Tuesday, December 30, 2008

New Family Tradition?

In my attempt to find super duper simple dishes to bring to Christmas with the family (because I was so sick, not because I am lazy....just wanted to be sure y'all don't think I am skimping on my family at holiday time), I came across a crockpot recipe for boiled peanuts. Growing up in South Florida, which is more of a suburb of Manhattan or Cuba than part of "the South," I never tasted boiled peanuts. I knew of them but I was in college at UGA before I had my first taste of this yummy treat. I knew my family would be full of questions but thought it might be fun anyway. Because gosh it was easy to make. They were incredibly tasty, they keep well in the fridge and freezer and heat up beautifully in the microwave for easy snacking.


BOILED PEANUTS

Ingredients

* 2 lbs plain peanuts in their shell
* 3/4 cup Kosher salt
* 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning (optional but mmmmm good!)
* water

Directions

Place peanuts, salt, seasoning in crockpot. Fill up pot with as much water as you can fit in there. Put the lid on and cook on low for 18 hours.


Yes- that says 18- I thought it sounded crazy too but after trying a few peanuts during various time intervals I realized that it was correct. So start this recipe the day before and re-set the timer before you go to bed. It's worth it, I promise. It's not like you have to stand there for 18 hours so really, no excuses not to give it a try (unless you are allergic...then you should stay away)!

I wish I had a camera handy to capture the bewildered expressions from my family members as I explained the peanuts. Hilarious for y'all southerners who grew up eating these on football Saturdays. But in the end I think I converted just about everyone in the Crocodile family. They were a HUGE hit with the kids- the group I figured would be the hardest to tempt. Who knew?! I think it will surely be a new family tradition, especially for our summer get-together.

11 comments:

PreppyPeshke said...

Where did you find green(raw) peanuts this time of the year? November is as late as I've ever seen them.

I served them at my rehearsal dinner this past year. Hubby's family is from Michigan and were so perplexed at the thought of boiled peanuts. The rest of us loved them. I prefer them cold to hot though. Try them straight out of the fridge.

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

OK I think perhaps my Yankee blood is showing here.... I didn't use raw/straight from the filed peanuts. I used plain in the shell but ready to eat peanuts. The recipe didn't say anything about raw- just said in the shell. My plain-jane-never-fancy-pants grocery store has them in the produce section year-round up here.

I have a bag in the fridge so I'll give a go cold tomorrow for a snack and let you know what I think.

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

field....I meant to say field....sorry.

Preppy Sue said...

Yum, this sounds delicious!

LOL at your South Florida comment. I too grew up in a South Florida suburb and your description is right on!

shoeaddict said...

So you used cooked peanuts in the shell?? I'm confused.

My hubby is from south Georgia and his parents bring us bags of boiled and raw peanuts when they come here (LA). I don't like them boiled, but hubby does. I have a sack full of raw nuts in the freezer and I've never used the crockpot to cook them.

Barefoot in the Park said...

love love love boiled p-nuts. especially from a roadside stand on the way to the beach in the summer!

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

Hmm...OK I don't know what I used. Meaning I don't know if they were pre-cooked but I assume they were- or at least dried? This recipe didn't say anything about the nuts being raw- until this convo I am not sure I would know the difference anyway though. They were edible when I put them in the crockpot if that tells you anything. Remember....I live in NY....not exactly peanut country. So maybe I re-cooked them for 18 hours. They didn't taste different from others I've had down south- just as yummy and same texture.

DysFUNctional Mom said...

Very funny! I've been eating boiled peanuts as long as I can remember. It's funny to think of people trying them for the first time. Glad they were a hit!

Polos & Pearls said...

love boiled peanuts!!!

Buford Betty said...

Oooooh, I'm totally going to get a big-arse bag of peanuts at Costco and make these this weekend!

Buford Betty said...

I just came back for the recipe. Holy CRAP, that's a lot of salt.

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