Friday is Scrapple Day

Who doesn't like a loaf of ground organ meat?

Crap-- let me start over.

Having grown up just west of Philadelphia, Amish culture has permeated more than just my sense of style and Dad's sensibilities. I have recreated, to the best of my abilities, and with the aid of very sophisticated computer models, the genesis of this rare treat:

-Brother Jakob, it's nearly suppertime. What hath the Lord provided that remains in the cellar?

-I see only cornmeal, hog's head, skin, liver, and heart.

-Sweet Jehovah...

There is something so quintessentially savory and meaty about scrapple that they could probably manufacture MSG from the stuff. If I were to place it somewhere within the food pyramid, I would put it squarely in the group of things that you would only ever touch if you ate it as a child, along with vegemite and anchovies packed in oil. But seriously, talk about synergism, this concoction is way better than the sum of its parts (cornmeal. OM NOM NOM). It emerges from it's vacuum-packed stasis as a dry, grainy lump of whatever-the-hell-it-is, and you may suspect that the pan needs a touch of oil to brown this guy up-- but no. It knows, I'm telling you. Packed deep away within its gray-matterish slices is everything you need for the best breakfast you've had all month.

Scrapple

Ingredients:

Scrapple (find it in the organ-loaf aisle)

Courage

1. Slice with a sharp knife into 3/8 inch slices. Not too thick now, because there is something reassuring about knowing that fire is one of the better antiseptics.

2. Fry over medium heat -- 8-10 minutes per side or until well browned.

3. Serve with eggs and toast. Pair with orange juice.

It is somewhat vindicating that my boorish meat-eating lifestyle (read: religiosity) can nullify Mariel's self-righteousness as a vegetarienne. Also satisfying is the ability to use this blog as an excuse to purchase myself a new camera. Next up is a technology blog so that I can buy myself an iPad. Somewhat fitting, though, is the fact that now we both have the exact same camera -- thereby giving us the opportunity to create gratuitous competition where there should, in fact, be none.