Monday, May 20, 2013

Oops, I Did It Again!

Despite my good intentions, I floated right out of Blogville at the end of last week.  I'm not exactly sure how to float back in so I guess I'll pick up where I left off...



...which was heading out to make at least one adventure a day while my daughter was home.  You see, when you think about it, you don't really take adventures. You make them. That's the way it rolls around here anyway. When you live in East Podunk with very few obvious options, you just have to make an adventure out of an otherwise ordinary day.

It really boils down to trying something new.

For our first adventure, we tried a new coffee shop.  For our second, we had lunch at a new restaurant. We even tried a whole new menu item at this whole new restaurant. I'm happy to report that I am a new member of the lettuce wrap fan club.





Then, we decided to try a whole new food.

OK...

I probably should stop right here and point out the obvious: My adventures tend to run heavily on the edible side. I'm sort of a culinary adventurer.  Miss Whimsy, on the other hand, is not.  She inherited the Mikey gene from her father, a man who would gladly subsist on candy corn and nachos if I let him.


This week was dubbed adventure week, however,
 so she sucked it up, and Mikey left town.

Trying a new food is not the same as trying a new recipe. Around here, we just call that cooking.  I'm talking about trying a food item that you have never tasted before. That's an adventure.  We took a little field trip to the grocery store to find something new.

It's amazing what you can find if you look.


Yeah... no. 
We passed on the chicken feet.
I'm not even sure how one goes about eating food that needs a pedicure.
 I just took this picture because I'm a blogger.     

We passed on all sorts random body parts and settled on turnips instead. Now, this might not be an adventure to you, but it was to us. You see, the Duchess is a legendary turnip hater. She inherited it from my grandmother, the Queen Mother of all turnip haters. In Grama's world, turnips hovered just below "the dope"  on the  Just Say No  list. It's a generational stronghold that Mikey  was more than happy to pass down to the next generation.

Are you following me here?

Not long ago, the Farm Sister was given the gift of fresh turnips by someone too ignorant to know better and felt that it was a good time to break the cycle. She fixed them for lunch, and then she made a beeline to the phone to herald the good news. Behold! Turnips are delicious!  Even better than a potato!  


After which, she apparently headed outside
to hang those pants on fire off the telephone wire. 

I am almost positive I got punked.

I fixed them exactly the way she told me, and I am here to report that they are not better than a potato.  They are only slightly better than a carrot, and carrots make me vomit.  I consider it a great victory that we kept down two bites before giving them a ceremonial burial.  Good thing I didn't serve chicken feet to go with them or we would have starved to death... which would have been preferable to a third bite of those noxious nonpotatoes.

Blech. Pooey.

I shall remain solidly on Team Duchess in the Great Turnip Debate.
Just say no, folks. 
Just. Say. No. 

So why am I wasting a blog post on them?  Because I never would have known if I hadn't tried,  that's why. 

Plus, we laughed.  
The laughing is what made it an adventure.

We had several other adventures during the week as well, but this post has gotten too long already. Friday we adventured all day in downtown Savannah.  I'll try to get to that later in the week, but for today I'll just close with this:

Not all roads named South Fork have oil wells and Ewings on them. 


Sometimes, a dirt road is just a  dumb old dirt road.


But  how in the world will you know if you never take an intentional turn
and get out of your rut?

So that's all for me. 
How about you?
What adventure, culinary or otherwise, have you taken lately? 
And where do you stand on the Great Turnip Debate?




37 comments:

Rettabug said...

OMGosh, Debbie...I could not scroll past those chicken feet fast enough!! ~shudder~ GROSS!!!

I always laugh when I visit you & I consider it an adventure to just follow you around.
The only way we eat turnips is hidden in beef stew, so don't feel bad about dumping them out.

I also got a chuckle out of the sign in the window "Free Smells"...very creative marketing.

Hugs,
Rett

Barbara F. said...

Some people put those darn skinny scrawny chicken feet into the soup pot!! Yuck!!!! Not me. I happen to like turnips, but I do love most veggies. I like a mix of potato/turnip in mashed, extra yummy, and I love turnips sliced, dipped in a coating and fried, yes, fried. First time I tasted turnips years ago (in a catering hall in Brooklyn, NY of all places, and they were delicious. And carrots make you vomit??? I eat them as a piece of candy when I am seriously dieting! Like them raw, glazed, sauteed, in veg soup and carrot soup with a hint of curry, I need to send you my recipe for Grand Marnier carrots, you might be a convert. lol xo

Vee said...

Oh, good thing that I am not feeling queasy today or those chicken feet...ewwww...

Oh the adventure debate, I say "make one." On the turnip debate? Right. Just say no.

Chatty Crone said...

Those looked like people's fingers! Even Andy said they were gross - lol - but fun to see them.

I love to follow you girl - anywhere you go!

No turnips for me though. I'll pass.

Sandie

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

You're not the only ones who laughed! I'm all by myself in my office just cracking up!

Those chicken fingers are enough to make you s.i.c.k, just imagine them with Opi Fire Engine Red!!

As to the turnips... disGUSting! I'm right there there with you. Lettuce wraps? I think that's a good thing.

Loved this Debbie... you always hit my funny button!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

What fun!

Okay, I've never eaten a turnip either - so I'll take your word for it and stay away from them!

Chicken feet - no thanks, but thanks for that photo though.

I haven't tried anything new lately...

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it today.

Denise said...

My cowboy husband says you must have purchased the turnips at the grocery store. The ones I cooked that were delicious were straight from the garden. It apparently makes a difference. I'm still sticking on the I'll eat them side. However, those chicken feet are another story. I'd gag just looking at them let alone cooking them or eating them. Yuck.

Glad you enjoyed some adventures with Miss Whimsy who, as of this morning, has declared herself "grown up." Who knew that would happen...

Christine said...

Flabbergasted and flabbergasted to see chicken feet for sale!
Sure are right about the pedicure!

Good for you to be adventurous. It's always more fun with someones else, especially when you both can laugh.

Ann said...

Love most veggies, but I too, have never tried turnips, and only within the past two years have I had parsnips! Love them...especially roasted!
I guess I should give turnips a try ... But, like you, I will never eat something that looks like it needs a mani/pedi (?).

Jimmy Johns is a favorite around here....but I admit, I have them with the bread. :)

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Turnips are despicable.
So are chicken feet, IMHO, having never ever tried them!
Glad you had a great visit, full of adventure!

Ginger said...

I confess--I love turnips! Chicken feet...not so much.

Lynn said...

We LOVE rutabagas, I can't remember the last time I've had a turnip? Your post strikes me funny because I was thinking about resuming something I did on a forum years ago "New Food Friday". It was kinda fun to push myself to try something new on the weekends:@)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Loved this, Debbie!

Okay, today I met a new blogging friend, and we ended up knowing some of the same people from another town. She and her husband came to St. Augustine for lunch, and it was like we had known each other forever. They are so in love, and they have been married for a long time. I enjoyed seeing that and meeting them.

That's my news, and then I cleaned the house. I actually had an adventure because I let someone into my house which was not as tidy as it normally is, and it didn't bother me. I was much more interested in meeting them instead of worrying that I had not cleaned throughly. I did afterwards, though, and My Man Friday came over to help. He's from Georgia, and we adore him.

Glad you had such a fun time and got to laugh and get lost and enjoy each other's company. Making the best kind of memories!

XO,

Sheila

Sharlotte said...

Chicken feet and turnips! Wow, you did go on an adventure. I like the way you look at life...you're inspirational!

I have to admit, I've never tried turnips and really haven't seen chicken feet at the grocery store. However I guess I've seen chicken feet still on the chicken, does that count? haha

I love reading your posts!

Linda W said...

I'm also a member of the No Turnips Club. Gag.

The chicken feet (GROSS!) did remind me of my hubby when he was with Tyson Foods. Seems Tyson sold the (disgusting) chicken "paws" to the overseas Asian markets where they are considered quite the delicacy. Why I cannot imagine.

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Well here's where we part ways ... not in a real sense, but in a culinary sense. I love turnips and turnip greens and collard greens and mustard greens. I suppose they are an acquired taste, but I've been eating them since forever, so maybe I never learned to not like them. :) But, seriously, I love them. As for those chicken feet ... mmmmm ... no! BUT ... I do like pickled pig's feet. LOL! I'm so serious. I really do! Can we still be friends? HEHE!

Lorrie said...

Ew to the chicken feet. But I love turnips and rutabagas - mashed with butter, or even eaten raw with dip. They are nothing like a potato in my mind.
Making adventures is the way to go.

Sharon said...

Oh, beyond enjoyable!

OK, first of all, I am innocently scrolling down your post, only to be totally blindsided by those disgusting chicken feet! Blech. Pooey. Reminds me of one summer camp I went to - Initiation Day involved (among other disgusting things) wearing a chicken foot on a string around my neck all day. (And this was a Christian camp! I shudder to think what they did at regular camp...)

I have never tried a turnip. Probably not on my bucket list.

LOVE what you had to say about adventure - yes, sometimes it has to be intentional. My latest adventure - hmmm. Perhaps going outside amongst the snizzards?!?!?

xo

The Polka Dot Closet said...

OK, so if I had to choose, I would go with the turnips over the finger nails with meat on them.....YUK. No, no real food adventures here unless you consider eating fat free, my newest diet, an adventure! Hope you continue to have a fun week

Carol

Diane said...

This was such a great post!! Loved reading about your turnip adventure. I am a southern girl and love turnip greens, but I am on the side of the just say, "No", crowd, when it comes to the actual turnip!
Thanks for the laughs this morning!!!

Gaby said...

I just want you to know three things:
One, you could write about golf and still make it a funny, interesting post (I say gold because nothing more boring popped into my mind).
Two, I have eaten plenty of chicken feet in my day. In Ecuador we waste no part of an animal and they are delicious in soup.
Three, turnips are gross.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

This weekend I thought of our sand pails last summer...which meant I got out of my rut and intentionally enjoyed summer. What will I do this summer to keep me from climbing in a hole and not having adventures? Well you nudged me on.
I am laughing of "Hey Mickey" so remember that...Jimmy Johns, well we love them here...and as for new sites, well I just need to get in my car and adventure out.
Thanks for a fun post and inspirational all at the same time...girl I have said it before, you have talent.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Eew.. I didn't eve know they sold chicken feet... That's a new one to me. As for turnips, I've never tried one and after reading your thoughts, I don't think I'll want one. Cute post, though, Debbie. You always make me smile.

Maryann said...

The photo of the chicken feet about did me in...I think it was the toe nails (chickens probably don't have "toes" do they?) Never had a turnip and don't have a desire to try one. Our adventures tend to be of the edible type as well...I am always up for a new eaterey

Debbie said...

Well yet another thing in common, haha. Have never had a turnip over here either. And! I would be willing to try....however, those chicken feet? Oh my...how could anyone try those? No thank you. I am soo glad you are having adventures and enjoying your time...soo precious. Thank you so much for your recent prayers, I appreciate it more than you know. HUGS

Renée said...

Oh Debbie, it's been a horribly long, dusty, crazy, "long road," but I'm so glad I made the trip! I miss having the time and energy to blog.

I love to pin when I get a minute or especially at night when I can surf and relax. A couple of my girls like to add to my boards too so it's gotten really big. Remember my "Top 5 hits," each Friday? It was a big reason I started my blog, to save some of the great ideas out there. Pinning is the easy way to do that as my life has changed greatly in the past year-plus.

I'm with you, not a fan of turnips or chicken feet and I have tried cooking with both! What I do need to do is make my blog nothing more than a virtual recipe box. My offer is still good, if you'll write, I'll cook.

I do miss keeping up with you. I'll try harder. Thanks for missing my blog too. Hugs from Idaho to you and my favorite Georgia Fam!

Alycia Nichols said...

I'm not sure I would be able to eat fowl for WEEKS after seeing chicken feet in the meat department of my local grocery store!!! Ugh! That is SO GROSS!!!! I know that some people eat virtually every part of the chicken, but I'm not one of those people by a long shot!!!

As for turnips, y'all can have those things, too! Wouldn't touch 'em with a 10-ft. pole! My Mom tricked me into eating them by telling me they were mashed potatoes way back when I was a kid, and I have checked mashed potatoes out EVERY time before I eat them every since!!!

The street sign definitely did NOT seem to match our expectations here! I have seen a "Tobacco Road" sign, and the houses on it were lush and lavish...nothing like the song about that street name would imply! :-)

Great post, Debbie! Enjoy your day!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

OK, I am definitely saying yuk to the chicken feet! I'm with you, food should not need a pedicure! I've been saying no to turnip greens for a very long time, but as usual, I loved reading what you had to say about them. Reading your blog is always an adventure for me. laurie

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Debbie, I love this funny, funny post! :-D I'm glad you got to spend some fun time with Miss Whimsy.

The turnip story is a good one. A former neighbor (an elderly lady) gave me some turnips from her garden. She told me how to boil them and then prepare them like mashed potatoes. I did just that, but they were not a hit with my hubby, and I was not crazy about them either. Since then, I've only had them a couple of times in an Irish restaurant mixed in with a stew, so the taste wasn't that noticeable. I can't see me ever actually spending money to buy them at the store. :)

Thanks for sharing your funny experience. By the way, was your sister playing a joke on you? Have a great day!

Denise

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

I've been playing catch-up here ... and having a blast! When it comes to turnips, we're seeing eye-to-eye. YUCK! And I've never seen chicken feet in the grocery store, although I'll be sure I try NOT to look in the future. I'm still shuddering involuntarily as I type this. Blech!

As for your time with Miss Whimsy, I'm really glad you had it -- and I hope her internship goes really well!

Unknown said...

I have ventured into Thai food. I have found out that I enjoy Pad Thai and Yellow Curry, which has potatoes, not turnips. I cannot figure out who in their right mind would eat turnips. Or chicken feet for that matter.

I will be waiting for the blog post describing how you got your sister back for the turnip recipe.
xo
lynn

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Just back from Virginia ! Eating is a BIG part of adventures for me. It's easy to tell that with one look though, sigh.
sounds like ya'll had a great time (())

Creations By Cindy said...

Well, I would say you have indeed had a new adventure! New adventures aren't bad either! But....I think I would have to be like you and pass up the FEET! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

no spring chicken said...

On the Great Turnip Debate.. I stand with you before you tried them... Never tried 'em. :)

Blessings, Debbie

Unknown said...

I love turnips but I'd have to pass too on the chicken feet! I've enjoyed looking through your blog. Check out Sunshine PenPals and join the fun, we'd love to have you!
http://sunshinepenpals.blogspot.com/

Mevely317 said...

Honestly, I can't recall ever having tasted a turnip in my life. Even the name "turnip" sounds nasty!

I've said it before, but LOVE your way with words, Debbie. I first spotted this on my "doo-dah" phone a few days ago while waiting for DH to come out of radiation. What was a very stressful situation, turned into a giggling fit ... Thank you!

Laughter IS, indeed, the best medicine!

FrouFrouBritches said...

Oh, how I love this post!!! I, too, hate turnips. They are nauseating! Blech! BTW, I also loathe carrots. ICK-Poo!

So glad y'all had an adventure though. I've heard Jimmy John's is good, but I've never been.

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