It's shocking the number of people that are unaware that the process of making a pickle is nothing more than fermenting a cucumber in a closed vat of vinegar, but that's a conversation for another day. Arkansas is the birthplace to one of the nation's more peculiar snacks of all-time, the fried pickle. Back in 1963, a man named Bernell 'Fatman' Austin invented the fried pickle recipe in his hometown of Atkins, Arkansas. To this very day, the fried pickle is served employing its traditional recipe at the annual Picklefest in Atkins.
Fried pickles are regularly prepared using medium-sized sliced dill pickles, all-purpose flour, eggs, pepper, salt, cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. After properly battering the pickles the frying process is obviously the most significant step in order to not overcook the delectable treat but the eye test should avail removing the product after they've turned a golden brown hue. Served a side dipping sauce of ranch or spicy cajun sauce, you can't go wrong with a fried pickle.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.