So tonight was a classic Southern dish - Fried Pork Chops, Homemade Mashed Potatoes, gravy, and corn.... I can see Dr. Oz just cringing....
I learned how to fry pork chops when I was about thirteen. My grandma, my mom, my aunts, they all knew how to fry pretty much anything.
You start by rinsing your pork chops and coating them in your seasonings - I used a little salt, pepper, and my secret ingredient when it comes to seasoning, Cavenders - then you coat the chops with flour and fry it in a skillet with a small layer of oil in he pan (Normally just enough so the pork chops won't stick) and cook until they are done.
Then your potatoes - Just like any other mashed potato's you boil the potatoes (I normally cut them up first) and then you mash them up, adding butter, seasonings, and a little bit of milk to taste and until it is the texture you prefer.
Gravy - you have two options. Most stores sell small packets of powder that you can make gravy from or you can make homemade gravy... Using the oil you cooked the pork chops in you add flour and brown it slightly and then you add milk (being careful not to scorch) and stir frequently until it thickens. Because you use the oil you've cooked the pork in, there is no need to season.
You can either use corn in a can or I prefer corn on the cob and instead of boiled, I like to cook it either in the oven or on the grill still in the husk and wrapped in tin foil. Roasted corn is by far the most amazing way to eat corn on he cop.
Tonight I settled for the easier version of this meal.
My gravy was from a packet and my corn was in a can... But home made is by far the best.
My tip for making this healthier - The fresher the better - Corn on the cob is not sweetened, and doesn't have any added salt and fresh produce is always better.
If yo have the land and the ability you can also grow your own corn and potatoes but, there are not many people who do that much anymore.
I will try to add pictures of my meals in the future, but I have to get my camera up and running first.
Hope you all have a great day!
Happy Eating!
- B
Friday, May 18, 2012
Living Healthy In A Fried Chicken World
If you have ever lived in the South then you will completely understand the title of this blog.
However, let me explain for those who have never dwelled in the South-Eastern region of the United States.
The South is known for quite a few things. Southern hospitality, thick accents, and great food. I was born in one of the iconic Southern towns, Charleston, South Carolina. My family moved to Florida when I was very young, but don't let my title of being a Florida Girl fool you. The South most definitely extends much further than Alabama and Georgia. I was raised in the Florida Panhandle and I grew up drinking sweet tea, saying "Yes mame" and "Ya'll" but I grew up with a great moral standing. I grew up respecting my elders, learning how to cook, clean, and most importantly, I had a great support in preparing me for my life in the real world.
Now, I may have a strong tie to my Southern roots but I am also very proud of my Native American heritage. I participate in gatherings, Pow Wows, and even ceremonies to keep my heritage alive. Alongside being Native American, I am also Italian on my fathers side but I do not know much of my Italian heritage.
The main priority of this blog is to become healthier. I am currently overweight for my height - a whopping 5 ft an a half inch - and I know it can cause health issues later on. My family has heart problems on both my mama's side and my dad's, diabetes runs in he family, as does high blood pressure. I know this already puts me at risk but I know being at an unhealthy weight can put me even more at risk. I want to live a long healthy life, I want to be able to pass down the family traditions to my own kids eventually and I want to be able to spend my life with the man of my dreams - who I have been blessed enough to be able to find this early on in life.
I believe everyone has different hardships when it comes to losing weight and being healthy. I identified mine long ago, but I have been unable to overcome these things. I know commitment makes it hard. You have to be committed to find the time - to make the time to be able to exercise and stay active. You also have to be able to eat healthy, enter the title...
The South is known for many things when it comes to cooking -
Fried, Fried and double fried is the first. Fried chicken, country fried steak... It is a Southern staple and always will be. The second in line is sweet tea and true Southern sweet tea is super strong (as in you can not see through it at all) and super sweet and obviously the caffeine and the sugar could not possibly be good for you, but we still drink it.... Daily.
On top of these there are, baked beans, potato salad, biscuits, gravy, and tons and tons of butter.
Southern cooking is probably the top of the line when it comes to unhealthy food, which is probably why diabetes runs in my family to begin with.
However, I believe it is possible to lose weight and be healthy while still holding onto those Southern traditions... Cause lets just be completely honest with each other - There is absolutely no way I could give up sweet tea... I could give up soda, I don't drink coffee, but there is no unearthly way I could no drink sweet tea. I know I will have to work twice as hard to lose weight if I am not eating the healthiest food but I am completely okay with that.
I believe I can do this, and I think it would be great to smash all that talk that you can't eat whatever you want and still take care of yourself - of course you have to take care of yourself, eat enough veggies, get all your recommended vitamins, eat enough protein, etc... But I don't believe that you should have to give up recipes that have been passed down generations just because some doctor on TV says baked chicken is better than fried.
I know this is going to be a long and winding road but it will be fun at the least.
- B
However, let me explain for those who have never dwelled in the South-Eastern region of the United States.
The South is known for quite a few things. Southern hospitality, thick accents, and great food. I was born in one of the iconic Southern towns, Charleston, South Carolina. My family moved to Florida when I was very young, but don't let my title of being a Florida Girl fool you. The South most definitely extends much further than Alabama and Georgia. I was raised in the Florida Panhandle and I grew up drinking sweet tea, saying "Yes mame" and "Ya'll" but I grew up with a great moral standing. I grew up respecting my elders, learning how to cook, clean, and most importantly, I had a great support in preparing me for my life in the real world.
Now, I may have a strong tie to my Southern roots but I am also very proud of my Native American heritage. I participate in gatherings, Pow Wows, and even ceremonies to keep my heritage alive. Alongside being Native American, I am also Italian on my fathers side but I do not know much of my Italian heritage.
The main priority of this blog is to become healthier. I am currently overweight for my height - a whopping 5 ft an a half inch - and I know it can cause health issues later on. My family has heart problems on both my mama's side and my dad's, diabetes runs in he family, as does high blood pressure. I know this already puts me at risk but I know being at an unhealthy weight can put me even more at risk. I want to live a long healthy life, I want to be able to pass down the family traditions to my own kids eventually and I want to be able to spend my life with the man of my dreams - who I have been blessed enough to be able to find this early on in life.
I believe everyone has different hardships when it comes to losing weight and being healthy. I identified mine long ago, but I have been unable to overcome these things. I know commitment makes it hard. You have to be committed to find the time - to make the time to be able to exercise and stay active. You also have to be able to eat healthy, enter the title...
The South is known for many things when it comes to cooking -
Fried, Fried and double fried is the first. Fried chicken, country fried steak... It is a Southern staple and always will be. The second in line is sweet tea and true Southern sweet tea is super strong (as in you can not see through it at all) and super sweet and obviously the caffeine and the sugar could not possibly be good for you, but we still drink it.... Daily.
On top of these there are, baked beans, potato salad, biscuits, gravy, and tons and tons of butter.
Southern cooking is probably the top of the line when it comes to unhealthy food, which is probably why diabetes runs in my family to begin with.
However, I believe it is possible to lose weight and be healthy while still holding onto those Southern traditions... Cause lets just be completely honest with each other - There is absolutely no way I could give up sweet tea... I could give up soda, I don't drink coffee, but there is no unearthly way I could no drink sweet tea. I know I will have to work twice as hard to lose weight if I am not eating the healthiest food but I am completely okay with that.
I believe I can do this, and I think it would be great to smash all that talk that you can't eat whatever you want and still take care of yourself - of course you have to take care of yourself, eat enough veggies, get all your recommended vitamins, eat enough protein, etc... But I don't believe that you should have to give up recipes that have been passed down generations just because some doctor on TV says baked chicken is better than fried.
I know this is going to be a long and winding road but it will be fun at the least.
- B
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