Reminiscing: Ozark "Vittles" -- Original Hillfolk Recipes

You thought I was joking, right? Well, this is proof that there really is a cookbook called Ozark "Vittles."

I grew up in southeast Kansas, not far from the Ozarks. Please do not let this cookbook stand as your only representation of the Ozarks if you have never visited. It really is a great place. I have never heard food referred to as "vittles" in the Ozarks. Frankly, I would advise against the use of that term in reference to any kind of decent food. Fortunately, nothing in this cookbook is what I would call "decent food," so I suppose that "vittles" is an apt description.

As always, click on the images to enlarge them.

When one opens the book, one is greeted by this photograph of the author:

Holy cow, Bobsie! Looking at this photo reminds me of the scene in A League of Their Own when they are introducing all of the Rockford Peaches and they get to Marla Hooch. They pan way out and the announcer says, "Marla Hooch........what a hitter!" If you've never seen the movie, you should see it immediately.

No photos in this cookbook other than the one of Bobsie, unfortunately. No, gentle readers, this time around it is the recipes themselves that shine--the titles are particularly well written and don't forget to read the words of Ozark wisdom at the bottom of each page.

Geronimo's Hog Jowl and Black-Eyed Peas:

Pioneer Squirrel Pie:

Hunters Stuffed Peppers and Old-Fashioned Turnip Greens and Pot Likker:

And no, I don't know what "pot likker" is...

Preacher Pie:

I certainly hope that you have enjoyed this foray into the cuisine of the Ozarks as much as I have. I'm off to bake up some squirrel pie and make some pot likker.