A little bit of Chicken Fried - Featuring the music of Rolling Nowhere
(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)
Come on in boys and girls... Today were serving up some deep fried tunes, a little bit of "Chicken Fried" and Whiskey.
Like the boys from Rolling Nowhere say - "It's a whiskey drinkin', no time for thinkin' night."
So come on in for some "Psychedelic Junkyard Folk" music, a dish that's about as Southern as it gets and a traditional whiskey cocktail.
There's a crispness in the air, fall is here. So, slow down. Pull up a chair (or bucket) and come join me on the porch. I think I hear a Canjo in the distance.
The Pots Are On...
Like the boys from Rolling Nowhere say - "It's a whiskey drinkin', no time for thinkin' night."
So come on in for some "Psychedelic Junkyard Folk" music, a dish that's about as Southern as it gets and a traditional whiskey cocktail.
There's a crispness in the air, fall is here. So, slow down. Pull up a chair (or bucket) and come join me on the porch. I think I hear a Canjo in the distance.
The Pots Are On...
The Plate...
Chicken Fried Steak / Jalapeno Cream Gravy
Growing up in South Texas you could find you some Chicken Fried Steak on just about any corner, (not good Chicken Fried Steak, but everybody had it on the menu). I remember we would drive miles for the best (and the biggest) Chicken Fried Steak.
I do have my favorites... Shady Grove in Austin makes theirs with Hatch green chiles and Pepper Jack cheese. Raven's Grille in Euless Texas has a Double Barrel Chicken Fried Steak (the biggest and the best, with cream gravy). Man, I could go on and on.
Some folks like to crisp it up by putting crushed crackers in their batter, but I like a good ole light golden brown flaky batter myself.
It's all in the Gravy... I do take liberties with the gravy by adding a little Jalapeno, but if you've been following along you know that "I Like My Peppers". "Some like it hot, and some sweat when the heat is on"... sorry, starting channeling a little eighties Power Station.
What you need...
1/2 cup vegetable oil2 1/2 lb top round steak
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
4 eggs beaten
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 Jalapeno seeded and minced
Chopped parsley leaves
What you do...
The Steaks...
Heat your skillet over medium-high and add the vegetable oil.
Ok, this is the fun part... pound out the steak with a meat mallet until they're about 1/4 inch thick (or thin).
Salt and pepper both sides of the steak.
Mix the flour, cayenne and paprika together in a bowl or dish. Take the eggs and beat in another bowl.
Test your oil by flicking an ooch of flour in the pan. If the oil splits, you're in good shape.
Ok, now your gonna use the ole double dip method with your steak. Take a steak and lay in the flour, covering both sides of the steak with flour. Now dip it in the egg and then back into the flour.
Alright, now carefully place the steak in the skillet. (Remember you just tested it... it's Hot!)
Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes a side.
When finished place the steaks on a sheet tray. Keep warm in oven.
The Jalapeno Cream Gravy...
When the steaks have been cooked, pour off all but about 2 tbs of the cooking oil and turn the heat down to low. Add 3 tbs of of the leftover flour mix to the oil and whisk to create a paste. Cook until golden... won't take long, about a minute. Now, gradually add the cup and 1/2 of milk and keep whisking.
Now add the jalapenos and let it cook until thickened; about 10 minutes.
Pour gravy over the steak and garnish with parsley.
The Playlist...
One Foot Out The Trailer
The first time I saw Rolling Nowhere was at the Chomp & Stomp festival in Atlanta's "Cabbage Town". I was in a trance.
The music was... well it's kinda like... well let's just see what Brad has to say. According to Brad Cochran, founding member and lead Canjo player of Rolling Nowhere, this best describes our music - "Imagine you're sitting on a rusty bucket on the bank of a river, drunk, with a broken heart near a Southern town in 1937 with a large mosquito bite above your left eye. That's the sound of Rolling Nowhere."
So, what's a Canjo?... a washboard percussion experiment of sorts.
("The Playlist" runs on Spotify. Don't have Spotify?... Click here it's free )
The Bar...
Bourbon Old Fashion
2 oz Bourbon
1 tsp sugar
4 dashes Angostura bitters
Splash of Club Soda
Garnish with Orange slice and Maraschino Cherry
(Ice cube optional... you know who you are!)
(Ice cube optional... you know who you are!)
Rolling Nowhere - Junkyard Folk
Available on iTunes
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