Disco Fries (New Jersey)

New Jersey often gets a bad rap.  Whether it be in popular culture or from those too-cool-for-school New Yorkers, New Jersey can be made to feel like it can't match up.  So, as I sat in the Newark-Liberty Airport and wait for a six-hour flight to Belfast, I decided to learn more about what keeps Jerseyites happy and well-fed.  And I discovered a throughly decadent treat called Disco Fries!  

Based on the French/Canadian treat poutine, disco fries are mountain of flavors and culinary perspectives.  First, you start with a plate of thick-cut or steak french fries (preferably fried using a two-step method of frying potatoes in 300 degree oil until tender, removing them from the oil to drain, then frying them a second time until golden brown).  After the fries have been properly drained on kitchen towels (NOT paper towels) and salted, you cover them in a rich brown gravy.  I like the less evil version of brown gravy made from a bit of reduced fat onion soup, some fake butter, skim milk, mushrooms and flour to thicken.  Trust me, you don't want to put meat drippings on french fries.  You won't forgive yourself, and that way you can share with your vegetarian friends.  Then, top it all off with some mozzarella cheese.  Throw that in the oven for a few minutes, and voila.  You can have a great snack/meal/heart attack without having to take the turnpike.  Oh boy, my flight is boarding...

Who said disco is dead?

Happy Eating!

German Chocolate Cake (Southern)

On my way to Belfast, I got increasingly more excited about the prospect of meeting so many people from around the globe.  As a food lover, I was also looking forward to sampling local dishes that reflect the history and pride of Ireland.  But, before I could do any of these things, I had to get through the Houston-Bush Airport!

Texas has a rich culinary history and a tremendous present considering the concentration of barbecue joints, steak houses and coffee shops in cities such as Dallas, Houston and Austin. Unfortunately, the Lone Star state has also given birth to oodles of chain restaurants, which gave Americans a strange assortment of food chunks--riblets, chicken fingers and onion blossoms--and variations of brownie sundaes.  Although the brownie sundae can be a suitable way to end a meal of potato skins and taquitos, Texas has a much more interesting dessert.

I'm glad I learned that German Chocolate Cake is actually a Texan, not a Bavarian, treat before I offended some of the German participants of my Belfast conference by asking them if they loved it as much as I do.  Some lore says that a German chocolate cake recipe first appeared in 1957, when a Dallas woman sent in a recipe for German's chocolate cake to a newspaper.  This may be untrue considering Kraft's German's Chocolate was a brand of chocolate that packaged bars of baking chocolate beginning in the 1850s.  Also, the cake's chocolate buttermilk base has a longer history.  That's a history mystery I would love to solve, but in the meantime I implore you to try it next time you are in a bakery.  The multi-layer cake features a wonderful pecan, coconut filling and frosting made from a simple syrup, borderline caramel base.  

Alright, it's time to get on a plane to Newark, New Jersey!

Happy Eating!

Chicken Fried Steak (South, Southwest)

When I was selected to attend the Transatlantic Network 2020, aka  (TN2020) an international summit to discuss the relationship between North American and our friends in Western Europe, I was thrilled about the prospect of meeting other young professionals who care about the direction of their respective nations as much as I care about my country.  Considering the bizarre twists and turns of this election season, now is the best time for us to come together for a little global family therapy.  So, I'm super excited to head off to Belfast today and take part of what will be a lively and thoughtful conversation.

What I'm not looking forward to is the multiple flights I am embarking on today.  Surprisingly, there are no direct flights from Oklahoma City to Belfast, so I decided to devote the next few blog posts to the regions where I will fly through on my way to Europe.  Leg 1: Oklahoma City to Houston.  Leg 2: Houston to Newark.  Leg 3: Newark to Belfast.  All full flights, and a few babys here and there.

In honor of my new home Oklahoma City, may I share the sheer beauty and decadence of a chicken fried steak, which is one of nearly a dozen items which comprise Oklahoma's official state meal.  Chicken fried steak's origins most likely lie with German immigrants who brought recipes for weiner schnitzel to their new home in the 19th century.  Traditional weiner shcnitzel features a lean veal cutlet, lightly breaded and fried until golden brown.  Due to the relative thriftiness of steak in the Southwest, chicken-fried steak probably became the food of choice of the immigrants who longed for the taste of home.

Chicken fried steak is so ubiquitous in Oklahoma, that fast food restaurants like the local favorite Braum's, del Rancho, and Coit's all offer chicken fried steak sandwiches alongside burgers and fries.  In order to really get a good chicken-friend steak going you have to beat the hell out of a lean slice of steak.  After the steak is beaten within an inch of its life, it's dredged in some egg-milk wash and bread crumbs, then fried.  If you want to reduce the heart attack factor on this one, you can use lean cuts, batter them in more crumbs than egg, and place them on a rack to bake them until crunchy.  If you want to make something crispy in the oven, your best bet is to cook it on an oven safe rack sprayed with some olive oil.  It helps keeping your food from sticking to the pans and losing the breading.

Alright folks, that's all I have for you now.  Next stop: Houston.  Belfast or bust.

Happy Eating!

Mississippi Mud Pie (Southern, Mississippi of course)

Our nation could sure use something sweet?  A nice gooey, chocolate based respite from the confusing week on Wall Street and the campaign trail.  So, why not cook up a nice dessert this weekend while enjoying the presidential debate, which is supposed to take place on the campus of the University of Mississippi.  Oh wait, one of the candidate's is trying to stall the conversation with his opponent in order for his campaign to buy more time for his woefully unprepared running mate!  That's right, maybe we won't be able to watch on Friday, and the University of Mississippi will just eat the $5.5 million and two years of planning they spent on the event.  No big deal.  The debates are not the only reason to think about Mississippi this weekend.  And don't let the complete incompetence and selfishness of one campaign stop you from enjoying a nice slice of Mississippi mud pie.  This decadent pie is a wonderful way of commemorating the role Mississippi history has played in securing our rights to vote. 

Mississippi was a battleground for major, Civil Rights movement activity, from the explosive integration of the University of Mississippi by James Meredith to the inspirational actions of voters' rights workers during the 1964 Freedom Summer.  While many Americans are praising Barack Obama's historic bid for the White House, they may not know of the bravery of Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, who risked life, limb and livelihood in order to do secure something that has become mundane for most Americans--voting.  Hamer, Ella Baker, and the Freedom Summer martyrs (James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman) shed sweat, tears and their own blood in order for every ballot to be honored and counted.  I can think of no better place than Mississippi for the candidates to address the challenges that will face us in the years ahead.  The work of true transformation will not be easy...

As for the pie, it's relatively simple.  The gooey filling is made from melting 2 ounces of unsweetened chocolate squares in a stick of butter.  When it's nice and melted, like the mortgage market, set aside.  In another bowl, add 3 beaten eggs, stir in a few tablespoons of corn syrup and a teaspoon of vanilla.  Once you have the chocolate cooled, like the housing market, stir in the egg mixture.  Make sure the chocolate isn't cooking the egg mixture.  Pour filling into a pie crust, either a traditional pastry or graham cracker crust.  Bake for about 35 minutes at 350 degrees.  Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

You can find Mississippi Mud Pie in a wide array of casual-dining restaurants.  Those versions usually include some type of dense cake layer or more of a pudding base.  This version is all the sweetness you need.  So, if the debates are indeed cancelled, think about enjoying a slice while reading up on your Civil Rights history.

Happy Eating!

Chicken Vesuvio (Midwestern, particularly Chicago)

Dear readers, I wasn't going to blog until after I got back from Ireland, but if John McCain can try to suspend time and reason, I can blog whenever I want to. In these tough economic times, some people may think that the American spirit will simply rise above another tough moment in our lives.  Well folks, it's going to take a lot more than spirit to take our dear nation out of the economic toilet.  Instead of denying that the economy is failing, postponing debates, and waxing poetically about diva pitbulls and their make up, this is a great time to let history be our guide.  Before the nation fell into the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover guaranteed he would usher in an era in which Americans would have "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage."  Unfortunately, a year after Hoover moved into the White House, Americans could barely eat regularly, and could not imagine affording a vehicle of their own.  Although Hoover's vision was eroded by the stock market crash (sound familiar), I think the promises of a prosperous and comfortable America is hopeful.  I wonder what Hoover would think of our expectations about our lifestyles now.  If the presidential candidates promised only chicken and a Geo Metro or Dodge Omni in every driveway, most Americans would balk by such 'low aspirations' for the nation.  Or,  if a politician encouraged us to live under our means and save money, or if a president suggested that we can't fight terrorism through the purchasing of consumer goods, some Americans would be up in arms.  Our nation has fed us on a steady diet of high fructose corn syrup, an accepting attitude toward debt and a notion that patriotism is best expressed through consumption.  Now, we are paying the price...I think all those meals are going to cost us  $700,000,000,000, including lots of tax and tips to the most irresponsible CEOs in America.  But this current crisis in credit, housing, oil, banking, investing, health care and the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, has taught all of us that maybe simpler is better.  How about we wear last season's jeans, grow our own food, rent movies from our local library, and cook and eat an economical meal at home?  

So, if you are finding that your dollar doesn't stretch as far, may I suggest a Chicago original--Chicken vesuvio.  Chicago is a truly magical place.  It's where I was born, raised, fell in love with my husband and learned how to do the "Super Bowl Shuffle."  Chitown has never let me down, and Chicago foods are spectacularly modest.  I'm not sure if "the fundamentals of the economy are strong," but the components of this recipe are solid.  Chicken vesuvio comprises chicken pieces seasoned with garlic, oregano, and lemon juice, potato wedges and peas.  First you sear the chicken pieces in olive oil or whatever you have on hand, season it, and set the chicken aside.  In the same pan,  you partially pan roast some potato wedges until they are slightly brown, but not completely roasted.  Then, set the potatoes aside.  Deglaze the pan with some white wine or low-sodium chicken broth.  Set aside the sauce.  Put all the components in a hot oven with a few cloves of garlic to cook together.  Keep in 425 degree oven for about thirty minutes, then sprinkle a few peas on top and continue to cook for ten more minutes.  Before serving, pour sauce on top of chicken.  If you use all chicken drumsticks, some Russet roasting potatoes, a package of frozen peas, herbs from your garden, and a nice bottle of cheapo white from Yellowtail or Barefoot Wineries, you can have a lovely dinner for under $20.

How about you invite your neighbors over and talk about forming a food co-op?  Or bring some leftovers to the home of a friend who just got laid off.  Instead of eating out, eat and drink with your family and friends in the safety of your home.  And feel grateful that you still have a chicken in your pot.

Happy Eating!

Loose Meat Sandwich (Midwestern--particularly Iowa)

After a few weekends of tearfully sending my other half to trips to watch football games across the country, I started my long season of work and fun travel this past weekend.  Between now and early December, life will take me to Dublin and Belfast, Albuquerque, and San Francisco.  The first stop on my world tour was a visit to Iowa City, Iowa.  Coming from a red state, it was amazing to meet so many people who understand that being rich doesn't start with making $5,000,000 per year and who have boldly decided to change the color of their state and possibly the color of the U.S. presidency.  I felt so at home among the flat green landscape dotted with yellow wildflowers and accented with blue Obama-Biden signs. I stayed at a lovely B and B with the yummiest stuffed French toast ever, and the innkeepers were the loveliest people in the world. And, I got to enjoy a nice, 'slow food' meal on a working farm in nearby Wellman, Iowa.  I was in leftist, elitist, academic liberal bliss.  Local businesses, midwestern Democrats, and organic foods!  Pinch me, I'm in heaven...or Iowa.

As one of the nation's top producers of pork, Iowans enjoy a hearty meat now and again. Although pork tenderloin sandwiches are a regional specialty, I'm a bigger fan of the loose meat sandwich.  No other sandwich name describes the beauty of its personality as well as the loose meat treat.  Loose meat sandwiches are like a sloppy joe without that too sweet tomato sauce.  I have been known to eat a sloppy joe now and again, but with so much sugar in our canned tomato sauces these days (thanks a lot high fructose corn syrup), I prefer the savory broth that meat naturally provides.  Loose meat sandwiches are easy to make; the only real challenge is getting the meat loosened up enough.  Your best bet is to use the back of a wooden spoon to get the ground meat into teeny-tiny pieces.  At loose meat restaurants, the sandwich meat is usually cooked, lightly salted and according to rumor seasoned with a bit of Pepsi, and kept warm on a steamer.  The sandwich is also served on a steamed bun with cheese and a dill pickle, and plated with a fork to catch any part of the sandwich that may come loose.  

You can easily make your own version of a healthier loose meat sandwich with my favorite staples: ground white meat of turkey, low-sodium beef broth and whole wheat buns.  Instead of cheese add some creamy avocado and white bean spread (mashed avocado, white beans, olive oil, salt and pepper) to create a tangy flavor.  You can spice up your meat with a few basil leaves or a bit of rosemary to complement the turkey's natural flavors.  

Ahh....now that I'm settled back home, it's back out into the big, bad world.  Next stop: Belfast. I'll keep you posted!

Happy Eating!

  

Fried Pies (South)

Is it just me or does it seem that with every election cycle, we learn about yet another group of voters?  NASCAR dads and soccer moms abounded in the 2000 and 2004 elections.  So, with all the talk in the press lately about the 'hockey mom' vote, I wanted to speak up on behalf of other voting moms.  Yes, Sarah Palin gained critical leadership skills by waking up early, driving, and sitting in a cold arena while yelling.  For every hockey mom, there are thousands of hard-working, scrimping and saving, waking up early to work a second job single moms.  They are the moms, like mine, who vote for equal pay in the workplace, higher minimum wages, and affordable health care.  They actually like community organizers because they have helped them gain safety standards at work, affiliate with unions and support programs like after-school activities for their children.  Sometimes hockey moms are single moms, to be sure.  Yet, I have a feeling that when the single moms of America take their concerns to the voting booth on November 4, they may say "Thanks, but no thanks" to regressive policies that undermine their best interests. Oh, was I supposed to write about food?  Where was I, yes, single moms.  This post celebrates my own mother, who worked like hell to secure that I had a future in which I could choose a career and life that I enjoy working like hell at everyday, with no concerns about my health care or need for a day off.  On very little, she did so much.  And, it is in that same spirit, I celebrate the fried pie. 

Fried pies are all about my mom's philosophy in life--you take a little and make a lot out of it.  Throughout the South, in home kitchens and restaurants with no oven or when it was simply to hot to fire up the oven, cooks could prepare fried pies quickly and without confronting heat-related 'vapors.'  Although iterations of the fried pie were nationalized through the McDonald's hot, apple pie and the Hostess snack pies, a true fried pie MUST be eaten fresh out of the deep fat fryer.  A fried pie comprises a traditional pie pastry and a sweet or savory filling.  Fried pie flavors range from peach and apple to pulled pork and ground beef.  The beauty of the pies is that the pastry is thin, but does not soak up too much oil, and the filling is usually so dense you can get quite full on one pie.  The fried pie family includes the British pasty, the apple turnover and the Indian samosa.  As with last week's entry, there are NO healthy alternatives to fried pies.  You just have to treat yourself.  Luckily, Oklahoma provides a plethora of fried pie options, including a chain that serves a milkshake made with fried pie chunks and custard! 

When I was a kid, my mother used to bring home a Hostess pie for me and my sister to enjoy on Friday evenings.  My sister and I would come home after school, do our homework and chores, and wait to hear the key turn in the door of our apartment.  That sound meant that a Hostess pie was on its way.  My sister, always the inventive one, would place the lard-based treat in the toaster oven so we could enjoy our pie warm.  No, my mom didn't have time to bake pies and sometimes she didn't have time to drive us to activities, and we couldn't afford hockey. And, guess what?  We were still listened to, loved, cared for and well-fed.  If only my mom could run for vice-president or president.  She would definitely be ready day one to lead the country toward more compassion, create peace among warring factions, and establish 'Fried Pie Fridays' as a national holiday.

Happy Eating!