The denizens of Webb City, Mo., used “y’all” frequently — though, in the defense of these mapmakers, Webb City, Mo., is pretty close to the Arkansas line. When I moved to the Godless Northeast, I rather quickly dropped the “y’all,” because people find it so delightful they wanted me to repeat it. A lot. And I dropped completely my grandmother’s “youn’s,” pronounced “you-uns.”
Oh, never mind. I hereby withdraw my formal protest.
Dating Jesus 
I was amused when I moved to Alabama and someone said, “No car? I can carry you home.”
I also learned the word “tump” as in “tump over that wagon and get her out of there.” No one uses that back here.
I still can’t figure out what you are saying there.
I had never heard of a “case quarter” or chess pie before I came to Cincinnati.
To Vegas–
Nor did you hear of Cincinatti chili (served over spaghetti).
Believe me it took a great long while to get used to calling it chili!
Ooo! I’ve had that before and it was yummy!
Hey, we here in central CT called that Chili Mac!
Chili mac is usually still made with regular chili. Cincinnati chili is something else altogether. Nutmeg, chocolate. Almost more like a sauce than a chili.
I have heard of this but never, ever tasted it. Nutmeg and chocolate in a chili makes me nervous.
The first time I had it I couldn’t imagine why anyone would eat it or why on earth they would call it chili. But you get hooked, word is it takes 3 tries.
So even if one is not the type to embrace acquired tastes, you’d recommend it?
I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. It’s not exactly good for you. Plus, if you do get hooked, it’s hard to get outside of the tri-state.
Is there cinnamon in it, too? I vaguely remember that. I think I had it in a mall at a fast food place but I can’t remember exactly.
Yep, cinnamon.
I am having trouble imagining this. I like my desserts to be desserts, and my main courses to be lacking in sugar — for the most part. Or you can load it up with sugar, but just don’t tell me.
I assume this comment is referring to Cincinnati Chili…It’s not sweet as I recall. Have you had Mexican Mole Sauce? That has cocoa powder in it, too. The other spices combined with it produce a different type of flavor, but I really liked it.
Vegas, I am trying to think of the name of the fast food restaurant that had this and I think I may have had it outside of Ohio. Any thoughts on a fast food place that sells this?
Skyline. Or it’s imposter, Gold Star.
I’ve found people are more fascinated by the name of my hometown than any Southern terminology I use.
Oh, except “tour.” People always think I’m saying “cheer” or “chair.” I find myself avoiding that word.
I have a friend from Georgetown, KY and I LOOOOVE the accent. But there’s things she says that I do not understand at all, and Georgetown is only about an hour south.
Does she seem to understand you? I mean, I’m not deep south or anything, but we did have television so other accents weren’t hard for me to navigate, for the most part. I do remember as a little girl wanting to wear my new sweaters, etc., to school because all the little girls in my school books had their sweaters on already — except in Missouri, temperatures were still in the 90s in August when school started.
OMG I KNOW. I was so confused why stores put out winter clothes in the middle of summer! Then I moved to New England, and it all made sense . . .
It’s like we were living in New England, but didn’t know it.
Nah, it’s because you’d already BOUGHT your summer clothes, and now they needed you to spend more money. And don’t you want to be the first on your block to………….?
….I am trying to remember a single solitary time I was the first on my block for anything.
But when the TeeVee anouncers said you COULD be, didn’t you WANT to be?
I think even at a young age, I factored in the notion that what they said on TV was, in large part, crap.
Well, for good reason I’d say. Reminds me of Cynthiana. Like they couldn’t come up with their own name so they mashed up some other ones!
Remind us of the name. We’re (I am) old and forgetful.
What’s a case quarter?
It’s just a quarter. My friend’s 5 yr old came over to borrow one for laundry. I had to call the friend to see what she was talking about, I thought she wanted a roll of quarters or something! I guess it’s a quarter as opposed to 25 cents.
What’s a chess pie?
It’s good eatin’, is what: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_pie
It’s like an egg custard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_pie
Great minds…and you type faster, too. Have you ever made a red velvet cake?
Nope, never even tried it before (to eat, you know). Is it good?
Yes, it is. I have never tried to make one, myself, but I probably ought to before I leave this mortal coil. It’s very, very rich and — if it’s made properly — extremely moist. I don’t know why I equate chess pie with red velvet cake, other than both were popular desserts at all the church dinners I used to attend.
Isn’t a red velvet cake a red colored devil’s food cake with cream cheese frosting? Devil’s food for a church dinner? Why not. I’ve had it before and it was pretty good but very sweet. I’ve never made it so I couldn’t tell you what’s in it.
That’s what I thought. It’s just chocolate cake with a bunch of red dye in it.
Also, it turns your poop red. You’re welcome.
But then so do beets, and THEY’RE good for you!
I’ve only read the recipes and eaten someone else’s version but yes, VERY sweet.
Yeah, it’s the coin as opposed to a couple of dimes and a nickel, etc. I learned that from my students….
That’s a “case quarter?”
I’m pretty sure I had that. I lived in Ohio for a short time when I was really young and remember the Buckeyes (my little brother called them gupguys), shoe fly pie (and wondering if flies were in it), having my first ice cream sandwich out of an Ohio State U vending machine and going to the ER after my tricycle accident. I was about 2-3 at the time.
But you were living a very full life, sounds like.
Mmm, buckeyes. That’s a lot of memories for such a young age. I don’t remember anything. I reconnected with my little sister’s best friend this year. She is always telling stories about what we did as kids and I don’t remember half of it! And that’s when we were a lot older than 3.
It’s kind of odd. I remember lots of things from 2 on up. It’s no wonder I can’t remember everything now. The memory bank is full!
Memories of foods and smells are the strongest ones people remember, supposedly.
Interesting. I have read that foods and smells are also linked to emotional memories.
And I’ve read that the sense of smell is the most evocative of senses.
Look what I just found on Amazon! New Englanders who need a shortcut can make Cincy Chili at home! I love the list of ingredients:
Ingredients
Garlic, Peppers, Cinnamon, Paprika, Love, Magic
Although, Vegas, you mentioned Skyline, not Skytime. Maybe I should keep looking.
Love and magic! I love recipes that include those!!
Me too. I’m tempted to give it a try.
Well, I’d guess it to be another cheap imitation of the original (skyline) which can be found in can or frozen form. Not the same but closer than this nonsense!
Put the chili over the spaghetti and pile on a huge mound of shredded mild cheddar. It’s also good on a hot dog with mustard or spread over cream cheese, covered with cheddar and baked as a dip for tortilla chips.
Man, but I’m hungry.
See, What interest is generated and education occurs when one starts talking about regional vocabulary. I was “fixin” to disconnect from the internet but “Aw swanny” this posting caught my eye.
And it made me remember the time while serving as a lab assistant to a professor from England that he came up to me and asked if I had a “barrow”. Didn’t know what he wanted–but he saw the ballpoint pen in my pocket and that was what he wanted! Or in England you don’t call someone on the phone==you “ring them up”. Or why that the disciples who plucked “corn” [KJV] were actually plucking wheat. If it had been corn it would have been rendered “maize”. Which by the way is a term referring to a specific type of grain sorghum in the U.S.
I think that I will “make like a banana and split” so that the donkeys can be let out into the pasture.
Aw, swanny!!! Is that “I swear?” Grandma Marrs used to say that and we could never figure out what the heck it meant, in non-hillbilly English.
Macon-born grandmother said “I swan” — which I now would maybe equate with “oh wow.”
My grandmother (born and bred in Pettigrew, Ark.) said “I swan” and “Ah, swanny.” I just may start saying that, just for giggles.
That is probably as close as you can get to the meaning since my Dad only used it when something did not go right.
Ah swanny, I’m hungry as a horse! How about all y’all meet up at dj’s house for some Cincinnati Chili and red velvet cake this weekend. I heard Mr dj’s a great cook! I’ll bring the anvil.
Mr. DJ is a fabulous cook but he may need schooled on cake-baking. But sure!