Chicken Fried Steak
Dec 11th, 2006 by Don Ray
By Don Ray Williams
December 11, 2006
Boy would I like to have a Chicken Fried Steak.
That is one thing that Panamanians don’t make.
Smother it all over with some good cream gravy,
Just thinkin bout it’s drivin my taste buds crazy.
For me add some French Fried potatoes all nice and crisp,
That’s a eatin experience that’s just plain bliss.
Now if you don’t know of what I speak,
Then you never eaten a Chicken Fried Steak.
I don’t know why I woke up thinking about Chicken Fried steak this morning, but I did. Besides good Mexican food, this is one other thing that I really miss. Growing up on a farm in Oklahoma, you learn that one of the staples of life is chicken fried steak. My dad used to say that is what you needed it you were going to have to go climb on the tractor and plow the back forty. He would say “That is a meal that will stick to your ribs.” My mom would cook up a big batch of chicken fried steak add a big bowl of mashed potatoes and top it off with a gravy boat filled with cream gravy. Boy does that bring back memories.
I remember when we would go out driving on short trips on a weekend. That was before the big interstates. When we would start getting hungry, my dad would start looking for a truck stop that had its lot full. He always said that was the best way to pick where to eat. He said if the truckers chose it, it had to be good. I have no idea how many pounds of chicken fried steaks I have eaten in truck stops in Texas and Oklahoma, but I bet the cattle herd is short several head.
These memories were enough for me to spend a little time in the Internet seeing if I could find some good recipes. I picked three that look like they are worth trying.
The first site looks like the steaks my mom used to cook. It also has some nice photos to let you know what you are in for.
If your mouth doesn’t start watering by the time you finish the second site, then it is time for you to schedule your annual physical to see if you are still alive.
This is the third site. One thing you will notice is that all three recipes recommend that you use a cast iron skillet to cook the steak. That is another item I need to put on my “search for list”.
My mouth is watering. Kathleen will never fix that. She is off to NY this week. Maybe, just maybe, I will get some energy and make myself a meal. I never had either Mexican food or Chicken Fried steak till I was in the Army and in New Mexico. A third of my life was deprived of these great meals. Yankees just don’t know.
Merry Christmas, Dick
I understand. Now you have the recipes.
I also wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I had one just the other day for Thanksgiving with gravy over a mountain of fries.
Works for me. Not a bad replacement for turkey and dressing.
Ah yes, ‘misty watercolored memmmmmrees of the way we were’ as Barbra Streisand belts it out.
Don Ray, U just inspired me to introduce yet another item of traditional Texas food to my acquired tico family.
Now, since the Texas chili that I fixed that day a few years ago has become a staple item with us, I’m hoping that the chicken fried steak smoothered w/cream gravy will be just as big a hit.
¡Thanks for the inspiration, bro.!
Allen McDonald, El Galloviejo®
Hi Allen. Always happy to help someone else add a few pounds along with me. No better way than a good chicken fried steak and cream gravy. Thanks for leaving a comment Allen.
dear don,
as with allen a fourth of my life was spent without
mexican food and”white gravy and chicken fried steak”
that and swiss steak are frank’s favorites white
gravy will not happen without a cast iron skillet!
thank you and keep up the great work ellen
Hi Ellen, Thanks for leaving a comment. I am glad I have a few other people as hungry for chicken fried steak as I am.
My sides would be mashed potatoes with milk gravy, fried okra, crowder peas, poke salad, porterhouse rolls with lots of butter, and finish with oven warm apple pie with a big spoonful of vanilla ice cream on top. And you gotta have lots of ice tea.
Hi John. I can go for a little fried okra. Don’t think I ever had any crowder peas. I like the black eyed peas that are in the photo. Not sure about the poke salad, but love the porterhouse roles fresh from the oven. I also agree about needing lots of iced tea. I almost put that in my post.
My dad used to like apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese on it.
Hi Don,
We have a local mom and pop place that fixes it covered with the same sausage gravy that they use on their SOS and it adds increadble flavor to their chicken fried steak. my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. I can’t immagine how many calories and colesterol we are talking here.
More than I need to ingest, but why avoid something sooooo good.
I keep coming back to this picture. I am afraid if I do it again I may short out my key board. We are what we eat. I have to visit Texas once more before it is too late. Have a good one.
Hahahaha. I refuse to be accountable for your having to replace your keyboard. Maybe you should just print the photo and paste it on your refrigerator.