Chinquapins

Have you ever heard of a chinquapin? This was one of my favorite "wild" foods to go out gathering when I was growing up. Fortunately, there was a bush that grew right at the end of my grandparent's driveway, so I never had to walk too far to get a chinquapin fix!

We always called them "chinky-pins" or "chink-a-pins". I remember how getting the little nut out of the burr was always a prickly undertaking because those little spines sure will stab you! You could wait for the burrs to open wider or even shake the chinquapins from the tree, but birds loved them as much as I did, so you had to take some risks to beat the early birds! Chinquapins start getting ripe in September and they taste very similar to a chestnut, but they are much sweeter.

It has been years since I have had a chinkypin. This coming weekend is The Chinquapin Festival in my hometown of Meadows of Dan, Virginia. If you get the chance, stop in for a visit!

Chinquapin Festival

Oops! Mystery item post

I would like to apologize to the folks who commented on yesterday's mystery item. I inadvertently managed to delete the comments and I even deleted the comment field so that no one can even comment on the reveal of what the item is!

So, if you would like to comment, here would be the place!

Again, my apologies,
Kimberly

Mystery Item

What do you think this is?  

I know that some of you folks will get this right away.  

Others will not have a clue. 

Good luck in your guesses!

Lots of good guesses folks!   The two most common guesses were either a boot scraper or a hackle.
Drum roll please!


It is a flax hackle.  
To see a hackle being used check out the following video.

Flax Processing

BlogThis!

Grape Pie

Have you ever had a slice of grape pie?  This was my and Grandpa Burnette's favorite pie. We would always go out together and pick the grapes that grew wild all around the farm.  Nowadays, I use Concord grapes.

Grape Pie Recipe

--Approximately 6-7 cups of concord grapes (depending on size of grapes)
--1 cup granulated sugar (I sometimes use 3/4 cup of granulated sugar & 1/4 cup of brown sugar instead.  I prefer my grape pies a bit tart so adjust sugar to suit your taste)
--dash of cinnamon
--dash of salt
--2 tablespoons of flour
--1 tablespoon butter
--use your favorite pie crust for the bottom & top (I prefer deep dish because nothing is worse than boiled over grapes in your oven!)


Wash & skin the grapes.  DO NOT throw the skins away!  Simmer the pulp for about 5 minutes then press pulp through a sieve to remove the seeds.  Throw the seeds away.  Mix the skins back in with the pulp. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, salt and flour.  Pour into pie crust and dot a small amount of butter onto the top of the grape mixture.  Cover with a top crust and seal edges.  Remember to cut small holes or slits in the top crust to allow the steam to escape. 


Bake in a 375F oven for approximately 45 minutes or until the crust starts to turn a golden brown and the filling begins to bubble up through the slits.  


Cool before serving. 


Concord grapes are available in the grocery store right now, so get busy making a yummy grape pie!  A word to the wise:  This pie WILL stain your teeth, tongue, and lips, so don't plan to go out in polite society without giving those teeth a good brushing!.

Getting Your Nose Buttered

How many of you have ever heard of getting your nose buttered on your birthday?  When I was growing up in the Floyd/Patrick/Carroll counties area of Virginia, it was traditional to attempt to sneak up on the birthday person and smear butter on their nose.  Even our teachers in elementary school would get in on the action, going to the cafeteria and getting the butter.

I just assumed that this was a common practice until several years ago, when I mentioned something about it to a co-worker here in Roanoke.  They looked at me like I was insane!  Then, I started asking everyone that I knew here if they had ever heard of this tradition.  No one had.   Then, I asked my husband if he had ever heard of it.  He grew up in Scott County, Virginia.  While he had not heard of that tradition, they would get soot from the chimney and smear it on the birthday person's nose.

Have you ever heard of this tradition or something similar?  Please leave a comment if you have.