Just a Southern Girl at Heart

I have been travelling all around the country and for the last 4 weeks I have been in Philadelphia. I can see how people would think it is a great town. I mean they have beautiful art museums (including the one with the steps Rocky ran up....ADRIENNE!!!), lots of great shopping (Walnut Avenue around 15th and 16th streets) and an abundance of restaurants. Philadelphia is a diverse town that has a place for everyone. That is everyone but me. As much as I like to travel and as much as I love to eat, being in Philadelphia makes me realize how much of a southern girl I really am. And I am darn proud of it!

Because my soul was craving family and good southern food, I had to fly home today so that I could enjoy one of my all-time favorite traditions...FRIED FISH FRIDAYS!!! As long as I can remember, my family has eaten fish on Fridays. I don't really know why Friday is the chosen day besides my father said he ate fish on Fridays growing up as a child. He said it was a Catholic thing but we aren't Catholic and neither were my grandparents so I don't know why that would pertain to us. But it doesn't matter because it is a tradition I love and I miss it when I can't participate.

My mother likes to eat fish at fish camps around town. (If you don't know what a fish camp is then you are like the other gazillion people of the world who don't live in Gastonia. Fish camps are family owned seafood restuarants that have lots of atmosphere but no glitz and glam. They are mom and pop shops that pile on the food for really low prices.) She prefers to fry the fish at home which is what I could DIE over!!! We generally get really thin pieces of flounder, rinse them off, pat them dry, season them with Lowry's, and then roll them in seafood batter. While my mom preps the fish, my dad preps the oil on the back porch because he doesn't want the house to smell like fish. Once the oil is the perfect temperature the fish cooks in 8 minutes. It is the perfect crispiness. When you bite into the fish you can taste the seasons in the batter but you can still taste the lightness and freshness of the fish. You don't need anymore season salt on it but if you add a hint of lemon juice it will take you over the top!! OMG! OMG! OMG! Most people eat fish with cole slaw or corn on the cob but I only want a plate of fish. I generally eat at least 4 pieces but maybe 7 or 8 pieces! I get it in!

Although I know fried fish doesn't make me a Southern girl its how I eat it that does. I put all the fish on my plate and eat it with my hands so that I don't miss one little piece. With my first 4 pieces I use lemon juice to put it over the top but on the last 4 pieces I use the secret to all Southern food...TEXAS PETE! Man o' man! Texas Pete is hard to find in other parts of the country so I am assuming it is Southern. It definitely adds some Southern heat to my food and to my mouth when I add it to my food. I have to wash it down with a big cup of Southern Sweet Tea (something else you can't get in Philly).

Well I guess this post is long enough considering my last one went on and on and on and on. LOL! I won't post a recipe since I kind of game you the recipe for fried fish.

All the travel in the world only makes me a well-travelled Southern girl!