Showing posts with label chicken-fried chicken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicken-fried chicken. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Gravy Crazy Texans


Here in Texas, gravy is a way of life.

A lot of people around the country have gravy not more than a couple times of year I bet, and, in most cases, over mashed potatoes. There is, of course, the obligatory mashed potatoes and turkey gravy during the Thanksgiving meal. Beyond that, it might be something you occasionally get with a couple pieces of chicken as you grab something at a fast food chicken outlet, and again, always with mashed potatoes.

Talk about being in a rut.

Texans, however, are “out of the box” thinkers, who do not believe gravy should be relegated to holidays, fast food, or mashed potatoes.

Texas white cream gravy requires few ingredients and is quickly prepared. With flour, whole milk, pepper, salt and some bacon (or other meat) drippings, you’ve got all you need to make this Texas staple. Now, what shall we pour the gravy over? If you live anywhere but Texas, the answer is quite simple; pour it over mashed potatoes. How many times has that been done?

Down here, with respect to gravy, the huge Texas sky is the limit. Of course, chicken-fried chicken, chicken-fried steaks, and sausage are favorites to receive a gravy dousing. But, in truth, any and all meats will do, wild game and snakes included. If its meat of any kind, just pour gravy over it, and it will taste better. And, it is a well-known fact here in the hill country that both biscuits and Texas toast need a gravy bath to be fully appreciated. The egg is another favorite target which is enjoyed with gravy.

Any type of vegetable is agreeable to getting the gravy soak, and this is especially true for those vegetables which you may find personally disagreeable. It’s all very simple really, gravy makes everything taste good.

A chicken gizzard is the chicken’s organ that grinds up the food it eats. That does not sound too appetizing on its face, but add a little Texas white cream gravy, and all is right with the world. Now, where are my fried chicken gizzards and the gravy ladle?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Texas Hill Country Comfort Food


We all have tough days, and on difficult days when I lived in the Midwest, I could always count on getting my mind back in the game by dropping by the nearest Frisch’s ® restaurant for the Super Big Boy ® Platter. The platter meant devouring an extra large double-decker cheeseburger with the choice of any two sides. And hey, if you need “comfort,” there is nothing wrong with making both sides macaroni and cheese.

When I moved to Texas, I faced a problem. There are no Frisch’s, and I did not discover anything that approximates the platter. I needed to find a replacement, a Texas replacement.

Finding great food is not hard in the Texas Hill Country. You’ve got barbecue beef brisket, chicken, sausage, catfish, kolaches and all kinds of Tex-Mex, to name just a few. But, great food is one thing, comfort food is another.

It wasn’t long before I found what I was looking for. As it turns out, my new comfort food is a staple in hill country: chicken fried steak. A round steak hammered paper thin, coated in seasoned batter and fried, then covered in white gravy. Normally offered in two portions, 4 ounce or 8 ounce, it’s found nearly everywhere, and it always fills the bill. If you’re not in the mood for beef, chicken fried chicken is a great substitute.

And what sides will go with that? Why, two sides of macaroni and cheese, of course. It works every time.