So just what is a "pone" anyways. I'm a born and bred Northerner, and so am unfamiliar with some of the Southern delicacies. I know what cornbread is, both sweet and savory, and usually make it in a cast iron pan, in bacon grease (yum0. And I'm familiar with and enjoy ham hocks, usually in with some kind of beans, and love black eyed peas. None of those are traditional fare up here. But then again, I'm not a very traditional guy.
Here's what we'll be having with freinds:
1. Pulled pork made from a 19 lb pork butt, semi-boneless, cooked low and slow over natural charcoal with apple and maple wood for smoke.
2. My world famous chicken spring rolls with pineapple sweet & sour sauce.
3. Panko-breaded scallops, deep fried of course.
4. Indian Pastries, a wonderful Middle Eastern delight made by one of our guests every year.
4. Shrimp Scampi where I peel and devein shrimp and saute' in butter and garlic.
5. Salad shrimp with cocktail sauce.
6. Beef kabobs with bell pepers, onions, and mushrooms, all coated with EVOO, salt 'n pepper.
7. Various deli cheeses - Muenster, Provolone, 2 kinds of Swiss, 2 different Cheddars.
8.Delie meats that include black forest ham, deli beef, home barbecued pork tenderloin, sliced deli thin, deli turkey, salami, capiacola, and calabrise. The only thing missing is the liverwurst.
9. Various veggies on a relish tray.
10. Non-alcoholic cocktails to toast in the New Year.
11. I have left over chocolate truffles that I made for Christmas, some filled with home-made caramel, some with home made cashew butter. There are also some home made chocolate squares made by tempering a blend of different brands of milk and semi-sweet chocolates to provide a silky smooth flavor that is somewhat sweeter than what you get in the store.
11. Home made Cream Soda made from fresh vanilla beans, Splenda (I'm diabetic so I have to make my own if I want cream soda. No one sells the stuff around here), and carbonated water.
By tomorrow night, you might just see and eclipse of the Nporthern Stars caused by our Northern bellies.
I won't have to eat for a week after that meal. Good thing too. After purchasing my part of this feast, I'm broke.
But all is well. Pay-day is on Wednsday.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North