take the pickle

Leave it to John T. Edge to report on the newest thing going in Mississippi Delta roadside food attractions:  Kool-Aid Pickles.  You'll find them at filling stations and convenience stores shelved next to the other pickled items like eggs, pig's feet, okra, etc. Their bright colors make them super-appealing to children but the new market is adults.

I'm fascinated.

And the process is simple:

“They’re easy to make a gallon,” Ms. Williams said. “You pull the pickles from the jar, cut them in halves, make double-strength Kool-Aid, add a pound of sugar, shake and let it sit — best in the refrigerator — for about a week. The taste takes to anything. A while back I made a mistake and bought a jar of pickle chips instead of halves or wholes. Came out fine. This whole Kool-Aid pickle thing is going so good, you wonder why somebody hasn’t put a patent on them.”

Also, someone is pursuing the trademark Koolickle. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm.

Comments

[Keetha]

I'm here at the front lines and those pickles are pretty much everywhere!

Would you be interested in a copy of my book? I'd be glad to send you a media kit - it's called "More Culinary Kudzu: Recollections & Recipes from Growing Up Southern."

Just let me know!

[LLA]

Holy Crap! How did I not know about this? The only thing better, I bet, than a KoolAid pickle has got to be a deep fried KoolAid pickle....

And please tell me you're taking the previous commenter up on the book offer - 'cause I want to read the review!!!!

P.S. There are only a few people with whom I would choose to cheat on Bubba. John T Edge is one of them. LOVE. HIM.

[MéLisa]

First off how did I not know you had a food blog????? Second I just heard about these this morning on the radio!!! How crazy is that??? I might actually have to try these one day. Also is it just me or is there something almost obscene about that huge pickle that woman has skewered in that picture???? I agree with LLA take the book offer! I love cookbooks & now that I know you have a food blog I want hear all about it!

[Rebecca]

Wrong, wrong, wrong...might be right down there with maraschino cherries for me - although I am going to pass it along to a friend as a possible fund raiser...