Junior Johnson - Pork Skins Review

I came home with a bag of Junior Johnson pork skins yesterday. My oldest asked, "Are those really pig skins?" I said, "Yep." He said, "And I know those pig butts are butts too." I said, "No they are not." Pork butt is the high part of the shoulder. He is still not convinced, so I take butts out of the package and rename them shoulder. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

Most good Southerners love pork skins, rinds, butts and all other assorted pork parts. Some of us do draw the line at pickled pigs feet. My sister used to go to town on those, but we all laughed at her. I don't think she eats them now. If she does, she keeps that in the closet.

Anyone who loves potato chips and other cruncy snacks would almost surely love pork skins. They don't taste anything like you might expect skin to taste like. They don't even look like skin. They look kind of like cheese puffs without the coloring. And, they taste rather like exotic chips. Crunch. Crunch. Yum. Yum.

Junior Johnson makes especially delicous pork skins. He ought to. He's the read deal when it comes to Southern and country.

Junior ran moonshine back in the 40s and 50s. He was such a good driver that he was never caught by police officers. He could make a high speed 180 degree turn and change directions on a dime.

Shifting over to NASCAR was a natural thing for Junior. The skills he perfected outrunning the law stood him well on the race track.

His career was going great guns until the law busted him working at his dad's moonshine still. He did some jail time and then went right back to race car driving. The jail time didn't hurt his reputation one bit. Folks around these parts rather liked the way he'd outfoxed the law and considered it a grudge arrest.

I guess President Reagan agreed. He gave Junior a pardon while he was in office. This meant Junior could vote again and could get a passport.

A guy can only race for so long, and Junior retired after a great career on the tracks. Then, he started making pork treats. He sells pork skins in various flavors. My favorite is barbecue, but he also has regular, salt & vinegar, and hot. Other products in his line are cracklins and country ham skins.

Junior is based out of Wilkesboro, NC. His products are very popular around these parts. I don't know how far away he sells his Southern pork products. But, if you see Junior Johnson on your grocery shelves, buy a bag. You'll get a real taste of the South. Pour the pork skins in a bowl and don't tell anyone what they're eating, and I'll bet you'll have a lot of converts.