Category: MISC

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY #3 – DAY 83

YAY! We had a productive weekend! We tried to go out for breakfast Saturday, but decided too late and the little diner that sounded so great on line turned out to be another ‘wait in line to order and pay‘ place.  We really want to find some real mom and pop places to go out and be served at, but they are becoming harder and harder to find for casual dining, especially for breakfast.

We ran errands Saturday morning and made it home before the skies opened up fortunately.  One of the errands was to buy the new range.  It went really well and will even be delivered sometime today!  I’m so excited – a sink and a range in the same week.  WOW I can cook again!

I had been unpacking and trying to pare down things, but it has become an unruly mess and I will be actually packing a few things back up for now.  We took 6 big totes for donation on Saturday and already have 3 more packed for this week.  I was serious about becoming a minimalist!

One of the things I’m having issues with is my “tools” still all in boxes.  So this week I’m going to empty gram’s old sewing room into the living room which I have spent the past 2 days cleaning out and get that room painted as it’s going to be the spare bedroom which we need done by the 29th.

Then I’m going to get my studio set up so I can get my tools and things organized. I seriously love having ‘deadlines’ to help me stay focused on what needs done next. They really work as great incentives.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had a cool weekend especially when the wind was blowing and it rained off and on all day Saturday, but it is supposed to be beautiful the rest of the week.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • MONDAY – Empty Sewing Room and pack up a few things.
  • TUESDAY – Paint “sewing” room and turn it into the new spare bedroom.
  • WEDNESDAY – Paint studio and begin organizing.
  • THURSDAY – I bet I’ll still be organizing the studio LOL
  • FRIDAY – There used to be an atrium and gramps closed it in back in 1982 so it has been a part of the house for a very long time, but I just don’t know what else to call this room. Anyway, gramps also “paneled” over the Hardy Plank so it is VERY dated.  We’re removing the paneling (which is what I’ll be doing today) and going to paint the Hardy Plank.  Hubby is then going to get very creative with the molding around each arch where there used to be sliding glass doors many years ago.  Unfortunately gramps just paneled right over the dryrot.  There also used to be a faux beam across the room at a really low level with a ceiling fan, but we removed the faux beam and will be doing track lighting from the electrical outlet at the wall instead.
  • SATURDAY – Laundry, relax & football.
  • SUNDAY – Read, relax & Football.

CURRENTLY READING
I’m pretty tired at night so am not getting much reading done, but I’m STILL reading:

TELEVISION / DVR
Just a few of the normals as we have time.  We have been so tired that we don’t care too much about TV.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
None right now, but I hope that changes soon as I have quite a few ideas for the Old Fashioned Christmas homemade gifts that I’m really excited about.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N.
Hot Wings & Celery sticks with Bleu Cheese
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

HOMEMAKING TIP
Want to get the rest of the wax out of a candle, but it’s in a stubborn place? Place the entire candle in the freezer for an hour and the wax will shrink and come right out after.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Being able to cook again!
  • Seeing the progress on the house.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Gramps delivered special delivery mail for many years so this was an awesome find in the garage.  It was in the bottom of a tin can full of screws. I’m going to try and clean it up when I get time.
INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

CHICKEN BLT SOUP

Since we arrived here, cooking has been a challenge.  Well tomorrow the challenge is over as my new range is scheduled to arrive between 8:30 and 10:30 AM.  I did however manage to make a new soup recipe that turned out awesome in the slow cooker, but will be better on the range.

I have always used a combination of onion, carrot and celery as a soup base long before I knew it had a name, Mirepoix. I didn’t know I’d been cooking French all these years.

CHICKEN BLT SOUP
1 pound bacon, thick sliced
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 large sweet Vidalia onion, diced
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup white wine (I like a nice moscato)
6 cups chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes
homemade croutons
Torn romaine and or celery leaves
Parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste 

  • Cook bacon until crisp.  Set aside to drain on paper towels. 
  • Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease and then sear the chicken thighs quickly in the hot grease. Transfer chicken thighs to slow cooker.
  • Add onions, carrots and celery to bacon grease and saute’ until seared. Add to slow cooker.
  • Deglaze pan with wine being sure to scrape up all the bits and pieces.
  • Add broth to the wine and bring to a boil.
  • As soon as broth mixtures boils add it to the slow cooker.
  • Cover and slow cook on high 1 1/2-2 hours until chicken is fork tender and tears apart easily.
  • Stir in tomatoes.
  • Ladle into bowls.
  • Top each bowl with a handful of lettuce, bacon piece, croutons and grated cheese before serving.

DAY 80, but we didn’t fly around the world!

It’s amazing how things work.  I’ve always lived by the adage, “Man plans, God laughs, WE adjust” which is so very true for the situation we are now in.  As you know we have been rehabbing my grandparent’s house.  We came here on a Leap of Faith believing it was mainly sweat labor that was needed.  Unfortunately that was a pipe dream and for 80 days now we have literally been rebuilding from the inside out with more sweat than we knew we had and lots and lots of pennies .

The foundation work that needed to be done brought on plumbing repairs.  While the foundation contractors that my uncle hired were horrible, the plumbing contractors are far worse.  They have been working here for 27 days and are no where done.  They are at least done on the inside and the remaining work is on the outside closing the tunnels.  Unfortunately the foundation people then have to come back out and re-level a portion where the plumbers removed the piers. I swear they are complete idiots.  They stood there with the piers lying all about their feet and lied to our faces saying they didn’t remove them.  Fortunately for us I take lots of pictures and had the pictures to prove otherwise. ALL of this has slowed the inside progress.

The kitchen is by far the biggest project as the appliances were all trashed and the cabinets were literally falling off the hinges.  I’m still working on the stain to get them all even, but they are coming along nicely.  The new range will be here on Monday and the “working” side of the kitchen will be great!  Having a counter full of dirty dishes has been a long time coming but I now have running water, a sink and working dishwasher! I think I’ll miss doing the dishes in the bathtub said no woman ever!

The floors will be what we do last since we still need to do the”left” side of the kitchen.  The hot water heater has scorched the ceiling and the original piping for the discharge, washer and dryer are a mess.  So our next project along with the master bath is the laundry area.  I’m anxious to get the new floor down, but will wait until all that mess of removing drywall and such is over.

I’m hoping to get the back splash areas done this next week.  I’ve been mineral oiling my butcher block to restore it.  Eventually I will refinish the table top to match the cabinets, paint the legs and chairs  a distressed white and recover the chairs in a coordinating fabric.

The light for over the sink should be here tomorrow and we are still deciding on the vent hood for the range which will be here Monday.

It is just nice to be able to sit at the table to eat again! I had been just stuffing things behind doors as I unpacked.  Today I use the table to empty out several cabinets while I lined the shelves and started running load after load through the dishwasher to begin organizing cabinets.  I was in heaven.  Glasses, silverware, utensils and dishes.  What more could I ask for?

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

We had an eventful and productive weekend with having to adapt the kitchen sink base for all the plumbing reroute issues, but FINALLY we will have a working kitchen sink yet today and hubby even got the old dishwasher working.  LOL when we took out the dishwasher to begin the cabinets we found that whoever installed the dishwasher originally had it running off of the cold water so no wonder it didn’t clean the dishes.  We decided to reinstall it for now (to the hot water) and give it a chance.  I’m just so excited that I won’t have to wash dishes on my hands and knees in the bathtub that I won’t even mind doing them by hand! I admit it, I’m exhausted!!!!! It’s been 76 VERY LONG days of manual labor and emotional strain.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
This past weekend Old Man Winter came roaring into town Friday night with threat of tornado.  Fortunately all we had was torrential rain, MEGA wind and hail and a 25 degree temperature drop over night.  This week is cold and windy, but clear though there is supposed to be more storming later in the week.  I have learned not to take the weather report too seriously though – just stay prepared.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Monday – Idiot Plumbers will be back to begin finishing their tunneling under the house and repairs. Many phone calls including the foundation company to have them come check up on the plumbers as the plumbers have undermined work that the foundation people just did and are claiming otherwise despite my pictures proving differently. Stain the new 3 kitchen cabinets that we decided to add. Grout front entry floor. Lay master bath floor tile. Pick up cleaning and run a few errands.
  • Tuesday – Hang new cabinets. Grout master bath floor tile and start sanding shower for refinishing. Laundry. Tile floor under stove, refrigerator and dishwasher area.
  • Wednesday – Hopefully today is the day we get a stove! LOL Or at least get it ordered. Also buying the new toilet for the master bath and hopefully will have it set by end of day.
  • Thursday – Wash pantry containers and organize pantry and cabinets.  Doing this will get LOTS of things off the tables in the other rooms and make it easier to work.
  • Friday – Start refinishing shower and possibly do floor tile in spare bath depending on the idiot plumbers.
  • Saturday – Flea  Market, Farmer’s Market and Football playoffs
  • Sunday – COOK! and Football playoffs

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
We still have no cable and are getting used to this central time zone with prime time starting at 7PM.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
WOOHOO I have actually started my homemade Christmas gifts for next year and believe I have come up with some pretty neat ideas that everyone will appreciate and really like.

HOUSE PROJECTS
LOL See my to do list!

KITCHEN WISHES

  • flooring
  • counter tops

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
??
??
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
COCK-a-LEEKIE soup
C.O.R.N.


MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
Cream of Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese


DESSERT






RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
This is the first time in quite some time that I took some time off this past weekend and actually read a few magazines and cookbooks.  With the weather having turned so cold I was really interested in some stews and soups and I just happened to have a magazine of recipes I received at Christmas.

  • Cock-a-Leekie Soup
  • Chicken BLT Soup
  • Chicken Soup with Potato Dumplings
  • Brazilian Black Bean Soup
  • Goulash Soup
  • Ham & Vegetable Stew
  • Mexican Potato Soup
  • Stuffed Baked Potato Soup
  • Edamame Soup
  • Creamy Cabbage Soup 
  • Buttermilk Pecan Pancakes with Bourbon Molasses Butter
  • Filet of Beef with Horseradish sauce
I believe this quote speaks to my state of mind right now!
I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.  ~Martha Washington

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Seeing the progress in the kitchen.
  • Seeing less and less packing boxes in the living room!
  • Having less laundry to do.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

DAY 71, MY TOP FINALLY BLEW & WE’RE STILL MOVING 17 STEPS BACKWARD FOR EVERY 2 FORWARD

I have to be honest I’m exhausted and as much as I want to keep things updated here, I run out of steam each day before I get around to it.

It took 3 trips, but we finally got all the cabinets home. They don’t look like much now, but wait a few weeks and they will look fantastic.

It also took a couple days more, but they are almost all installed.

I got the tile laid in the entry hall. My mistake was asking hubby to change the light fixture before I did the grouting.  We’re now waiting on the electrician to deal with the rusted wires and shorted fixture before I do the grout.

We have at least made final decisions on the flooring and backsplash.

We are not sure where this guy came from, maybe came in on the cabinets?, but we also weren’t sure what he was so just gently escorted him outside.

The laundry area needs to be completely redone to contend with the walls that were opened to deal with the foundation and plumbing problems so we are going to take this opportunity to update and bring to code the water heater too.

We’re not sure what all the stains are from, but we’re just going to remove the ceiling and repipe to the vent while also updating to code the platform and pan for the water heater before putting up the new ceiling and walls.

On another note we are livid with the current situation surrounding the plumbing issues.  I do have to say I finally blew my top tonight regarding the picture below.  I have profusely apologized to the plumber who did the work (he was only doing what he was told to do) and WILL be taking up the issues with EDDY who is supposedly the one who is in charge.  Honestly I wouldn’t put this idiot in charge of walking my dog!  This has been a complete clusterf**k since day one.

21 days ago EDDY stood in our kitchen promising to have the sink up and running the next day.  The next day came and they called saying it would be the following day before they began due to scheduling conflicts, but it would be done by the following Tuesday (3 days before Christmas).  The day they began the one in “charge”, EDDY announced he’d be gone the following week, but his next in line would keep things running smoothly.  Tuesday comes and  I STILL HAVE NO SINK!  The new man in charge, Armando says he needs to go to his truck for a part to hook up the sink.  He gets in his truck and promptly leaves.  A few minutes later the other workers close up shop for the holiday and leave. WTH? I still have NO sink, have an open gaping hole under the house that is filling with rainwater and 2 tons of wet clay type mud 4 feet tall up against the garage (it was supposed to ALL be in a pile outside the fence but apparently they changed their minds with no consideration for us, our animals or ANY other worker we have scheduled).  The mud pile is blocking the electrical fuse box, the gas meter, and has left us sleeping under that horribly broken window as we could not install the new one which we had to find a temporary home for in the garage.

They also included in their quote having to remove a tree to do this work.  They did not remove the tree, but went in right next to it, leaving the roots cut and exposed ALL this time and now the tree is dying and we HAVE to remove it!

So EDDY comes back from his week away for Christmas and doesn’t understand why I’m upset.  He claims I wasn’t specific enough that I wanted a kitchen sink before Christmas and is now claiming that it wasn’t part of the deal.  He agrees to move the mud the next day so we can get the electrician and gas guy in to do the pipe for the range.  Needless to say it was 6 days later when the mud was finally moved which also left us with a mess on the back of the garage wall and it has ruined the paint.  They also pumped the water out of the hole through our fence instead out the gate and have left the fence stained.

Their inability to act like professionals has created a HUGE domino effect in our life.  We cannot completely unpack, we WILL be missing the sale on carpeting that we signed up for and since completing this project so we have a home is completely contingent on them finishing their job we WILL be filing a complaint with the better business bureau who they claim to have an A+ rating with.  They have cost us money and lots of precious time as well as ruining our holidays.

I was able to get the gas guy here yesterday finally, but can’t get the electrician to start until tomorrow, a full 21 days after he should have been able to get here.

As I sit here this morning writing this. it’s 9:45 and no one has shown up or called.  I guess this is just PAR for the course with this company who like I said I wouldn’t hire to walk my dog let alone work with EVER again!

On a happy note all the cabinets have had at least one coat of stain. It is an oil based stain so I too will be wearing the color for about 10 days. I’m hoping to get better pictures of these 2 views of the new farmhouse kitchen soon.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We are starting the week cool and clear which I love because I want to get the “Christmas” tree planted in the new planter today and set outside where it will do well.  We are supposed to temporarily warm up for a bit later in the week with thunderstorms, but they keep saying not to get used to it as mid month we will turn quite cold for the rest of the winter.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Monday – Remove cabinet and 2 walls in master bath to assess plumbing needs. Remove hot water heater wall in laundry area to asses parts to redo the platform and bring things up to code. If there is time I will put the second coat of stain on the insides of kitchen cabinets and then shower to run errands and go to grocery store.
  • Tuesday – Going to IKEA to pick up lazy susan and rug for dining room as well as have lunch, nightstand shopping and central market. Then off to home depot to pick up last parts for the kitchen sink plumbing, stain for cabinet outsides and the flooring tiles.
  • Wednesday – Installing last cabinets in kitchen and hooking up kitchen sink (hopefully) finally!
  • Thursday – Laundry and some more unpacking I hope.
  • Friday – moving water heater and starting the kitchen floor.
  • Saturday & Sunday – Football playoffs and a few

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Not much, but I do want to see a few of the returning and new shows beginning this week.
 
CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Making a list and compiling what I need to begin Christmas gifts for next year.  We’re planning a BIG Old Fashioned Christmas for 2016 and I want to get an early start to doing it right!

HOUSE PROJECTS
See below
 
KITCHEN WISHES
Hoping to have the range later this week.
 
MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
C.O.R.N.
MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
DESSERT






THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • The kitchen will be done soon!
  • The entry way is almost done!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
There are several this week as we progressed through the kitchen. Green board is mostly up, cabinets are level and attached to the walls and quite a few boxes have been unpacked.  For now I’m just stacking everything behind closed doors to get rid of the packing boxes (which we use for trash like taking out walls) and I will do a major clean and organization in a few weeks.  I have found a few broken pieces, but all and all everything has done well for having been packed nd stored for so many years.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

CROCKPOT LASAGNA

1 1/2 pounds hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 ounce can Hunt’s Diced Balsamic vinegar, Basil and olive oil tomatoes
13.5 ounce can Popeye chopped Spinach
15 ounce can Contadina Italian Herb tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Classico Sun Dried tomato pesto
1 tablespoon Pampered Chef Italian Herb mix or equivalent
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
16 ounces ricotta cheese
8 Lasagna noodles, no boil bake
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
PURE

  • Brown hamburger with onion and garlic. Drain off fat.
  • Mix together the diced tomatoes and spinach, juice and all.
  • Whisk together the sauce,pesto and seasonings.
  • Pour the tomato and spinach mixture over the meat mixture and toss together. Allow to drain again.
  • Generously spray the crock pot liner with PURE.
  • Layer as follows & cook on low 3 hours
1/2 of the sauce
noodles broken to fit
meat mixture
noodles
ricotta cheese
meat mixture
noodles broken to fit
other 1/2 of sauce
mozzarella cheese

GOOD MORNING MONDAY

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! My cousin hosted this year since we are in such a disarray, but I promised I’ll do next year.  We had a WONDERFUL day with a terrific meal and TONS of laughter.  It’s great to be around family with lots of memories and stories.

I love Christmas and it was EXTREMELY difficult for me this year to not be able to put up a tree or decorate, but especially not be able to make all the goodies and applesauce for neighbors and friends.  I’m already looking forward to and planning for next year.  I even threatened to start in July in an effort to make up for this year.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
FINALLY it’s cold enough to call it winter which makes think, “Be careful what you wish for!“

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • MONDAY – We’re getting up super early to get to Lowes and Home Depot before we have to be back  to let the plumbers in. The plumbers bailed last week and NEVER finished announcing they would be back today.  Needless to say they will be getting NO more work from us ever! They left me without running water anywhere near the kitchen and I’ve been doing the dishes in the bathtub! We’ll spend the remainder of the day green boarding the kitchen back splash area and installing kitchen cabinets.
  • TUESDAY – Painting and tiling the entry way.
  • WEDNESDAY – Peeling wall paper in the master and spare bath.
  • THURSDAY – unpacking kitchen items.  The idea is to get them unpacked and put behind close doors any way possible for now so we can get rid of the boxes and start on the living room.  The electrician can’t begin to figure out the dead plugs until he has more access to them.
  • FRIDAY – Taking the day off and watching the rose parade and whatever else we want to do.
  • SATURDAY – HOPEFULLY working on restoring order to the backyard and maybe installing the bedroom window.
  • SUNDAY – FOOTBALL and relaxing!

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Whatever happens our way though we’re looking forward to getting cable in the next week or so.
 
CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Nothing new, but hoping that can change in the next few months. I’m really hoping to start next year’s Christmas cards and projects early.

HOUSE PROJECTS
Everything!

KITCHEN WISHES
A stove by mid month.
 
MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??

??
DINNER


C.O.R.N.


C.O.R.N.
DESSERT








THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • SAM the elf was a success!

  • I’m starting to see daily progress in the remodel though we are seriously sweat rich and penny poor at this point.  It was never supposed to be like this. 

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

The donations are piling up and since I took this picture you can no longer see this room. I’m so glad to be giving so much to the women’s shelter.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

A favorite of ours is “chicken fried” anything.  Chicken-fried steak (also known as pan-fried steak country-fried steak or CFS) is a piece of steak (tenderized cube steak) coated with seasoned flour and pan-fried. It is generally associated with the South and their hospitality. Its name is thought to be likely due to chicken-fried steak’s similarity in preparation to fried chicken, though the dish is also similar to the classic Austrian dish,  Wiener Schnitzel, a tenderized veal or beef cutlet, coated with flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs and then pan fried.  It is truly a comfort food.

The precise origins of Chicken Fried Steak are unclear, but many sources attribute its development to Germans and Austrians who immigrated to Texas in the nineteenth century and brought recipes for Wiener Schnitzel from Europe to the USA. Lamesa, the seat of Dawson County on the Texas South Plains, claims to be the birthplace of chicken-fried steak, as does Bandera, Texas’ favorite son, John “White Gravy” Neutzling.

The Virginia Housewife, published in 1838 by Mary Randolph has a recipe for veal cutlets that is one of the earliest known recipes for a food like chicken-fried steak. The recipe for what we now know as chicken-fried steak was included in many regional cookbooks by the late nineteenth century. The actual term “chicken-fried steak” was probably developed in the 1930s. It is thought that the  name change was due to the war with Germany.  Chicken-fried steak is among numerous popular dishes which make up the official state meal of Oklahoma, added to the list in 1988.

All that said, even being a Texan, I grew up with it being called Country Fried Steak which makes so much more sense to me!  There is nothing chicken about this meal.  I have over the years played with the flavor and this is how we like it.
COUNTRY FRIED STEAK
1 cube steak or thin top sirloin steak per person
Marsala wine
green onions, thinly sliced
1 egg per 2 steak, beaten
flour
salt and pepper
butter
  • Generously salt and pepper the steaks.
  • Slice your onions and marinate the steaks in just enough Marsala wine to cover.  Layer the steaks and onions into a tupperware and refrigerate for several hours.
  • Drain steaks on paper towels.
  • Heat large skillet with enough butter to evenly coat the bottom.
  • Dipped drained steaks in beaten egg and then flour.
  • Lay each steak in sizzling butter and salt and pepper again.
  • Turn steaks and season again.
  • Serve with Parmesan Potatoes and Peppered Gravy.