At a recent get together with the Anderson family (The funeral of General Earl E. Anderson), extended family members from Binghamton, New York brought one of their local specialties; Spiedies. My first understanding was “Speedies”. What? Fast chicken and pork? But I quickly got into the program. I remembered that the Italian word for skewered meat was spiedini. How this specialty of Italy made its way to Binghamton is still a mystery to me. I did find out that every August Binghamton holds a Spiedie Rally and Balloon Fest. There are cooking contests held to see who can make the best spiedie sandwich. Spiedies are actually skewered marinated meat (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), grilled and served with soft Italian bread which is used to pull the meat off of the skewer. So forgive the above picture with grilled bread. To make it authentic that bread should be soft and strong enough to pull the meat off of the skewers. Add hot sauce or the cooked marinade to make it complete. Everyone in Binghamton understands the concept.
The recipe I used came from The New York Times. You can find it here. With grilling season upon us, you will be happy to have such a flavorful meat entree. I used pork and chicken. Do not marinate the chicken for more than 12 hours as it breaks down after that time. The pork can be marinated for up to 36 hours.
Last week I visited an old friend from college. She has just built the most charming house on several acres near Black Mountain, just a stones’s throw away from Lake Lure. I feel so fortunate to have her close by. We were both newly married attending the University of Florida when we met. We had an instant rapport. I am happy to say that Barb and I still have that special connection. We have been having fun together shopping, lunching and laughing. I love what she has accomplished with this house. The farm sink, the color of the cabinets, the sliding barn door and the antique elements all combine to make such a welcoming space.
I could be very happy cooking in this kitchen.
Happy May Day a few days late. My lilac bush in front of the guest cottage has bloomed on schedule. Growing up in Michigan it was a tradition to make paper May baskets, fill them with lilacs and deliver them to friends and neighbors on May 1st. The smell of lilacs brings back all of those memories.
Those sound great! Hey! I am jealous you have a new old friend nearby….lol.
Well, you will just have to move closer Penny. Looking forward to seeing you again. Maybe I will come to Greenville. Will email.
We could meet in Landrum…
This is a new one to me. I had never heard of spiedies. I could, however, get with the program. They sound tasty.
How nice that you have reconnected with a friend and one that lives nearby! Her kitchen is beautiful!
Thanks Kathy. Sorry for the delay in replying, but WordPress is not letting all of my comments come through. Barb will appreciate your comment about her kitchen.
The spiedies sound fabulous and your friend’s kitchen is to die for. Does your lilac bush have fragrance? If so I’m guilty of envy thrice. The ones back in Chicago were wonderfully fragrant, but those here in Oregon, while pretty to look at, are completely without scent. A real bummer!
Yes, Mary. The lilac bush has a great fragrance. But the blooms are not as full as the ones I remember from home in Michigan. I am trying not to envy Barb’s kitchen. I love mine, but the creative drive is pushing me toward one more design plan and her kitchen is right up there with the best.
This looks like a great recipe and I have to say that I Pin recipes from the NY Times constantly. They are interesting and always turn out great.
Love Barb’s kitchen and it’s so great you have an old friend nearby!
Hope to see you in July!
Jane
Hi Jane! Hope it works out in July. We will be traveling part of the month. The New York Times does have great recipes.
A friend..and close..how nice..don’t you find when we really really like someone ..everything around them looks good? Their homes..kitchens..gardens etc.?
.It is lovely!
Very pretty presentation.
Thanks Monique. I would love to see your kitchen some time. The snippets I have seen have just made me more curious. LOL.
Thank you for posting the delicious Spiedies! However, there is no P in Binghamton 🙂 Just sayin’ LOL
So sorry Lisa. I made the change. Would love to visit Binghamton some time.
Lilacs do not thrive in Southern California – it is too warm. Horticulturist are working on them, but they have no scent which is the best part.
It appears that you are right Madonna. The lilacs thrived in Michigan and although mine here in NC has a lovely scent, it is not quite the same fragrance as the smell I grew up with.
I’ve never heard of “spiedies” but they look delicious!! Your lilac bush reminds me that, since our move, I have no bushes to provide us with bunches of lilacs in the house. I think I’ll put one on the list for planting in our new garden.
Best,
Bonnie
Good idea Bonnie. I also love my hydrangea bushes for arrangements. I don’t have a green thumb, but both perennials are easy.
I am not sure why my post wasn’t approved, but growing up and living in the Binghamton area for over 50 years, I know and love Spiedies as well as know how to spell the name of my town. I was being nice and not mean.
So sorry Lisa, I just found your comment in a waiting for approval file. I will make the correction right now. I am from a town called Dowagiac. It gets misspelled all of the time. No offense taken.
I’ve heard of kabobs and skewers but never spiedies! It sounds like a wonderful, local, Italian-influenced specialty. How nice to have an old friend nearby! I’m sure you’ll be spending lots of time together in the future. What a kitchen!
It did come from the Italian Americans in the area. I love the melting pot of food that our country embraces. Thanks Susan.
I’d not heard of this exact name but have had spiedini before…it is funny how names get changed over time. May is when we would go up to Maine to start opening up our cottage on the lake. Your photos made me think of my pretty flower gardens there…love your lilac bush.
Hi Karen, For some reason many of my comments are ending up in a separate file “needing approval”. Sometimes WordPress is annoying.
Speed’s are absolutely delicious and a staple here in “Binghamton”, NY and the surrounding areas.
I love the lamb ones!!!
So sorry I misspelled the name of your town. Lisa set me straight. I bet the lamb spiedies are delicious.