Patriotic Peanut Party on Wheels

Boiled Peanuts, Ridgeville, SC 

At first glance Peanut the dog seemed to be staffing this patriotic peanut vendor's bus in Ridgeville this afternoon. I like how they always say "Boil Peanuts." This one added "Picled Eggs."

Boiled peanut stations are such slices of Americana they may justify their own post category. I'll try to capture them more often even if it does require making a purchase!

Boiling Peanuts

Boiled P-Nuts

It's a rainy day in the lowcountry and I have a pot of green peanuts simmering on the stove. I've never made boiled peanuts before but the recipes all seem to include hours of simmering green peanuts and a LOT of salt. The only reason I bought them in the first place was because I saw signs leading to a driveway and thought it might be a chance to see St. Julien Plantation. I was on the right track!

Through beautiful brick gate posts the driveway led to a sign saying "Boiled P-Nuts. Honk Horn Here". It felt odd but it was a lovely farm setting and I could see the plantation house through the trees.

A truck drove up and the gentleman said he was closing for the day but would bring me a "peck" of peanuts for $12. Now I have to figure it out! Since he was closing up shop for the day it didn't seem right to try to snoop around. I may be purchasing another peck of peanuts next time I am in the area. 

Hot Boil Peanuts

Hot Boiled Peanuts, SC 

Salty and slimy, they aren't everyone's favorite delicacy but we sure do enjoy them in South Carolina. For some reason even the stands and trailers selling boiled peanuts seem to be colorful and quaint.

Boiled peanuts are green or raw nuts that are boiled in salty water for hours outdoors over a fire. The shells turn soggy, and the peanuts take on a fresh, legume flavor. A green peanut is not green in color, just freshly harvested. It takes ninety to a hundred days to grow peanuts for boiling, and they are available only during May through November throughout the southern states. One of the drawbacks of boiled peanuts is that they have a very short shelf life unless refrigerated or frozen.

What is the verdict? Who likes boiled peanuts?