A Little Taste Of Central PA

Due to an alarming lack of food for cats and for humans, I was forced to schlep over to the grocery store yesterday. While perusing the aisles of my local Associated, I spied something I never thought possible - PA Dutch "Chicken Pot Pie" in a can!

Let me explain. In South Central Pennsylvania, "Chicken Pot Pie" doesn't refer to those frozen things you buy at the grocery store and bake in the over. Pot Pie is a thick stew (no crust whatsoever) made with homemade square noodles. Some people still use the archaic German name for this delicacy: "Bot Boi" - which refers to stew or noodles or somesuch. But at my house, we called it "NOM NOM NOM NOM..."

Authentic "Pot Pie" image via The Google

Honestly, I never realized it even came in a can - I've only ever had it homemade. But canned is as close as I can get right now - so it'll just have to do. And the kitties better not even THINK of trying to get any.

UPDATE: Not too bad at all!!! The dumplings/noodles were wide and thick, and the "broth" was a nice consistency and overall it had an authentic taste. So glad I found this!

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Pork And Sauerkraut

It is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition to eat Pork & Sauerkraut on New Year's Day. It's supposed to bring good luck, but in my opinion it only brings sauerkraut stank to your home. I am NOT a fan of sauerkraut - although I love a nice piece of pork.

My good friend and "sister", the Mistress Maddie, keeps this tradition alive. Maddie will prepare her dish before she goes out and gets wasted on New Year's Eve. That way all she has to do is pop it in the oven when she and the Boy Toy roll home sometime on New Year's Day. Maddie might be a drunk, but she's not about to tempt fate and miss her good luck pork!

Tasty Meat!

I arrived at my desk this morning to a special treat - Pennsylvania MEAT! My coworker just returned from a trip to "Amish Country" - which is near where I grew up. He remembered me mentioning how much I missed "Ring Bologna" and "Lebanon Bologna" - two "Pennsylvania Dutch" meat treats.

Ring Bologna (we usually pronounce it "baloney") is similar to a pepperoni, only not as dense. And it comes in a casing that you must peel off before eating. Anytime you are having "company" to your home in South Central Pennsylvania - you always put out ring bologna with your cheese and crackers. It's just not a party without the baloney.

Lebanon Bologna (real PA hicks like me pronounce it "lebnun baloney") is similar to salami but it's sweeter and is used as a luncheon meat for sandwiches. I cannot tell you how many school lunches Mama Bunny packed for me which included a Lebanon Bologna sandwich with mayo and American cheese on white bread. Yummy!!!

And now for the main course ... BEEF!