North Cackalacky

There is a lot I like about living in North Carolina, and then there are some things I don't. Not to say the tale that follows couldn't/wouldn't happen elsewhere, say, on the west coast, it just seems to exemplify some of the types around here. It also lets the stereotypes live on.

We're having a dinner party tonight with some of SpyC's co-workers and their spouses. It'll probably be a group of around nine or ten. I went shopping this morning at the local IGA in Angier to get the goods for the party. I had the following exchange with the clerk.

Clerk: "Cranberries! I've never had cranberries before. Are they like grapes?"

Me: "They're more crunchy than grapes, and they can be bitter."

Clerk: "I like cranberry juice. I've never seen these before. We must have just gotten them in."

Me: "Probably. Cranberries are just coming in to season."

Clerk: "Oh, well, I don't know any thing about them."

It's typical. Things that seem ordinary to me are rather extraordinary to the folk around here. Yep, I live in North Cackalacky. But I like it, back woods and all.

BTW, the cranberries are for a spiced apple sauce recipe from this month's Cooking Light. Our menu tonight?

Appetizer: Butternut squash and goat cheese spread over toasted baguette
Salad: Fall harvest mixed green salad with vinaigrette
Main course: marinated and grilled pork tenderloin
Sides: Cheesy potato casserole and spiced apple sauce
Dessert: pumpkin cheesecake (from Costco)

The recipe for the butternut squash dip and cheesy potato casserole are already in The Recipe Box. The recipes for the pork, salad and applesauce will be there soon.