What I have learned Thursday...

Tonight, I had to take my turn to volunteer at the Baseball Concession stand. 

I just had to inquire about one of the items on the menu.

"What the heck is a Frito Pie?"

"You don't know what a Frito Pie is?"

"Where are you from?"

"Utah."

"What kind of things do you eat in Utah? Well we don't eat a whole lot of grease and we don't fry as much as they do here. I had never heard of Sweet Tea until I moved here, and I  know I don't recall seeing Frito Pie on the menu.  So what is it?"

"Wait, you don't eat grease?"

"No we eat some, but I try to avoid it."

"How do you avoid it?" 

"Well, when I cook ground beef, I rinse it."

"You rinse it?"

"Yeah, in hot water."

"What do you mean in hot water?"

"Well, I put it in a colander and run hot water over it.  Then, I wipe the grease out of my pan with a paper towel.  Then, I add the meat back to the pan."

"Really?  I had no idea you could do that, and it gets rid of the fat?"

"Yes, most of it...So what is a Frito Pie?"

"Fritos, with cheese and chili over the top.  You see, here in the South we like to keep it simple."

Tonight, I learned two more interesting things I didn't know about the South.

One: Fritos, cheese and chili are a meal.

Two: Meals should be kept simple.

I will add that to my ever increasing pot of Southern Culture. 

I must stock more fritos, chili and processed cheese on my pantry shelf.  Along with the jar of bacon grease that I heard is a must to have around when you need to liven up your vegetables a little bit.

I love learning about different cultures, don't you.  Isn't it neat how we can take the same ingredients but make something completely different out of them.

I like living in the South. I think my kids will too when they find out that Fritos are a meal.

I love all you Southern friends.  Thanks for showing me a new side to life.