BBQ and Southern Values?

I was doing a little research and ran across this explanation of southern values. Eating a meal together once a week was included. My work provides a platform for these meals so I could relate to the sentiment.

Posted by  phantom_of_valkyrie on Yahoo Questions


While I do agree that BBQ is very important, it's more of a topic of debate than a "value". Georgia BBQ is very different than SC BBQ which is very different from the 3 NC styles (eastern, western and Lexington).

Values and beliefs are different. It is the bible belt. Christianity is definitely the majority. Southerners go to church every Sunday and tend to comment if you missed it.

Southern values are mostly what people call "small town" values now. Things run a little slower--no need to rush. You always help your neighbor out. Help old people cross the street. Hold the door open for women. Never wear your hat inside. Say "sir" and "ma'am" to your elders. When you go on a date, you pick a woman up at her door. You don't sit in the car outside and honk. There are a lot of rules on how a man treats a woman. It's rude to spit. It's rude to curse. Beauty pagents and homecoming are revered traditions. Women are always Daddy's Little Girl even though most of them can change their own flat tire.

The aspects of life I think are important--not being like NY. Really it's very important that no one ever think you act like you are from NY. You act polite in public. A mother is a member of the PTA. She knows her child's teachers, friends, and where that kid is. It is important to be strong too. Boys play outside all day long and you come in at sunset. Home cooking is very important. Everyone gathered around the table at dinner--even if you are busy, at least one day a week you have a home cooked meal and everyone sits at the table together.

Recipes passed down. Banana pudding, collards, butter, mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings.

It's not about being Republican. Remember Dixiecrats were only in the South. But it is about small government, and being able to live off the land. Hunting and fishing.

A recipe for crock pot BBQ from the Jaz Tech Blog.

Here's what you need:

• 4-5lb pork shoulder
• 2 onions
• 2 liter bottle of ginger ale
• 1 big bottle of your favorite BBQ suace
• Your favorite seasoning

First, peel one of the onions and slice it like you are going to make onion rings, but keep the rings intact.  You should have about six flat, round slices of onion.  Line the bottom of the crock-pot with the onion slices.  Next, rub your pork shoulder with a generous amount of your favorite pork seasoning.  I use a smokey mequite blend that I am fond of.  Place the pork shoulder on top of the onion slices.  Next, peel and slice the second onion into onion rings (seperate them into rings this time).  Place the onion rings on the top and sides of the pork shoulder.  Finally, fill the crock-pot with ginger ale until the pork shoulder is about 3/4 covered.  For best results, let set overnight covered in the refrigerator.

Now it's time to cook.  Cook the pork shoulder in the crock-pot on low for 7 hours.  After that is done, remove the pork shoulder from the crock-pot and drain the liquid from the crock-pot.  "Pull" the pork (stick two forks in the meat and pull in opposite directions), and put it back into the crock-pot.  Stir in the BBQ sauce until the meat is covered to your liking.  Cook the pulled pork in the crock pot on high for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

You're done!  Serve it up on a bun or however you like it!
Makes about 12 servings