August 28, 2009

Boiled Peanuts

Boiled Peanuts 3:32
I am standing in a peanut field in south Georiga and due with a baby in Oct.

In the rural areas of the south there is a boiled peanut stand every few miles. Highly addictive and delicious, once you start eating them you just can’t stop. I have even been known as a child to eat so many that I had a stomach ache for hours.

Growing up, my dad grew peanuts and every fall, once again, guess what my weekend job was? Yep, selling boiled peanuts on the sidewalk of Reynolds, Georgia with my friend Anne. We set up a stand outside her dad’s Western Auto and I would take a basket and walk the streets hitting the local Chevrolet dealership, Hinton’s Building Supply, and anyone I passed on the street. We easily made $75 a day so for eight years old we were pretty happy.

As you head up north this boiled delicacy is a little harder to find, but thanks to Chris Dial and Kate Burke you can purchase boiled peanuts in person in Brooklyn, NY and soon they will be available on their website www.boiledinbrooklyn.com in salty, less salty, cajun, and “special blend” flavors. Chris and Kate are originally from the south and when they moved to New York they missed this southern treat so their business was born.

If you are able to get your hands on a couple of bags of boiled peanuts then try to refrain from eating the entire bag before you get home and try this unique recipe by Hugh Acheson, a local Athens chef and owner of Five & Ten. Boiled Peanut Hummus is easy and addictive and if you serve it to your friends, they won’t forget it!

Click on the TV screen to see a little online video on Boiled Peanut Hummus and my visit to Billy’s Peanut Wagon.