Scrapple (n) - Dutch, literally meaning "not for the faint of heart." A savory mush in which cornmeal and flour are simmered with pork scraps and trimmings, then formed into a loaf. Small scraps of meat left over from butchering, too small to be used or sold elsewhere, were made into scrapple to avoid waste, a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.
Scrapple is typically made of hog offal, such as the head, particularly the brain, eyes, heart, liver, bladder, and other scraps, which are boiled with any bones attached (often the entire head), to make a broth. Once cooked, bones and fat are discarded, the meat is reserved, and (dry) cornmeal is boiled in the broth to make a mush. The meat, finely minced, is returned, and seasonings, typically sage, thyme, savory, and others, are added. The mush is cast into loaves, and allowed to cool thoroughly until gelled.
Scrapple is arguably the first pork food invented in America. The first recipes were created by Dutch colonists who settled near Philadelphia and Chester County, Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries. Scrapple is strongly associated with Philadelphia and neighboring eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.
What Wikipedia fails to mention is that scrapple is tasty and also wonderful. But you have to applaud anyone who can successfully pair the words "savory" and "mush" when talking about a pork loaf.
Wikipedia also left out the fact that although its a Philadelphia treat, one day you might stumble across a frozen loaf of scrapple in your grocer's freezer in Utah. And that day will be one of rejoicing.
Scrapple in utero -its most primitive form before blossoming into a delectable morsel - unless you count the pig it came from:
Wikipedia also fails to mention that your entire house will smell like scrapple after you prepare this delicious breakfast treat. You will also smell like scrapple, so be prepared to tell people that you slaved for hours to create a savory mush meal. Because they will ask. Hypothetically.
Yanaj's first sampling...
Ylime wears her heart on her sleeve...
The final verdict...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Mmmm, Your Scrapple Smells Lovely
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4 comments:
Wow. I've become an increasingly adventurous eater in recent years. Almost every time I go to the grocery store, I browse the canned meats section and try a new mystery meat (I'm particularly fond of Hormel corned beef and Turkey Spam singles). So I would have been perfectly willing to give scrapple a try, but I think the vivid description of boiled offal has ruined my appetite.
One question, if I may: Why must a loaf of pork trimmings and cornmeal be "gelled"? No wonder you found it in Utah- it must be a distant cousin to lime Jell-o.
your chances of ever forcing me, like the puppet master that you are, to try scrapple just went down the tubes. sorry
scrapple might be the test of your true love--whenever mr. right proposes, present him with a plate of scrapple before responding.
this may be the only time canned meat may determine someone's destiny. it might as well be yours. :)
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