In a Pickle

Among the many regular pregnancy questions I get -- such as, "Can you feel the baby kick?" or "When are you due?" or "Hey, fat cow, should you really be wearing a bathing suit at your size?" -- is this question: "Have you had a lot of cravings?"

If by cravings, one means wanting to eat all the time then, yes, I have lots of cravings. Or if always wanting to eat Mexican food and even drink taco sauce counts, then, yes, I have been craving spicy food. However, both of those cravings were omnipresent before pregnancy so I don't think they really qualify as the late-night, "must-have-radishes-now!"-kind of craving. I think those are just Mrs. Dub's food fetishes.

Then, I read about fried pickles. Yes, this is a true Southern delicacy that was briefly mentioned in a novel I'm currently reading. Sounds gross? For sure. Could I stop thinking about them? No! My face became hot as I thought about how much I wanted -- scratch that, NEEDED -- to have fried pickles. Never mind that I had already eaten a hearty dinner and even had dessert on hand. I had to have fried pickles. The thought of eating them was slightly revolting, but the thought of NOT eating them brought on waves of nausea.

Thank goodness for the Internet. I was quickly able to locate several restaurants in the vicinty that serve this diner dish. But since it was late, I searched for a quick recipe instead.

"I'm going to the store because I have to have fried pickles," I announced to Mr. Dub, who looked bewildered and, frankly, grossed out. "You can come with me or not, but I have to do it tonight."

The kind man that he is, he accompanied me. And put up with the awful smell of dill pickles pan-frying in vegetable oil. And watched with disguised disgust as I consumed 3 fried pickles with a side of ranch dressing.

I honestly can't tell you if they're good or not. I just HAD to have them so taste wasn't really an issue.

But now, when people ask me if I've had any cravings, I'll proudly tell them, "Not really."

Because fried pickles are just too gross to mention.