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Walker Evans, 1936, Greensboro, Alabama (FSA photo)

November 15th, 2008 @ 10:11 am - by NMC · 18 Comments

Filed Under: Herald & Examiner

18 Responses so far ↓

1. NMC says:

   November 15, 2008 at 10:15 am

   So the Farm Service Admin sent Walker Evans around to document things like the effect of poor land use habits (e.g. erosion) and as an accidental byproduct we got photos like this.
2. lotus says:

   November 15, 2008 at 11:21 am

   Wow, the McCollums sure knew how to dress a store window, didn’t they? Wish I could run right into that photo and buy my week’s provisions.
3. duckweedpond says:

   November 15, 2008 at 2:48 pm

   that pile of bags (peanuts, potatoes?) to the right of the door looks just like a seated Buddha.
4. ThirdSouth says:

   November 15, 2008 at 3:10 pm

   And catch the forlorn expression on the fellow looking out the screen door at the cafe next door — reckon he’s in charge of the “curb service” they’re touting?
5. wooabby says:

   November 15, 2008 at 3:10 pm

   duckweedpond#3
   ROFL! Too funny
6. wooabby says:

   November 15, 2008 at 3:27 pm

   The streetlamp on the left looks exactly like the new ones my village just installed. Everything old is new again.
7. lotus says:

   November 15, 2008 at 3:43 pm

   Betcha ‘em’s peanuts next to the door and taties next to the alley. Inside, a fine selection of penny candy in the showcases. And wonderful smells.

   Ahhhhh.
8. wooabby says:

   November 15, 2008 at 4:23 pm

   Speaking of peanuts, can someone explain boiled peanuts to me? On my brief excursion south I was told to be sure and try em, it was the most gawdawful food experience of my life. Is it an acquired taste or did I get a bad batch?
9. lotus says:

   November 15, 2008 at 4:34 pm

   DEFINITELY an acquired taste, woo. I love peanuts but first one of those I tried, I spat right out. Enough folks love ‘em to keep a lot of vendors out on the roads, though. I never heard of ‘em ’til I got to Florida.
10. pr1954 says:

    November 15, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    As someone who was raised eating boiled peanuts and still love them so much, I could almost live on them, I have to say some of the nuts served at some roadside stands and most of them from convenience stores are a gawd-awful abomination. The most often mistake is not using fresh green raw peanuts. Trying to use rehydrated nuts just leads to an inferior product. But please don’t get me started…just my humble opinion..now back to our regularly scheduled programming
11. wooabby says:

    November 15, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks pr1954, I knew there had to be some trick to them. The ones I tried were from an upscale store in some picture perfect town in N.Carolina, selling lots of homestyle goodies. The clerk assured me they were the best I could buy, and yes eat them right out of the jar. Like Lotus I spit out my first bite and threw the rest away. Don’t know if I’ll ever try them again.
12. lotus says:

    November 15, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    ‘Twasn’t the flavor but the texture that turned me right off. Slimy peanuts = blue chocolate. Something’s just all wrong. You’re welcome to mine, pr1954. Tradeja for your peanut brittle?
13. confounded says:

    November 15, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    lotus @ 7: luv the dialect!!
14. GlitterGirl says:

    November 16, 2008 at 1:13 am

    Woo & lotus, I’ll take both y’all’s boiled peanuts-but NOT from any jar. Boiled peanuts in a jar is just too uppity to be any good.
15. pr1954 says:

    November 16, 2008 at 9:33 am

    If they’re slimy they’ve been sittin’ around too long…hot, wet, salty, soft but not mushy….yes, but never slimy.
16. lotus says:

    November 16, 2008 at 9:37 am

    Lemme rummage in my cookbooks a minute here, pr1954. Bet I have a compromise point we can meet on . . . BBL.
17. lotus says:

    November 16, 2008 at 10:03 am

    Here we go, from p. 152 of The Daily Soup Cookbook:

    SENEGALESE PEANUT SOUP

    1 lb dry-roasted peanuts
    2 tablespoons peanut oil
    1 Spanish onion, chopped
    2 ribs celery, chopped
    2 leeks, rinsed well and chopped
    2 teaspoons sugar
    2 teaspoons curry powder
    2 teaspoons ground cumin
    1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
    6 cups water
    1/2 cup diced scallions (green onions)
    1/2 cup half&half or heavy cream
    1 teaspoon finely-crushed fresh garlic (or garlic powder)
    cooked, boneless chicken breast (optional)*
    chopped parsley

    Chop 1/2 cup peanuts into small pieces and set aside to use as garnish. Puree remaining peanuts in a blender or food processor until a thick paste forms, set aside.

    In large soup pot, heat oil. Add onion, celery, and leeks and sweat for 4 minutes, until tender.

    Add sugar, curry, cumin, cayenne, and salt. Stir to coat the vegetables.

    Add tomatoes, water, and peanut paste. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.

    Stir in scallions, cream, garlic, and chicken,* if using. Heat through.

    Garnish with parsley and reserved peanuts. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

    * Poach 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts in gently simmering water for 10 minutes. Drain and when cool enough to handle, cut into 2-inch cubes. Add to the soup with scallions, cream, and garlic. Simmer 2 minutes to heat through.

    Zowie, that’s good.
18. pr1954 says:

    November 16, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    That’ll work…better yet let’s just get together and have a peanut party