Blind Pig & The Acorn

Cooking Squash In Appalachia

 

The typical way to cook squash in Appalachia-is fried. The actual procedure of frying is varied from cook to cook. Granny cuts her squash in circles-rolls it in cornmeal-and fries it in vegetable oil. She stirs it around in the pan and it becomes more of a scramble than individual fried pieces of squash.

 

The Deer Hunter and I fry our squash slightly different. We cut the squash in length wise pieces, dip it into a milk-egg-salt-pepper wash,

 

roll the squash in a cornmeal-flour-salt-pepper mix, and finally-fry it in either olive oil or vegetable oil.

 

Our method takes longer than Granny's-but the pieces stay intact-and retain more of a squash flavor. One of the Foxfire Books details frying squash-the little lady interviewed in the book, fried her squash in larger pieces like we do-but since it took more time to stand over the pan and turn each individual piece of squash-she told her children she'd fry one pan of squash-but if they wanted more they'd have to fry the next pan.

 

After getting a few tips from Matthew Burns, I fried a few squash blossoms. They tasted good-with a delicate squash flavor-but I probably won't be making them again. They did look very pretty-might be nice for a special meal.

Growing up-I never knew you could eat squash any other way than fried. As an adult I've discovered I like squash boiled-steamed-stuffed-grilled-and perhaps my favorite roasted. We dice up squash, zucchini, and onion-toss it with olive oil, sprinkle oregano-salt-pepper, and roast it in the oven (450) for about 7 minutes-YUMMY.

Did you grow up eating Granny's version of 'scrambled fried squash' like I did? If you've ever been to a summer time church gathering in the south-I'm sure you've seen it on the table.

Tipper

 

Appalachian Vocabulary Test 9

 

Time for this month's Appalachian Vocabulary Test

1. Eat up
2. Evening
3. Et
4. Far
5. Fer

 

1. Eat up-bite badly, consume. "I swear the chiggers have eat me up this summer."
2. Evening-time between noon and night. "Late this evening we'll go fishing if you want too."
3. Et-eat, ate. "Come on in and sit down, have you et?"
4. Far-fire. "If you play in the far you'll pee in the bed."
5. Fer-for, far. "Mother said she was going to town and I said what fer you just went yesterday?"

I use all of this month's words-except et-but I hear it on a daily basis cause The Deer Hunter uses it. I think far and fer are funny-cause if we just said far for fer we'd almost be right-does that make sense to anyone else? Hope you'll leave me a comment and tell me which words you're familiar with.

Dave Tabler, who runs Appalachian History, recently asked me to write a guest post for his amazing site. I was and am very honored-it aired today if you'd like to jump over and read it click here.

Tipper

p.s. to see other Appalachian Vocabulary Tests click here and scroll down.

July 4th & The Pledge of Allegiance

 

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all

In my elementary school days I recall saying the pledge each morning-in some grades-but not all. In high school-I don't ever recall saying the pledge-unless is was at a special assembly.

Chitter and Chatter tell me their 4th and 5th grade teachers led the class in saying the pledge every morning-but since they hit middle school they don't say it at all-unless it's at a special event.

On this day, July 4th, my thoughts are of the flag-of what it stands for-of those who fought to give birth to our great nation. I believe I should dwell on these things more often.

Did you say the pledge in school? Do your kids?

Tipper

p.s. Hope you have a wonderful July 4th!!

Dried Squash

 

Over the past few days I've been preserving squash. First on the list-put some in the freezer.

I've never froze squash before-so I consulted my Ball Canning Book-which suggested you blanch the slices quickly-let them cool down-then pack the squash into your freezer container.

Although I was pleased to end up with several bags of yellow squash in my freezer-I'm wondering if you couldn't just skip the blanching part. When squash is sliced-it doesn't take long to actually cook it. Seems it might stay fresher without being blanched.

 

Second on the list-try drying squash. My dehydrator is a yard sale find-it works great-but only has one setting. I kept a close check on them-and the smallest pieces were completely dried in about 2 hours-the others-depending on the their sizes took longer.

I was planning on using the dried squash in soups and stews-but was pleasantly surprised by how good they tasted straight from the dehydrator. The finished product tastes very similar to fried squash-and that's a good thing.

 

After hearing Dorothy Decorah speak about dried squash, (don't forget to stop the player in the top right of page-it only lasts a minute) I couldn't stop myself from trying her Mother's method.

 

I strung the squash pieces on a string and hung them in my sunniest window. Maybe it'll work-it sure looks pretty anyway.

I seem to have developed an aversion to freezing natures bounty. Don't get me wrong-I think it preserves the taste and texture of most vegetables and is wonderful for taking care of The Deer Hunter's venison. It's not the room either-we are lucky to have 2 freezers in our basement (thank you Miss Cindy).

I suppose it's the same self sustaining feeling-you know the one that causes me to feel safe in my mountain holler cause I know beyond the next ridge I'd be hidden from sight?

Last summer when the economy first started plummeting-I drove The Deer Hunter crazy trying to make him can everything-even the things we usually freeze like corn and venison. I worry about the stability of our electricity. It's not uncommon for us to loose power for an hour or so-when there is no obvious reason-no snow, no storm, no wind. And if there is snow or wind-we know the power will go out. 

So I worry about electricity loss due to natural causes-but truthfully I worry about loosing electricity due to causes other than mother nature-other causes-that no one can stop. Maybe I'm paranoid-think so?

Tipper

Spreading The Linky Love For June

 

Time to Spread the Love-I'd like to thank each one of you for being part of the Blind Pig. During the month of June you went along with me as I suckered tomatoes, bemoaned cuts in education funding, tried to figure out why I feel safer in the mountains, sat under the weeping willow tree and bragged about my squash.

Granny Sue, Shirley Bullock,  Sandy Carlson, Rick M., Cathy, wkf, Janet, Mary's Writing Nook, Renna, Paula, Kathleen, Amy, Carolyn A., Just Jackie, The Texican, Julie at Elisharose, Miss Cindy, TennZen, Brenda Kay Ledford, Sheila Bergeron, Osagebluff Quilter, Dee from Tennessee, Marlene, Kim Campbell, Terry, Matthew Burns, GrannyPam, Susan, Teresa, Vera, Warren, Threecollie, Helen G., Lanny, Stacey, The Fishing Guy, Kristi, Mary Traveling Hammer, Petra Michelle, SolsticeDreamer, Lisa, David Templeton, Jennifer in OR, Noble Pig, Teresa Atkinson, Twosquaremeals, Jenny-Jenny, Greta Koehl, Farmchick Paula, Nancy M., Julie Curtis, Annie, Beth W, Glenda, Linda, Sallie Covolo, Joan J, Leslie, Nancy Simpson, Fencepost, Rick's Whitetail Woods, Martina, Shawnee, Patty H, Christina Bumble Bee Bags, Lisa Life With 4, Gingerjar, CDGardens, Georgie, Shirley, Trisha Too, Grammy, Brenda S 'Okie in Colorado, Keary Naughton, Debbie, Valarie, Lori Thornton, Dinah, Brit, Frances, Mary Life In A Cordwood Cabin, Kiana, Dedra, Mo, Lori, Helen Baldwin, graybird, Virgina Cornue, Yoly from Miami Fl, Finnishwahine, Yolanda, Holly, My Carolina Kitchen, Louise, E, Connie, Father's Day 2009, Buzz, Kelli, Jay Henderson, GA FarmWoman, TAS Mania, Patty, James, EBet, The Hunter's Wife, Rachel, Egghead, Meredith Teagarden, Kate, Far Side Of Fifty, Sandra, Mary, and Caution Flag.

I've always assumed everyone knew why I link back to folks who comment during the month-until someone asked me-"Why do you go to all that trouble of linking to each person who comments?" So I thought I would share the answer with you in case anyone else was wondering. The answer-each time someone links to your blog/website-it raises your Google ranking-which makes it easier for folks to find your site-and hopefully leads to an increase in traffic. As a way of saying thank you for supporting the Blind Pig & The Acorn-I link to your sites to show support for them too.

 

The prize for June-is the world renown book-Our Southern Highlanders by Horace Kephart. I love reading about the history of Appalachia and it's great people-but I especially enjoy Kephart's book as he lived less than a 100 miles from me when he wrote it.

The Spread the Love winner for June is...David Templeton.

Hope you all keep visiting the Blind Pig-and please click on one of those commenters-and go for a visit- I know you'll be glad you did.

Tipper

Yellow Squash

 

Yellow Squash has been a favorite veggie of mine since I was a child. This year's plants have just started producing what looks to be a bumper crop.

 

As you can see from the photo above-our plants are huge this summer. I think it must be the chicken litter-as well as the extra rain we've been getting.

 

I ask Pap and Granny if their parents grew yellow squash when they were kids. Granny said the state took their garden to build the new 4-lane, and she couldn't remember what her mother planted before that.

Pap said-they grew a different kind of squash. By his description-I'd guess it was a Cushaw. He remembered it lasted longer than yellow squash, was a light orange tan color and seemed tougher like a pumpkin. His mother cubed it then fried it with sugar and water-kinda like sweet potatoes.

Seems everyone in our area grows yellow squash now-Pap said it was in the early 60's or 70's when folks here started growing yellow squash.

 

In the follow days drop back by the Blind Pig to:

• See how to cook squash in the traditional Appalachian way (fried)
• See how to make old fashioned Squash Relish (so good in the winter)
• Come along with me as I try frying squash blooms for the first time ( I keep hearing about folks who do this and want to see if it's worth the trouble)
• Come along as I try drying squash for the first time (when I was a little girl-I so wanted to be a Cherokee Indian-I know they dried squash)

Do you plant Yellow Squash? Have you ever planted any other varieties of Squash?

Tipper

p.s. If you know someone who might be interested in the upcoming posts-please send them to the Blind Pig-I'd truly appreciate it!

The Mountain Burned With Fire

I'd like to introduce you to one of the most famous Gospel songs ever-Pap even wrote it. Well not really. I mean Pap did write it-but it's not famous-but it should be.

Pap has written well over 100 songs-most of them he sings for a while, then lets them slip back into the guitar case of time to be forgotten. He wrote The Mountain Burned With Fire a few months ago. From the first time we heard it-we LOVED it. For weeks I've went to bed with the tune rambling around in my head-and awoke to find it's still there.

I like the phrases Pap used-the trumpets sounded long and loud; fate was the fear they could not endure; now you need not fear; made it plain in all the land; publish now to all the Earth. They remind me of the old hymns I love so much. But the tune of the song is nothing like a hymn-it's new, interesting, catchy, and man is it fun to play on the bass.

I dare you to listen to the song-and see if I'm right-see if you agree it should be a famous gospel song sung throughout the world. (don't forget to stop the player at the top right of the page and if you can't see the video-click here to jump over to youtube)

 

Famous or not?

Tipper

Blind Pig & The Acorn's Corn Test

 

A few weeks ago, I mentioned having a test to see whether or not planting by the signs did indeed make a difference in the way vegetables grow. I had several folks sign up for the fun:  Becky of Twisted Fencepost fame, Nancy from Southern Blessings, Rick M., WKF, The Reddirt Woman herself-Helen, Martina, Warren who lives Among the Hills and a few other who want to remain nameless-(I think they're afraid we'll become famous for our discoveries)

 

The test got under way this week-we planted the first batch of corn on the 23rd-which is the best time according to the signs. We'll follow up by planting the second batch later this week when the signs have changed to barren unsuitable days.

If the weather will cooperates the corn should have enough days to mature-most of the participants (including me) live in the south-so it shouldn't be a problem-unless Jack Frost decides to make a very early appearance. I'll be comparing the growth of the different batches as we go along. (check in at Twisted Fencepost to see how Becky's test got started-Sign Experiment)

Corn variety is a hot topic around our mountain holler-seems everyone has a favorite and an opinion to go with it. Our favorite-Silver Queen-which is a sweet white corn. Not only does Silver Queen have a superior taste-it freezes great-and seems to hold that sweet fresh taste better than other varieties we've tried. Nothing better than corn fresh from the garden, boiled on the cob and served with butter-yum.

What about you got a favorite corn variety? What is your favorite way to eat corn?

Tipper

Air Conditioning

Do you have air conditioning? We do-however at the moment-it's broken. Back in the day, when The Deer Hunter built our house-we couldn't afford central air-but 7 years ago he could stand the heat no longer and he and a friend installed central heat and air in our house. Apparently-I've grown very used to it-cause for the past 2 days I have been quite miserable. At bedtime last night-it was 84 degrees in our living room-not the best temperature for sleeping.

When I was growing up, Granny and Pap didn't have central air-actually they still don't. (they do have 2 window units-one in the living room one in the bedroom) The girls can't remember the days when we didn't have air conditioning and they have complained much about our current situation. I've been trying to convince us it really isn't that hot-and so what if it is-didn't we live without air conditioning before? Aren't we tough? But I haven't won any of us over. It's funny how you get used to things-how fast our bodies become accustomed to the good life.

In the hot summers of my youth-Granny's kitchen was like a sauna-canning and cooking intensified the heat and gave the air a steamy heavy quality that made it difficult to breathe.

As I cooked super last night-and fretted about how hot I was and how hot I was making the house-my mind begin to think back to my Granny Gazzie-and other women of her era. Once I turn my stove off-the heat dissipates fairly quickly-can you imagine using a wood cookstove? By the time you got it fired up enough to cook on it-you'd be sweltering to say the least. But those little ladies like my Mamaw Marie and Granny Gazzie-cooked every meal on a cookstove-and canned on them too.

Last night as we readied for bed, my mind begin to think of how we could cool down the house. Growing up we had fans situated all over the house. You know those old metal fans that sounded like a helicopter starting up? It seemed someone was always screaming "be careful or you'll get your fingers cut off". Paul and I tormented Granny by putting our faces inches in front of the fan and screaming-the fan blades made our voices vibrate into a true staccato.

Hopefully I'll be back to the cool side of life soon-but until then-got any keeping cool tips?

Tipper

Summer Solstice

Although most of Appalachia has been experiencing record high temperatures during the past week-today is the Summer Solstice-the official beginning of Summer.

Our Summer Solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is most inclined or tilted towards the sun. The longest day of the year occurs on the Summer Solstice-as the sun shines longer than any other day of the year.

Interesting Summer Solstice Info:

~Folks who live in the Southern Hemisphere have their Summer Solstice in December-while we are having our Winter Solstice

~Summer Solstice is also referred to as Midsummer-cause it occurs during the middle of the summer

~The Druids celebrated the solstice as a wedding celebration between Heaven and Earth-June is still the most popular month of the year for weddings

~In Ancient times the Solstice Moon was celebrated with bonfires-couples would jump over the fire to symbolize how high their crops would grow

~Flowers and Herbs gathered on the Solstice are thought to have magical powers

~Garlands of flowers were made to ensure good health for your household and to ward off evil

I've never gotten over the wonder of knowing-while we are celebrating the beauty of summer-the other side of the world is enjoying the beauty of winter-and vice versa. To ponder how large the Earth is-truly makes me awestruck.

Another event occurs today-National Hike Naked Day. If any of you decide to participate-I hope you'll beware of the Monster's on the trail : )

Tipper

p.s. To all the Father's who are reading-HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!