Mrs. HowChow is the most-flexible of diners, happy to eat whatever I cook except for oysters and the night that my Thai curry was just too hot for human consumption. And okra.
I vaguely remember her really liking my okra when I cooked on an early date. But now that the deal is sealed, her lips are sealed to a vegetable that she considers too slimy.
The beauty of RDAdoc's discovery is that it's okra, but not slimy. In fact, it's dried crisp, then dusted with oil and salt. It's okra chips at the Amish market on Rte 198 in Laurel as she reports:
When it comes to trying new foods I am not very adventurous. I know what I like and I usually stick with foods I know.
Several years ago while shopping at The Fresh Market in Quarry Lake, my eyes were caught by a bag of okra chips. I am not sure that I ever had tried okra before but there was something about the chips that I found intriguing so I bought some and ended up eating the entire bag myself.
They were crunchy, salty and absolutely delicious! They tasted like nothing I had ever eaten before. Since then, I have been on a mission to find a store close by that sells them. Unfortunately I have looked and looked with no success -- until last week.
While I was shopping for fruits and vegetables at the Dutch County Amish Market in Laurel, my two-year-old pulled me to JR’s Candy and Bulk foods to get him gummy bears . To my surprise, I saw bags of okra chips! (That must have been my reward for buying him candy - something I normally wouldn’t do.) I was absolutely thrilled and left with two bags.
They are close to $12/lb, but well worth the cost in my opinion. So worthwhile that I was overly enthusiastic about the okra chips to the cashier, and she gave me a strange look when I couldn’t stop raving. I have to admit that’s not the first time I’ve gotten that reaction from someone who saw me eating okra chips and asked what they were. It must be hard for people to understand why okra chips could elicit such strong emotions. I admit they do look a bit odd, but give them a chance if you are ever at the Fresh Market or JR’s Candy and Bulk Foods.
2 comments:
I was just there a week ago-- in this very stand!-- and I can't believe I missed these. I actually LIKE okra-- even slimy okra-- and suspect I'll like these chips, too. Thanks for the tip.
The first time I cooked okra, I thought it was rotten b/c it was slimy. I only eat it fried or in gumbo. I may try okra chips, except I never seem to make it back to the dutch market.
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