Hush Puppies

LITTLE SAVORY BALLS OF CORNMEAL BATTER, Hush Puppies are so delicious with so many meals. No Southern fish fry would be complete without them. All the barbecue joints around here serve them. I was once at a restaurant that had hush puppies with pimiento cheese as an appetizer and that was tasty!

I serve hush puppies with all sorts of foods. I especially love them with braised greens. I made these to serve with a vegetable soup. They are great with chili. Any time you think of cornbread, think hush puppies instead.

I have never posted the recipe for my hush puppies but you have probably seen them pepping around the corner in some of my photographs. My puppies are never perfect balls because I don't deep fry them, I pan fry them in my black iron skillet.

These hush puppies are fluffy and tender inside and crisp and crunchy outside. And they are delicious, even if they are misshapen.

Hush Puppies
1 cup self-rising corn meal
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup minced sweet onion
1 Tbsp. hot melted shortening

Place corn meal in a mixing bowl. Stir in well beaten egg and buttermilk. Add hot shortening and minced onion just before cooking. Drop by spoonfuls into hot oil. Cook until golden brown on each side. 

"Homemade" Pita Chips with Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper

 "HOMEMADE" IS IN QUOTES because I question whether these pita chips are actually homemade. Would homemade pita chips require homemade pita bread? Is this even a recipe?

I had a partial package of whole wheat pita bread sitting around for a few days. I knew they wouldn't be fresh for sandwiches so I decided to turn them into pita chips. As I browsed ideas for doing this, I noticed a common theme. People cut the pita bread into wedges and spread onto a sheet pan. Then in a mixing bowl, combine olive oil with desired spices. Then brush the front and back of each chip with the oil mixture.

I nixed that idea. If I did want to brush each side with the oil mixture, I would do it before cutting into wedges. I couldn't see brushing each individual chip, on each side. . .we are not making fancy canapes here. 

These are crisp and delicious and so easy to make. Did I mention they are much more economical than bags of pita chips?

Taylor the spices to what the chips will be served with, garlic is always good, smoked paprika, chili powder, and more. I used sea salt and cracked black pepper.

"Homemade" Pita Chips

Stale pita bread
Olive oil
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cut each pita into 8 wedges. Place in a bowl. Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper. Toss together (I do this with my hands) until all wedges are coated. Spread in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake 8 --10 minutes until golden brown.