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Is it an Okie thing?
Published: 12/27/2007 9:01 PM
Last Modified: 12/27/2007 9:01 PM

French bread doesn't go with stew.

Am I the only one who butters her crackers? OK, I know I’m not the only one because I learned it from watching my mother and sister.

But for me, there's only one thing that goes with buttered crackers. That's stew.

Tonight we had stew – full of potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes and that stuff we call "stew meat."

If you've never eaten buttered crackers, you might wonder why in the world you wouldn't just eat buttered bread. But buttered bread doesn't go with stew. Any Okie knows that.

And in case you didn't know, saltines are the only crackers that go with stew. Don't even think about water crackers or multigrain biscuit crackers. Plain old saltines, with or without butter, are the only way to go.

Reader Comments

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KB (5 years ago)

I am horrified that you butter your crackers. Buttered crackers should only be used in cases of malnutrition for the sick and elderly. Butter has little flavor and too much fat to be used on a saltines. Okie, please.

ceejay (5 years ago)

My mother also buttered her crackers. Butter and saltines are great with tomato soup too.

Natalie Mikles (5 years ago)

I'm a little horrified myself that I like buttered crackers. I'm sure if I hadn't grown up with it, I would think it was disgusting too.

Rachel (5 years ago)

It IS an Okie thing. I butter! There used to be (maybe still is) a little place in Pryor that would bring you warm crackers and butter instead of the more traditional bread and butter. Delicious. Also, butter keeps the cracker from falling apart in the stew.

Bob In Tulsa (5 years ago)

This isn’t just an Okie thing: I was born & raised in Chicago. We were eating buttered saltines back in the 50's. We’d eat them as a snack and with soups, salads, and stews; but, we’d never throw a buttered cracker into the bowl. Saltines with butter were finger food.

Cracker Ho (5 years ago)

KB, darling, there are many, many more horrifying things than buttered crackers -- your comment, for instance. It smacked a smidgen of snobbery. Pass the saltines, Ms. Mikles!

LisaB (5 years ago)

Never hear dof it but will definitely be trying it next time I serve stew! Next time you are at Goldies take a saltine, put a little real mayo on it and top with a dill pickle slice....I know it sounds weird but they are addictive and everyone I introduce this to is hooked!

Joe-Allen Doty (5 years ago)

"Okie thing?" Calling anything an "Okie thing" is making a reference to how poor white trash do things. Okie was a word made up to make fun of anyone from the Dust Bowl of the Central Plains. Tulsa was NOT in the Dust Bowl.
People eat the way that they want. If they want to butter crackers, that is fine with me. I like butter on crackers. I have put different kinds of bread in stew, too. I even put gravy on pancakes.

Lynn (5 years ago)

My husband makes fun of me because I eat strawberry jam on my cornbread when we have beans or stew. My mom's family is from "up north." They buttered crackers and put sugar on tomatoes and watermelon. I assume that's where I got my jam/jelly fox. These things may not be indicative of northerners but instead a weird family! I was married and in my mid-20s before I understand that "a pot of beans" meant pintos, not navy, because those were the only kind of beans (other than baked) we ate when I was growing up. My dear dad, a native Oklahoman, never said a word!

sarah hart (5 years ago)

My stepdad always ate butter on Club crackers. Of course, he slathered mayo on them, too. Maybe that's why I'm repulsed by even the IDEA of mayonnaise.
And P.S.: I've come to love french bread with all soup. Am I losing my Okie-ness? (nah...)

GHarvey (5 years ago)

I grew up in Colorado and after school we would put big square saltines (4 to a square!) in the toaster, then put butter and jelly on them! MMMMM!

RM (5 years ago)

We often buttered our crackers for a snack, and I grew up in Kansas (the state, not the town!) Another favorite was peanut butter and dill pickles (white bread, smooth peanut butter, with dill pickle slices on top)! YUM

Butter'emup! (5 years ago)

You Go Girl!!

teddybear (5 years ago)

I like butter on crackers. My husband even likes to toast saltines under the broiler. Then he butters them.

becky (5 years ago)

Hi there,
You've got that right!!! A must!! Saltine crackers with stew. YUM!! With or without butter!! LOL It's like having tomato soup with Ritz crackers and a grilled cheese sandwich!! Oh no, I'm getting hungry!
Love,
Becky

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Taste

Food Writer Nicole Marshall Middleton joined the Tulsa World in May 1993 after graduating from Oklahoma State University. She has covered crime, city government and general assignment beats during that time - but mostly crime. But when she isn’t at work, Nicole is a devoted food hobbyist. She enjoys meal planning and cooking with her husband, Steve, every day of the week and on holidays it’s a family affair. When the opportunity to become the food writer at the Tulsa World presented itself in the summer of 2011, Nicole jumped at it. She is excited to explore a new side of Tulsa and make the transition from crime to cuisine. .

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