The inception of FryDay
FryDay began on Thanksgiving 2005. We had fried the turkey that day for the first time, and it was just about the most delicious turkey I'd ever had in my life. That night, Rob, Drew, and I were talking, which tends to get the three of us in trouble, and thought that it was a shame to waste all that peanut oil, especially considering how expensive it is. Rob and I decided to make a run to WalMart to pick up more things we could fry. We picked up pickles, hot dogs, Snickers bars, Oreo cookies, and a few different types of batter.
The next day we called Captain Dave to see if he wanted to come up from Hammond. Dave kinda hemmed and hawed, giggling a little bit and saying "yeahhhhh," which he tends to do when he's not sure if he wants to do something. Rob summoned up his most persuasive "c'moooooonnnnn" and Dave relented and asked for directions.
It was a good, good day. We fried the hell out some stuff. I had never seen true, pure joy in a face before Rob tasted the first battered and fried Snickers bar, but I'm sure his glee was only reflected in my face as I tried my own battered and fried Snickers bar for the first time. That was definitely the success of the day.
A few of the fruits of our labor:
FryDay 2006
We tried a few new things last year, most notably shrimp (delicious), Haydel's Pie, which was a knockoff from Hubig's pies (pretty doggone good), pickles (forgettable), cream cheese wontons (AMAZING), and ice cream (what?). Of course, the Snickers bar made a return, but I'm glad we made a few more savory things last year because I was doggone near ready to barf from all the sweet stuff from the first annual FryDay.
Let's play spot the vegetable:
(hint: there are no vegetables)
Rob exercises the precautions necessary when one drops ice cream into a pot full of extremely hot oil:
FryDay 2007 is shaping up to be the best FryDay ever. While I definitely have fun with my boys, I think we all felt selfish about keeping FryDay to ourselves, and I've invited several more people this year. The guest list has hit around 12. The legend of FryDay has spread far and wide and there are many, many people bumming out that they can't come this year. Don't worry, y'all, we'll do it again.
We'll hopefully be playing beerball on FryDay this year, weather permitting... but beerball is another post all together. Long story short - touch football, but you must be holding an open container of a beverage in one hand. Said beverage is traditionally beer, but Dave has traditionally allowed me to have water, so he might make a boxed wine exception for our classier attendees.
Also on the docket this year: DANGER. It was bad enough when it was just 4 of us, including my
Will you be in central Mississippi the day after Thanksgiving? Do you shun Black Friday? Is your heart mostly good? Do you have a complete disregard for all things organic, all-natural, and healthy? Comment here. FryDay does not discriminate based on age, sex, class, race, or religion. FryDay does discriminate based on leafy greens and vitamins. We just ain't havin' that.
38 comments:
Now THAT should be a federal holiday.
Are fried twinkies on the menu this year? How about fried pizza?
At the very least, we should get sponsorship. I'd think that Crisco, Maalox, and Trimspa would be in.
Dang, that sounds good!!!
(not the Maalox and Trimspa...the menu)
ROTFLMAO!!!!
This a HOOT!!! I wish I could come!! Like all southerners, I think all foods should be FRIED!!!
Sushi is bait, y'all!!!
Have you thought about fried bits of mac'n'cheese? The fried twinkies and snickers sound wonderful!
I feel sure the local cardiology practices would fight over sponsorship!
I've been sitting here thinking of all the things you can fry--It's a world of possibility! I was about to say I wish I lived near you guys, but, since I'm allergic to peanuts, FryDay probably isn't the greatest time for me to drop in..LOL! You all are hilarious--I love it!
Ok... how about fried bananas? I know, I know.... they are technically one of the "don't-even-think-about-it" foods, but don't you think they'd be yummy??
And have you tried oreos? peppermint patties? or cupcakes?
Jo
I can't believe you don't have onion rings! Onions ain't veggies once you batter and fry those babies!!
Sounds fun and a joyful day of family and friends!
i'm so there with beer in hand!
If you fry sushi, Heather, does it still count as bait?
Send me fried stuff!
Watercolor- we tried onion rings last year, but had trouble getting the batter to stick... if anyone knows the solution to this problem, I would be happy to try again.
Stacey- there are clearly some pieces of fried broccoli in the "spot the veggie" pic... just sayin :)
Things that have been suggested to me this year: Fried twinkies, fried strawberries (stuffed with chocolate) Deep fried ham and cheese, calzones, fried peanut butter and bananna sandwiches, and chicken-ka-bobs.
I so can't wait.
My wife, my 16-month-old son and I are coming from New Jersey to experience FryDay. We scheduled our vacation around it. Ironically, we had scheduled our vacation to come down for FryDay Eve 2005 (or, as it was then known, "Thanksgiving"), but Katrina prevented us from coming. Had we been there, FryDay may not have happened. The LORD's ways are not our ways; blessed be the LORD.
The Cheesecake Factory has fried mac-n-cheese balls. It has to work.
Everywhere in the known world (outside glorious nation of Kazakhstan, that is) has fried onion rings. It has to work. (Alton Brown should be able to help us out with that one.)
Are you dipping the onions in wet batter? If so, that's probably the problem. To make onion rings, dip the onions lightly in egg then in dry, seasoned flour. And make sure you do that a few at a time. Trying to do it en masse could lead to a big hunk of stuck together fried onion. Yeah, I used to be a cook.
I remember pictures from prior fryday in Drew's flickr. Truly looked like a riot!!
I had deep-fried risotto balls at an Italian restaurant a while back... delicious!
Re onion rings, I've always heard you dredge them in seasoned flour before wet-battering, or before dipping in egg and dredging again.
I guess it depends on the restaurant. I worked at an Italian place and that's how we did ours.
Dang, I so wish Blogger had threaded comments.
Emma B:
Do not talk of frying sushi. While I agree that the only way to cook fish that makes Jesus smile is to fry it or smoke it, sushi represents the awesomeness of God's design untouched by the corruption of the world.
Jesusthroughmary:
I agree we may have to ask for the intercession of St. Alton.
How about fried stromboli?
His Brownness does Leek Rings by dredging, egg-washing, and dredging again, which I keep meaning to try. I don't know that he's done onion rings per se, but the same principle should apply.
And rest assured, *I* would never corrupt such a perfect food. (Although I am quite fond of sushi which involves fried food -- soft-shell crab rolls are teh yum.) I merely suggested it to Heather, who regards it as "bait".
Oh, and I've had fried ravioli, which are delicious. I imagine stromboli would be just as good.
For that matter, I used to love the fried bow-tie pasta appetizer at Copeland's....
Re: beerball...
Can I be the designated beer referee? Of the beer cheerleader? Or just the beer drinker?
If it must be beer+ball, make mine beer magic 8 ball...
"Will I puke from beer & grease overload?"
*shake ball*
* As I see it, yes
* Ask again later
* Better not tell you now
* Concentrate and ask again
* It is certain
* It is decidedly so
* Most likely
* Outlook good
* Reply hazy, try again
* Signs point to yes
* Very doubtful
* Without a doubt
* Yes
* Yes - definitely
* You may rely on it
Up next - bobbing for Snickers!
Jo - I think we did fry bananas in 2005. They weren't all that good... I think we just didn't use the right batter. We also did do Oreos, and they were pretty good. Not mind-blowing like the Snickers, but pretty good.
I'm interested in these chocolate-stuffed fried strawberries, Rob. We'll have to figure that out.
Fried ravioli sounds GOOOOD.
Doghouse - I'm gonna leave bobbing for Snickers in boiling hot oil up to you.
Stacey,
As I was going to sleep last night-I had an inspiration-remember banana boats from girl scouts?
Peel a banana cut a slice in banana and fill up with chocolate chips and marshmallows, and roast on fire. Well you could do something similar. Peel the banana and cut out a place to , put in the chips and marshmallows, then put the banana back together, and dip in a sweet batter and fry. It would have to be good.
That's pretty brilliant, Heather.
This sounds like so much FUN!!! lol!
You gotta be there to know just how fun, watercolor...
deep fried and beerball...
who knew what it would take to get some hot topic going in your journal.
Looking forward to our first Fryday!
Let us know if you need us to bring anything!
avacado stuffed with chicken and cheese....scrumscious....
Hmm...cheesecake?
I'm contemplating....
We need a seperate fryer for the sweet and unsweet....hmmm...
I once had fried ice cream, it was so good!
In home economics when I was younger we had fried apple rings, that was really good too.
I am not too sure I'd want to try the pickles tough.
In addition to Scientology, Camden also created the fried pizza turnover:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzarotti
We loves us some Panzarotti in the Dirty South (Jersey). Don't let anyone tell you that Yankees can't fry food - at least the Italian ones.
Stacey said...
You gotta be there to know just how fun, watercolor...
I'll bet! :) I hope you have a great day.
I'll take care of the beerball post-
http://brouhahhah.blogspot.com
Fried ravioli is the BOMB, they do that in some Italian restaurants. You could also do an old trick of my grandmother's (she had a restaurant in Gulfport in the 60s)- fried grits. If you have leftover grits as well all know they are hard and nasty. Slice your grits into the size of fish fingers, fry them in butter, remove from pan and then cover in maple syrup. My husband would so flip out if he found out i posted that on the internets, he thinks fried food is right up there with Peanut Butter and Big Macs. IF he felt that way he should have never married a southerner. I would eat a deep fried piece of paper.
a fine restuarant in oxford mississippi fries pickles, the secret is to put tony chachere's in the batter and fry like onion rings
Fried apple pies rock! I have been experimenting with flour tortillas and bought pie crust dough. I prefer to use dried apple pies, but it is quicker to use canned apples and add sugar and cinnamon to them, then wrap in dough and fry. Happy Fry Day!
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