Friday, June 29, 2012

The Stewed Okra Blues

Lentil: What’s wrong?

Okra: Nobody likes me.

Lentil: I do. You were one of my momma’s most savory side dishes.

Okra: But you’re from Texas. Everyone else thinks I’m a slimy hick.

Lentil: Well don’t just stew about it. Embrace your slime. Own it!

Okra: I do have this song...

Lentil: Sing it, Okra. Sing it!

The Stewed Okra Blues

I’m seedy and slimy
But baby you should try me
I’m such an easy roll in the pan

Sautée me and stew me
You know you wanna do me
I’ll satisfy more than your man

I ain’t white trash, but I heard Johnny Cash
Loved me more than his ol’ gal, June
Like her sweet succotash, she cooked me in a flash
And served me with some fried raccoon

I’m slimy and seedy
But baby I ain’t needy
You can leave me all alone to braise

Stew me and sautée me
But don’t you dare fillet me
I’m goin’ through a vegan phase

Now listen up, you haters
Grab some peppers and tomaters
I’m a little sweet ‘n sour
You don’t need no oil and flour
Don’t fry me, I’m slimy, just try me

I’m so thick ‘n chunky when I’m stewed
I’m a hot ‘n hunky southern dude
Why me? I’m slimy, just try me

I may lead a life of slime
But I’m delicious and I rhyme
Buy me, I’m slimy, just try me

© 2012 Adair Seldon


The Stewed Okra Recipe

1 small onion, diced

1 medium pepper, diced (I used yellow for color, but the traditional is green)

1 ½ - 2 stalks of celery, sliced

3/4 lb okra, sliced

14 oz. can of stewed or diced tomatoes*

1 tsp brown sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

Sautée onions until a little brown. Add pepper and celery. Sautee 5 - 7 more minutes. Add okra and sautée 5 more minutes. Add tomatoes and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes. Add salt, pepper and brown sugar, and cook until okra and celery are fork-tender done but not mushy. Adjust seasonings if necessary and serve.

*I used Muir Glen Organic Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes.


Lentil’s Breakdown

Canned tomatoes giving you the BPA blues? With their high acid content, they’re one of the worst offenders for Bisphenol A exposure—a known endocrine disruptor. The majority of canned goods in the U.S. are still sealed with resin that contains BPA to prevent contamination and spoiling, but some manufacturers like Muir Glen and Trader Joe’s are going BPA-free. If the can is white inside, it’s got a BPA lining; a bright golden color inside means it’s BPA-free.

Related Link:

Nopales Cactus Salad (with Cahones)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Ode to a Fugitive


You thought that you could stop and chill

Behind the garlic and the dill

The jig is up, I got your number

You’re that seedy, mean cucumber


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Travel Bite: Fashionista Farmer

L.L. Bean

I just returned from the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market where I got a preview of the new summer fashions. The last time I was there, Kenneth Cole Slaw made a colorful splash with his eye-catching ensemble. And though the chile season hasn't arrived yet, this year’s designers proved to be just as haute. Here’s a quick runway rundown with the Prada of produce. While some of the supermodels may be beanpoles, none show signs of starvation. Eat that, Kate Moss!

J. Crudité

Clové

Juicy Couture

Kalamata Klein

Chévre Saint Laurent

Karl Lavender Field

Coq au vin Chanel

Todd Old Ham