In response to last
week’s question, “Are turkeys proof that Southerners can fry
anything?”, my friend Kevin challenged, “No, pickles are that proof” to
which my friend Swany added, “I think a better case can be made for deep
fried pickles and deep fried steak. Who would think to batter and fry
steak? Man, I miss the Fruit Jar (restaurant)!”
My melodic friend Ira
suggested, “I think those honors go to fried Twinkies, and, more recently,
fried butter.” My engineering friend Steve continued, “I thought that was
already covered by Oreos, Twinkles, and mac & cheese. I thought I saw Paula
Dean deep fry fat one time!”
My collaboration
colleague Kim shared, “I think Deep Fried Butter at the fair proves it or,
Bacon Wrapped Dates fried at a local restaurant. However, on a recent trip to
Seaside, Oregon, my husband encountered a Deep Fried Bacon Wrapped Twinkie on a
Corndog stick covered in Chocolate Sauce, Maple Syrup and dusted in Powdered
Sugar. I had a bite. It tasted unexpectedly good. West coast wins!”
My friend Kosol showed
his Southern pride, writing, “If you can eat it, we can fry it! We make the
best fried anything hands down. And yes frying a turkey is absolute proof!”
My neighbor Al
explained, “Turkeys are proof that we'll kill and eat anything no matter
how ugly(*). Butter is proof that we'll fry anything.
Then my Dish friend
Kendra clarified things, “Turkeys are proof that Southerners can fry
anything. Oreos, Twinkies, bacon, and sticks of butter are proof that
Southerners will fry anything. Where there’s a will, you can find
a way!” And my cousin Dave supported that when he shared, “We will pretty
much fry anything in Texas if it isn't moving. http://www.bigtex.com/sft/nav/foodinformation.asp
” My punny friend Chris replied, “Nope, The proof is in the
cooking oil!”
My friend Richard
cautioned, “Anything and everything except Wild Turkey bourbon. When they
figure out how to fry THAT, I’ll really be impressed!” My cycling friend
Ted declared, “Not only can they fry a Turkey from the supermarket, but they
can fry a Wild Turkey (bourbon)!”
My colleague
Kelly challenged, “No – but fried Ice Cream is proof that Mexicans can.”
My birthday bud Jon, a
Northerner, mocked, “Including their houses.” And my UT-based friend John
added, “Actually, the exploding turkeys all over Louisiana are proof that they
can’t. Don’t blow up your House, Hal!”
My dad’s beach buddy
Bob lamented, “Unfortunately we cannot get our hands on them. They are
all in Washington. We tried to kick them out but the government game
wardens wouldn't let us into the preserve.”
My friend from my
Storer Cable days Buck shared, “My first job at age 15 was to work on an
artificial insemination crew as a “catcher.” I learned three things:
1)Turkeys prove that G-d did make something dumber than dirt, 2) that
there is something more disgusting than a pig’s rear end and 3) there is
something more ridiculous than “doggie diapers.” I’ll be enjoying
my Turkey on Thanksgiving like everyone else – while trying to block out all
the memories of my first job in Clear Lake, MN at the Morehouse Turkey
Hatchery.
Please share your
thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:
When is the ‘top of the hour’ on a digital watch?
Life is too
short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly,
and forgive quickly.
Hal
(*)
My writing and sailing friend Rich added to Al’s ‘ugly’ comment: Turkeys
are proof that Ben Franklin, while being a father of our country, celebrated
author, publisher and scientist, lover of French women during his service in
France during the revolution, did not know diddly about marketing. The Turkey
as the National logo? Ben tell me you where kidding.
Our
thoughts are with our friend Lon on the untimely passing of his
son. William shared so much with so many of us and will be sorely missed.
No one should ever know the pain of losing their child.
