Friday, March 12, 2010

3.12.10 All About the Groceries

I was thinking the other day about how important food is to a culture.  It seems each community celebrates its own recipes and dishes.  So it is with the outdoor community.  Much of the outdoor experience revolves around the breaking of bread.
Breakfast
Ahhhh, the most important meal of the day and probably even more so for the outdoorsmen.  If you don't start the day off with a good meal you're gonna hit the wall pretty quick.  Although there are much healthier choices, many of my mornings afield have started with a biscuit from either Hardees, Bojangles or Biscuitville (yes "Biscutville").  More often than not its a breakfast bar and a banana. When there's time or opportunity, the full-blown country affair with grits and gravy and eggs and some type of meat that originated from a pig is always good.  Me and the kids love Neese's Liverpudding but my wife won't touch the stuff. 
Snack Foods
If you don't have snacks crammed in your tackle box or in you hunting jacket I question your sanity!  Here are some my favorites:
Lance Crackers, Toast Chee to be more specific.  My dad called 'em "nabs" and always had them, Vienna sausages and something with Little Debbie on the label, either Oatmeal Creme Pies or Swiss Cake Rolls, or something along those lines.  I tried the sausages a couple times but preferred those bright orange crackers. 
Crisp Braeburn Apples - I can eat a Roma, Granny Smith or just about any type apple but if you want to know my favorite it's gotta be Braeburns. 
Trail Mix - Composed o the usual suspects; Raisins, almonds, peanuts, m&m's, dried apricots or bananas, etc. 
Lunch
The mid-day meal is usually something from a local, preferably hole-in-the-wall type, restaurant.  The Burger Shack in Mt.Gilead for burgers or fried chicken, BBQ from Lexington #1 and El's Drive-In in Morehead City for a shrimp burger are a couple great examples. 
Supper
This is the meal where you get to cook what you caught or killed.  Some of my favorites are:
Bluefish, drum, speckled trout, flounder, etc lightly coated w/House Autry, fried and served with homemade hushpuppies, a fresh salad and whatever fresh fruit is in season.
Grilled dove breasts (wrapped in bacon) w/grilled squash and garlic mashed potatoes.
Venison chili w/blocks of sharp cheddar and slices of apple.
Crappie fillets w/cheese grits, french cut green beans w/sliced almonds.
Basically anything cooked over an open fire, in a dutch oven or iron skillet.
Would love to continue this post but have worked up quite a hunger and need to go raid the refrigerator.  Bon appetit!