Last night, my husband and I were lying in bed, watching Paula Deen fry up country fried steak on the Food Network.

“I love country fried steak,” I sighed.

“Me, too,” my husband said.

I was surprised to learn that this man with whom I’ve been sharing meals for nearly 25 years enjoys country fried steak. The only meat I’ve seen him eat and enjoy has come off a grill.

I quit frying nearly everything, except the occasional burger, years ago, but upon this revelation, I decided that it was time to pull out the iron skillet, fry up some steak, stir up some gravy, bake a batch of buttermilk biscuits and enjoy some real comfort food.

I baked a double batch of biscuits this morning, fed the masses, and wrapped up the leftovers to warm up for dinner. I headed off to the gym where I damn-near killed myself on the treadmill to try to get ahead for the pig-out session ahead of me. I knew that the gravy was going to land straight on my thighs.

After a quick trip to Kroger for a package of pounded round steak, I was busy in the kitchen, cutting the meat to soak in buttermilk. I was going to do this right. Sarah had already told me that the biscuits she’s had earlier were the “best freakin’ biscuits” she’d ever had, and I just knew that my husband would tell me the same about this steak. I seasoned flour, pulled out the iron skillet, and kept working my plan.

Years ago, when I lived on the farm, it seems like every piece of meat we ate was fried. Chicken, pork chops, ham, beef—it all came out of an iron skillet of hot animal fat. Of course, the animal fat was actually lard that had been rendered from the last pig we’d killed. In spite of these heavy meals, we were all thin and lanky. Flash forward many years to my kitchen where I get to choose from either canola oil or olive oil. I chose the canola oil.

Maybe that’s where things went wrong. I’m really not certain. While I’d envisioned crisp, golden crusted pieces of meat, I was actually getting greasy pieces of beef with the breading falling off. Where’s Paula Deen when you need her? I was making a mess, but decided that I could salvage this meal with a knock-your-socks off gravy to drown the meat and biscuits. Once again—not to be. Another greasy mess.

I’m still not certain where I went wrong. It’s almost as if I’ve forgotten everything my mom and grandma taught me.

Tomorrow night, I’ll stick to what I know best—grilled meat, steamed vegetables, and salad. I’m still a scratch baker, so I’ll bake a cake that will make everybody forget that I just can’t fry anymore.

Comments:

Girl, it will come back to you. Being a good southern girl, knowing how to chicken fry steak and whip up some cream gravy is taught in the womb. Let your inner farm girl give way to heath-conscious, treadmill walking, canola oil using city slicker you have become

comment by thepirateinthecity on Feb 25, 2008 10:51 PM ()

See--that's what puzzles me, Chris. I'd been cooking country fried steak and gravy since I was a little girl. I took several years off, and look what happened. I need to practice some more, no doubt.
Hope you have a great night!

reply by beabea on Feb 26, 2008 12:38 PM ()

I'm on my way! You'll recognize me by my bib...

comment by catdancer on Feb 25, 2008 8:26 PM ()

Now, really--wouldn't that be a fun trip? Can you imagine them having to kick a bunch of us out of a restaurant for laughing too loud?

reply by beabea on Feb 26, 2008 12:34 PM ()

comment by hayduke on Feb 25, 2008 6:28 PM ()

I quit frying a long time ago for the same reasons. We eat a lot of vegetables and white meat around here. However, every once in a while, we'll cross back over, but that's usually when we're visiting my grandmother. I'll have to try the peanut oil, though.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:33 PM ()

Maybe it's a sign from above to eat healthier...
But sorry, that sucks when a meal doesn't go as planned!!!

comment by kristilyn3 on Feb 25, 2008 5:20 PM ()

We really do know better than to eat like that, but gee, it sure sounded good at the time. We're back to grilling and steaming, though. It's all good now.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:35 PM ()

GREAT to see you crossed over, Beabea!!!!

I's just the opposite for me! I'm a gourmet from scratch cooker but when it comes to baking, I pull out the tube of cookie dough from the refrigerator that I bought at the store, cut with a knife, put it on a baking sheet and bake. Presto! Homemade cookies! That's about the extent of my baking skills!

comment by whereabouts on Feb 25, 2008 4:54 PM ()

I love to bake! Once upon a time, before I worked outside of the home, I even baked our bread and all that good stuff. Now, I only do the bread on special occasions, but I bake at least a couple of cakes and batches of cookies each week. I usually give away more than we eat. My kids are to the point where they have no problem passing up cake.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:38 PM ()

cooker?

I mean cook!

reply by whereabouts on Feb 25, 2008 4:54 PM ()

Great idea...and it's cheaper

comment by strider333 on Feb 25, 2008 4:33 PM ()

reply by strider333 on Feb 26, 2008 3:35 PM ()

Oh, yeah...I'm back to steaming and grilling tonight. I'll leave the country fried stuff to Paula.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:39 PM ()

I'm not from the South, but I think that's what I knew as chicken fried steak. Haven't had that since... well, a few years. Good luck with the new plan!

comment by jjoohhnn on Feb 25, 2008 4:12 PM ()

Country fried and chicken fried are the same thing. We hadn't had it for ages, either. Good stuff, but it's hard on our arteries. It's also a pain to clean up. I'd forgotten what a mess all the grease makes. So, yeah...I'm back to steaming and grilling. If the mood strikes us to eat like that again, we'll go out.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:41 PM ()

comment by honeybugg on Feb 25, 2008 1:15 PM ()

My mom used to have the bacon grease jar by the stove. My grandma still pours it on everything, too. She makes the best green beans and new potatoes I've ever had. We used to cure our own bacon, but now we hardly even have it. My diet has changed 180 degrees since those days.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:45 PM ()

Hey! You're here at Greasy!

comment by jondude on Feb 25, 2008 5:47 AM ()

Hey, Jon! Hope you're doing well!Looks like a lot of fine Blogster folks have made the transition. I'm glad JJoohhnn gave me the heads up.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:47 PM ()

I love country fried steak too! but I have never attempted to make it. maybe we should consult with paula dean?

comment by elkhound on Feb 25, 2008 4:46 AM ()

I wish Paula would come to my house and cook if for me!!! I just love her and her show. Wouldn't she be great to live next door to?

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:49 PM ()

I'm so happy you are here! How have you been? Are you well? How's your daughter? Are things good? Please let me know. P.S. How's school? So much to ask, so little time!

comment by teacherwoman on Feb 25, 2008 4:19 AM ()

Deb! Sarah's doing much better now. She's come a long, long way since October, but we take each day as it comes. I've been doing OK--just spending a lot of time tending to her.
School is OK, but I still have to see the SOB that did this stuff to my daughter every day. It's hard to see someone who got away with inflicting so much harm on my baby, but I just keep in mind that God sees it all and will take care of this situation. I just have to take care of her.
Hope you're doing well. I'm glad to see so many Blogster folks here. It feels like home already!

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:54 PM ()

I'm with catdancer you've made me hungry

comment by elfie33 on Feb 25, 2008 4:16 AM ()

Well, Elfie (big hug)--I think we should take a Greasy roadtrip down to Paula's restaurant in Savannah and order us up a mess of country fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, biscuits, and fried green tomatoes. I could probably go for some banana pudding, too. How' that sound? Let me know when you're ready!

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:56 PM ()

Not being able to fry is a good thing.
My mom is from England and everything we ate came out of her black, iron frying pan including her pineapple upside down cake. Except for the roasts and turkeys, that is.

comment by nittineedles on Feb 25, 2008 12:15 AM ()

I know you're right, Marg. I really have no business trying to eat like that, but it sure sounded good at the time. Whenever I do try to cook up a burger, I still have to use my big ol' iron skillet. I also use it for cornbread. Hope you're doing well.

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:58 PM ()

Okay, now you've done it! I'm so hungry I'm going to have to log out and raid the kitchen.

comment by catdancer on Feb 24, 2008 9:06 PM ()

Come on, Cat! We're ready to load up and head down to Paula's restaurant in Savannah!

reply by beabea on Feb 25, 2008 7:59 PM ()