Folklore: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff

Subject: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 06:32 PM

The bees are getting drunk in my back yard, intoxicated by whatever they're sipping out of over-ripe pears that have fallen to the ground. It puts me in mind that the "stiroff" season is approaching -- end of September or early October, I think -- when folks in the southern highlands, and maybe elsewhere, would gather to boil down sorghum squeezings into molasses and make a party out of it. I wondered if anyone had ideas how to recapture the spirit of those occasions in a modern setting?

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: paddymac
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 08:19 PM

If you mean a big family or communal cooking session, where anyone interested gets to put a little something in the pot, and share in the chattin' and sippin' and tastin' throughout the day and into the evening, then I'd recommend a gumbo party.

Start with a big ol' cast iron skillet, pour in some oil, and toss in as much diced onions and green peppers as it'll hold. Saute 'em gently, 'till they pretty much disappear, then add some more oil and flour to make your roux. Most folks have their own "secret ingredients", which usually go in just before the flour. I've seen folks use sassafrass, curry, chili powder, ginger, etc., etc., - just whatever you like to suit your taste. The smells from making the roux usually draw a crowd, so be sure you've got plenty of beverages on hand. Then you take the roux and put it into as big a pot as you need, and gradually add water as it warms till it reaches a taste and thickness pleasing to your palate. Then you start adding whatever kind of veggies, meats, fish, fowl, sausage, etc., etc., in what ever proportions you like, with whatever taks longest to cook goin' in first. Juices from these things will thin it down a bit, which provides the excues for "file gumbo" (actually, powdered sassafrass root) and okra. Both of them contribute to the ultimate flavor, but they are equally important as thickening agents. Then it'll be ready in a little bit. If you've had a bit much of the drink and forget to eat, that's okay, cause the stuff actually tastes better reheated the next day.

Is that kind'a what you had in mind, Pinetop?

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: DancingMom
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 09:38 PM

My husband's family still does them. They make molasses and apple butter every year. It's quite a party. I can do the apple butter here in Richmond, in a cast iron pot outside on a campfire or on my kitchen stove. Mc Intosh apples are best, or any crisp, tart apples. Fill up a big pasta or stew pot with washed, cored apples (skins on) and add at least 1 gallon apple cider. Bring to boil and cook on low heat until volume is cooked down by about half. Stir frequently. Press the stuff through a food mill, add desired amount of sugar and spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, etc.) Continue stirring and cooking until it's as thick as you want. Put it in jars to keep in the fridge or water bath canner.

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 02:29 AM

I suppose the September MudGather could feature an applesauce cookdown. Out on the back porch. We'd haul out the woodstove that sits in the kitchen, and fire her up right. Got the big pots, too. Have applesauce to take home frozen solid hard.

Or the last of the U-pick tomaters might be just finishing up for pennies a bushel about then, depending on the weather, at the farmstand down road. Frozen cookdown tomaters is good eats too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 02:00 PM

Ooh, the gumbo cookoff sounds great!
As does the apple butter. But if we were to make that, we would feel compelled to make up a stack cake or two or...

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 02:18 PM

... yes.... and then...

Breadmaking in the giant Amish bread buckets to slather all that apple butter on....

~S~

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: MMario
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:25 PM

*drool* you are killin' me here!

The thing is, you don't need the stir off, or butter makin' or anything to have the party...if you have a congenial bunch of people the play well together...and if you don't have a bunch of people that can have fun playing together then even having the cook-off or whatever won't make it work.

Subject: RE: Seek 'recipe' for a stiroff
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 06:20 PM

Of course nobody needs a stiroff, no more than anybody needs a second martini. The idea is to more or less give a tip of the hat to the stiroffs, "workings" and "frolics" that integrated work, music and all-around fun. The appeal is not unlike that of a re-enactment. And a quart of gumbo and two slices of stack cake (layers of ginger-flavored pancakes with apple butter slathered in-between) are on reserve for M.Mario.