd think someone would find a way to combine these into one handy appliance, wouldn't you?
Another is: Plan in advance if you have someone needing a haircut. Katie wanted a few inches trimmed off, and some layering done. Now, back home, this would be a 30 minute stop at Great Clips. HERE, however, this was a 2 day (well, 2 afternoons while we were out doing other things) project. First, you have to find a salon. This isn't always easy, as the majority of them are in someone's basement and I think you have to have a local person give you the secret code for finding the location. Forget the yellow pages. They list about 150 places, none of which can you see from the road. After you've stumbled onto a salon, then you must determine if this establishment will meet a 13 yr old's criteria. She does not like a) the black guy in corn rows, skateboard shorts and hi-top shoes who will do it for $8 as soon as he's done with the masterpiece he is creating on the black gentleman currently sitting in his chair (which, truthfully, was VERY impressive); or b) a salon with all pictures of black women on the walls and all black women working there and rows and rows of hair straightening products on the shelves (this describes about 90% of the places we stopped); c) the place that DID seem more like what we were used to but wanted $45 (ok, it was ME who vetoed that salon); d) the place called Gorham's Used Cars and Beauty Salon (??? I know it); d) the salon/travel agency who does girl haircuts one day, and boy haircuts the next day, and darn our luck we were there the wrong day (this concept is still a mystery to me, I admit it).
FINALLY we found a place attached to a mall (WHEW, seemed safe) that John had driven past. It was a little ssslooowww (I've mentioned), and it was even stressing ME out to be waiting, and Katie was already in the chair! These ladies just weren't about to rush a darn thing, even with 6 people waiting waiting waiting.
SO, the moral is- bring a book wherever you go.
