Welcome Spring!
Scrapple
I grew up in Lancaster County, the center of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. To this day I can’t turn down a helping of chow-chow, Lebanon bologna, or shoofly pie. I can, however, turn away the breakfast “meat” know as Scrapple. Scrapple is a pork product made from the less desirable cuts, such as organ meat, which is mixed with cornmeal and pressed into a rectangle. It’s much like sausage in its heritage, but growing up we used to joke that whatever was too disgusting to put into sausage went into the Scrapple. That’s why I won’t be attending ScrappleFest at Reading Terminal Market tomorrow.
Rita's Water Ice
More likely, I will be getting a free water ice from Rita’s tomorrow. Since I live in South Philly, I’ve grown to love the local treat known as water ice. It’s worlds apart from the ice chips with flavorings that passes for water ice in Lancaster. On the first day of Spring each year, Rita’s gives away a free water ice to all customers as a way to celebrate the start of water ice season. What better way can there be to celebrate Spring? A helping of pig hearts mashed up with cornmeal and fried? For some people, maybe. As for me, I’ll be in the line at the water ice stand tomorrow. You’ll know it’s me, because I’ll be the only one pronouncing water without the Philly accent.
