I always heard that folks from south Louisiana loved to tell stories and I guess that’s true because I never seem to be able to get to the point without telling a story.
One of my favorite blogs is Karin from Lovin’ Life At The End of The Dirt Road. The address for her blog includes “Dirt Road Scrapper”. When Karin first began leaving comments on my blog, my brain read that address as “Dirt Road Stripper”. Folks make strip quilts so I didn’t think anything about it but the blogs I read . . Vince knows as much about the folks as I do because I’m always talking about them.
But, when I talked about Karin and their ranch, I always said “You know . . the Dirt Road Stripper”. Poor Vince . . he thought I had made friends with a real life stripper. I think he was hoping some of the stripping desire/technique might rub off on me . . ok . . let’s not go there!
One day, I looked at her address and I said . . that doesn’t say STRIPPER but she’ll always be known around our house as the Dirt Road Stripper.
If you want to be friends with a stripper scrapper, check out Karin’s blog!
Friday, Karin posted a recipe for Sweet & Sour Chicken with Peppers and I immediately wanted to make it. Oh . . now I remember where I’m going with this story! We were in Kroger and I was picking up red and yellow and orange peppers and Vince said “Why are you paying that price for them when you can just buy the green ones?” I said “The recipe calls for red and yellow and orange peppers!” He said “But . . they all taste the same and these cost twice as much as the green ones!” After all . . I needed ONE of each so I can see how this was turning into a huge financial crisis in his mind. I said “The Dirt Road Stripper said to use a RED, a YELLOW, an ORANGE and a GREEN pepper and that’s what I’m doing!” Vince turned to walk off and he said “If the stripper says do it, by all means . . DO IT!” I then realized that there were several white haired grannies who were hoping there was more to this conversation. They were all coming closer . . I think they wanted their own red, yellow and orange peppers! I started to explain that Karin is really a scrappy quilter and not a stripper but then I figured that sometimes, it’s just best to walk away from a situation such as this.
So, I made Karin’s recipe but I added a can of drained pineapple chunks and I added the liquid drained from the pineapple to the cooking liquid for my rice, along with my usual cup or two of chopped cilantro! Not actually that much but I love cilantro!
Since I added the pineapple, I only added 2 tablespoons of sugar to the sauce and it was plenty sweet and . . plenty good! Thanks Karin for a great recipe!
We also had a bowl of borracho beans and beet greens, and . .
. . a salad made from a variety of lettuce from the garden, roasted beets from the garden and fried goat cheese, which is simply slices of goat cheese, dipped in panko and fried in butter. There’s more than one way to make a healthy salad unhealthy! 🙂
Vicky says
Dang, that salad looks good! I don’t care if you did make it less healthy!
JudyL says
I suppose you’re able to get fresher produce there than we get here but I’m so surprised at the difference in storebought lettuce and what I go pick right before serving. It’s like two completely different items.
Pam in KC says
A couple of my friends read your blog and a couple don’t. We all of us are together and one of the readers make’s reference to your blog, she starts of did you see where Judy…. The there are blank stares from the others until one of us says “the chicken lady”. My husband is beginning to catch on — could be because I start the conversation as “Judy – you know the chicken lady”.
As for the bell peppers, I thought the different colors did taste at little different. I’m afraid I wouldn’t know since I’m not a big bell pepper person and then I stick to green.
Jane says
When we lived in Louisville I could buy huge bags of pre-washed beet greens. They were wonderful! Can’t get ’em here. Poo!
Marlene says
I too love Karin’s blog and couldn’t help but laugh at your story-I will think of her as the stripper now!! I’m personally not a fan of sweet and sour food but boy that salad looks so appetisnjg.
Lynne in Hawaii says
The other colored peppers do have a slightly different taste. I think the orange is the sweetest. Try some of the colored peppers in your salad sometime and you will notice the different flavors.
Kim says
Your conversation with Vince in the store reminds me of how my family specks to each other. When my son got married we all started calling the Save the Date’s as STD’s!
JudyJ says
I have planted beets, but I never thought about eating the greens. If I have beets next year, I will have to try them.
Kim says
When I plant beets I grow them only for the greens., I love them..
Doreen says
Beet greens are the best…..when young-in salads and when more mature they cook up like spinach—but better!!!!!
Lee says
You come up with the best stories! Vince needs to know 😉 that green peppers taste nothing like red peppers! or yellow and orange for that matter. I rarely buy the green anymore, just too hard on me these days, but love the red (usually buy at Costco 6 to a bag and use for crockpot stuffed bells). The chicken dish and that salad look and sound so very yummy.
Ranch Wife says
Dare I even show my face around these parts anymore? Believe me, that will be ALL that I am showing. LOL. Tell Vince those peppers were all on sale at our local farm store – 4 peppers for $1! I love the color they add to a dish and next year I am growing them in the garden…well, at least I will try!
Anita says
I agree that the peppers do not all taste the same! Cut them up raw and have him taste them, unless his tastebuds are really bad. The green ones are the less sweet or spiciest ones. I don’t like them raw, but I can eat the orange, yellow and red raw no problem – the orange and yellow are the sweetest. i guess it might depend too on where you get them, i live in California and our produce is delicious 🙂
Annette Bloss says
Judy, I love stories and your stripper story, especially the part in the store with the little old ladies, was great. I laughed out loud. Love your blog.