Make a Trade

I’m fixing to make a trade.

Ever since the chili dog angel mysteriously dropped off the recipe for the Varsity’s chili recipe at The Monticello News for me, and I wrote about it, my phone has been ringing off the hook with requests to share the recipe, which I happily do.

Incidentally, the recipe wasn’t a fake and it cooks up with the identical taste so you can indeed prepare a Varsity hot dog right here in your own kitchen in Monticello.

Even though I really like the french fries, onion rings and other tasty treats at the Varsity, after a chili dog, my other favorite thing was always a fried peach pie.

I always figured that besides tasting good, food should also look good, you know, make a pretty presentation. And I can’t think of anything prettier than a Varsity fried peach pie, all brown, sweet and warm when you bite into it.
Well guess what? The fried peach pie angel, not to be out done by the chili dog angel, has visited me and offered a trade!

She wanted that Varsity chili recipe real bad and offered her Varsity fried peach pie recipe in exchange.

Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity because after chomping down on a chili dog there’s nothing better than biting into a Varsity fried peach pie.

At the end of this column this week, you’ll find a repeat of the chili recipe for your dogs, and also a recipe for those delectable fried peach pies.

Now I’m not saying you don’t ever have to go to Atlanta again, but I am saying you can save some gas money and yell out “What’ll You Have!” right from home.

I’m fixing to have myself a fried peach pie just as soon as I finish off this chili dog.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND.
ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN THE JANUARY 10 EDITION

Hot Dog Chili
(tastes just like the Varsity’s)
1 lb. ground beef
2 cup water
3 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 to 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Bring water to a boil and add ground beef. Reduce heat and simmer for about five minutes until meat is brown. Add chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until water is evaporated. Blend with a hand mixer until meat is chopped fine.

The circulation of the chili recipe prompted Shelba Morrison to give us her recipe for another tasty Varsity treat, their famous fried peach pies. Some may remember when she used to prepare them at Larry’s Four-Way.

Fried Peach Pie

1 eight ounce package dried peaches (frozen will do)
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
Pie crust or Hungry Jack Biscuits

Cook peaches with water until done and water is evaporated, add sugar and set aside. Roll out crust or biscuits thin and cut with 3/4 inch diameter cutter (a saucer will do). Put one tablespoon of fruit on pastry, fold over and seal, crimping the edges with a fork. Stick pastry with fork two times so it will stay sealed while cooking.

Deep fry at 350 degrees until brown. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with sugar.