Ode to Scrapple

[SunMo]

My whole life, I've avoided looking at the ingredients of scrapple because I knew it would make me sick.  But today, I decided to take the plunge.  And all it did is make me hungry for scrapple.

Scrapple is made of hog offal, such as the head, 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. The proportions and seasoning are very much a matter of the region and the cook's taste.

Commercial scrapple often contains these traditional ingredients, with a distinctive flavor to each brand, though homemade recipes often specify more genteel cuts of pork, with a consequently blander taste.

I heart scrapple.

[SD_Eagle5]

 I haven't had scrapple in years, that's about to change.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Man. I love me some scrapple. I could give a shtein what it is made from. It's horrible for me, so I don't eat it much, but when I am in a diner or something and it is on the menu, it is either that or corn beef hash.....or the occasion shtein on a shingle.

[MURP]

I've retired from Scrapple after having a few too many late night run ins with it at Little Petes Diner.

[Rome]

Some restaurants really butcher it, though.

I had an order from the Point Diner in Somers Point when I was up there and they sliced it real thick and then didn't cook it well done.  Needless to say, I sent it back and got them to cook it the correct way.

Habbersett is the only true scrapple.  The others are pale imitations at best.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Habbersett is the only true scrapple.  The others are pale imitations at best.

My mother worked there at one time, and she saw them make the stuff. And she still liked scrapple.

I grew up eating it thin and crispy (the right way). The wife grew up eating scrapple like the stuff you sent back, Rome. Sliced thick, barely cooked, and mushy. She puts ketchup on it. Yuck.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I've retired from Scrapple after having a few too many late night run ins with it at Little Petes Diner.

Ditto, but my run-ins were at Suburban Diner in Feasterville.

[Rome]

I've seen people put maple syrup on it and eat it.  I know it doesn't sound particularly gruesome or anything but seeing it and smelling it together makes my stomach churn.  Ketchup has the same effect on me.  Just revolting.

BTW: I've eaten it with SOS before and it's not bad at all.  I usually just get a couple of eggs over easy and eat it with that.

[MURP]

I grew up eating it thin and crispy (the right way). The wife grew up eating scrapple like the stuff you sent back, Rome. Sliced thick, barely cooked, and mushy.

thats how it has always been served to me.   Never knew I was being given crap!  Now im interested in trying it the "real" way.     

[ice grillin you]

spam owns scrapple...but i like both

[Rome]

We used to have Spam at our Super Bowl parties as a joke.   Teriyaki Spam, Spam with hot sauce, you name it.

It ceased being a joke when people started eating more of it than the wings we served.

[SunMo]

i only trust a few establishments to do scrapple right...

i mix it with my homefries and eggs = heaven on a plate

[SD_Eagle5]

I've retired from Scrapple after having a few too many late night run ins with it at Little Petes Diner.

Ditto, but my run-ins were at Suburban Diner in Feasterville.

Suburban Diner, on the corner of Bustleton and St. Road. Know the place well, spent many drunken teenage nights gorging latenight at that place.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Hells yes.

[Rome]

[rant] Speaking of home fries (hash browns, actually) what part of the term hash 'BROWNS' don't servers at restaurants understand?

Potatoes that are served as "hash browns" are supposed to be cooked golden brown and preferably well-done.  They're not supposed to looked like f'n hunks of baked potatoes when they're served.  What's worse is when you actually ask them to be served well done only to have them come out nearly raw.  Just sickening.

The other thing I don't get about restaurants is when you order iced tea with lemon.  Why do they refuse (or even worse, forget) to give you another slice of lemon with a refill?   If you order iced tea with lemon initially, do they think for some reason that you won't want it again on a refill?

I blame poor training of the servers in these joints.  Being a professional server is a tough job, no doubt about it.  But for God's sake, show a little fricken pride in your performance, already. [/end rant]