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Swamp Travels: Pulled Pork and Collard Greens

June 19, 2012 by Judy Lyness 12 Comments

Life has been extremely busy for this Broad.  I apologize for not posting sooner.  It’s just that life has been moving at warp speed since the supper club.

Photo by Judy Lyness

My new travels take me to the Louisiana/Mississippi border along the Pearl River for a new television show that I’m on.  It’s been an incredibly intimate view of a slice of America that I’ve never seen before–the swamp.

I fully understand the allure of the swamp.  The sensory overload of the twenty first century slowly recedes as the boat launches into the water.  No cell reception, no vehicle noise, just the sounds of cicadas, tree frogs and the hum of an outboard.

Being out on the boats reminds me of childhood summer vacations on the lake.  We had an old and heavy rowboat that I would take out early in the mornings, just me and the water.  I would have made cornmeal mush for bait or have dug for worms the night before and head down to find the quiet that a large family rarely provides.

After loading the boat with fishing pole and bait I’d push off from the dock.  The sound that eased my soul was the squish of the boat cutting the water.  The seesaw rocking of the boat as I settled into the bench. The power I felt as I grasped the oars and pulled across the stilled waters.  The quiet sounds.  There were no kids swimming, no parents shouting, no splashing, no Marco, no Polo.  And then I’d get to my favorite fishing spot and lift the oars out of the water, and the sound of the droplets gently hitting the water as I rested the oars in the boat.  That soothing sound, the gentle cradle rock of the boat all came back like a flash as we floated along.

Photo by Judy Lyness

Of course the terrain of the lake and swamp are totally different.  The places we scouted for the show were enchanted and totally unfamiliar.

What I heard as “snappers knees” turned out to be cypress knees.  Up croppings from the roots of the cypresses that hide in the thicket to trip you.

The trudging through swamp and mud was not so kind to my very special location boots.  These old boots have been with me on many a shoot–walking through the desert in Egypt, looking for gold in Venezuela, the holy grail in Jordan as well as trudging the outback in Australia.  Alas, the swamp mud did them in.

   

But life has not been all swamp and mud.  We eat.  One of the best places thus far has been Fat Boys BBQ in Picayune, Mississippi.  The pulled pork is shredded, tender sweetness.  And without doubt the collared greens were the best, bar none, that I’ve ever tasted, sweet and spicy. Unfortunately the perfectly wonderful cole slaw was over shadowed by the pork and collard greens, voted the hit of the table by all.

Fat Boys BBQ Picayune, Mississippi

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Filed Under: Pork, Travel Tagged With: collard greens, Mississippi, pulled pork, swamp, Travel

Comments

  1. Mama's Gotta Bake says

    June 19, 2012 at 9:08 AM

    What a great adventure. The boots tell the whole story! I bet they know how to do BBQ right in Picayune!

    Reply
  2. Dorothy at Shockinglydelicious says

    June 19, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    Jealous of your peregrinations!

    Reply
    • Judy at Two Broads Abroad says

      June 19, 2012 at 6:01 PM

      You got me on that one. Had to look it up. Held an alligator today. It was gross.

      Reply
  3. Laura Scudieri - Ilardi says

    June 19, 2012 at 12:26 PM

    I love to read your stories! Now if I can find a way to hear them in person! Miss you.
    Laura

    Reply
    • Judy at Two Broads Abroad says

      June 19, 2012 at 6:02 PM

      Would love to tell them to you in person. I’m thinking we need another trip to Paris, maybe Sicily?

      Reply
  4. Lentil Breakdown says

    June 20, 2012 at 7:06 AM

    Wow, had no idea you were there! This is odd kismet. I have been doing a little research into the blues trail along the Mississippi Delta. I have some history with the blues and was thinking of going there to find the birthplace of the blues!! Loved your writing in this post. Can’t wait to hear more!

    Reply
  5. Judy at Two Broads Abroad says

    June 20, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    It’s been a crazy time. Yet it’s just a wonderful slice of life. And the swamp is a thing of beauty.

    Reply
  6. Janie says

    January 22, 2014 at 2:54 PM

    DEEEEELISH!!!! xoxox

    Reply
  7. Kelly at Tasting Page says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:37 PM

    What a great adventure you’re on. Can’t wait to read more, and hear about what else you’re eating!

    Reply
  8. Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:16 PM

    Wow, this gives a whole new meaning to swamp thing. Love your adventures.

    Reply
  9. Dana @ Foodie Goes Healthy says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:19 PM

    Beautiful writing about your childhood experience. You really capture the sensory experience. It’s amazing how something that happened so long ago can still be so vivid in our mind. Also. I enjoyed hearing about your travel. This year is already filled with new adventure.

    Reply
    • Dana @ Foodie Goes Healthy says

      January 30, 2014 at 2:43 PM

      Wait a minute, this is an older post. Somehow it popped up on Facebook now so a I thought you were out of town. I’m glad it popped up because it’s a beautiful post.

      Reply

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I moonlight as a television producer, mostly of food/travel shows (go figure). I've owned my own bakery, worked in many places in NYC as both pastry chef and cuisine. Read More…

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