Friday, October 27, 2023

Truck Stop Food? Almost.

Disclaimer: I have never worked in the kitchen of a truck stop, even though, IMO, I would make an excellent truck stop cook. Not having that position in my resume doesn't matter much, since truck stop level of cooking is a matter of attitude, rather than opportunity. By the way, should this post potentially lead to an employment offer, I am not looking for a job, since I am both retired and lazy.


 I need to start this off by admitting that I have dined at more than a few truck stops in the past. Most of the time, the folks who wait on you and cook your meal at these places are all hard workers who understand they are there to get you fed quickly and back on the road. The places I visited were never hard to find, since most were at the top of the Interstate exit or at some state highway crossroad. For years, you could count on what you would find on their one-page-menu before ever pulling off onto the lot. The food would be hot, and heavy on carbs and protein. If you wanted breakfast at 3:00 in the afternoon, they were understanding and happy to serve any item on the menu 24/7. 

Now days, many truck stops have gone healthy (gasp!) and offer different menu options for their patrons. As I understand some even offer sushi, although I would be wary of ordering that dish from a redheaded lady names Lucille at a flat roofed, cinderblock dinery beside the highway. Understanding this, I would not feel bad about placing this recipe on any diner table, if the driver I was cooking for was not George Bush Sr. (who hated broccoli).

Here is how I would make this simple, somewhat healthy dinner:

Hamburger steak with onion gravy and steamed broccoli. 

Ingredients:

For the hamburger steak

1 pound ground beef. I used ground round to reduce the fat content.
1 Tablespoon Garlic Salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 cup breadcrumbs. I used wheat bread.
1 Tablespoon dried or chopped fresh parsley.
1 egg
1/4 of a large onion, diced.

 For the gravy

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 of a large onion, sliced.
1/4 cup AP flour
1 cup beef broth, or 1 tablespoon better than bouillon paste and 1 cup water.
1 cup water
A splash of good red wine (?) for flavor.
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
2 teaspoons garlic salt


Directions:

Make breadcrumbs and dice 1/4 of the onion. Cut the rest of the onion into slices, separate into rings and set aside.



 

In a suitable mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parsley, egg, onion, parsley and ground round.





Form the ground beef mixture into two 1/2 pound portions (what I did), or four 1/4 pound patties (for smaller portions) 



Cook in a medium hot skillet with a little vegetable oil. As I said earlier, I like to form mine as half pound patties and cook them until the beef is fully done and somewhat crusty. 




Remove beef from the skillet and add AP flour, salt, and black pepper. Cook the flour to a medium dark brown.

 




Add sliced onion and continue cooking until the onion begins to brown.






 Add beef broth garlic salt, Cajun seasoning, wine (for truck drivers?), and Worcestershire sauce. Cook with continued stirring to make gravy.
 


Return hamburger steaks to the gravy, reduce heat and cook for a while. I like to cook with a lid to develop the flavor. 



Cook broccoli florets (fresh or frozen) with a little butter, a teaspoon of salt, and two Tablespoons of water in the microwave for 4 – 5 minutes until fork tender. Alternately, you can cook in a boiler of lightly salted water, and remove with a slotted spoon when tender, then add the butter over the cooked broccoli. 



Serve and enjoy. 



Optional - To make this dish really truck stop worthy, you could also make mashed potatoes or rice to add the tasty carbohydrates and starch many truck stop diners need to keep on trucking down the interstate. If you do this, make good use of the gravy, by spooning some of it over the mashed potatoes or rice. Crusty bread, or U-Brown-Em rolls would be nice, too.  

Thanks for looking at my post.

God Bless You

25 comments:

Bill Dees said...

I'm making this ASAP! It sounds and looks delicious.

Anonymous said...

I have been doing something similar for years but you have some added ingredients that I have not thought to use. Might try yours next time I do mine. Probably steam some brown rice to make use of the beautiful gravy. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Where is Bear hiding the mashed potatoes made with yogurt and cheddar, the golden color of which finishes the color and taste palate? The broccoli could be kicked up a small notch with lemon juice squeezed over, but this recipe I could serve and enjoy with few qualms of conscience, provided the "vegetable oil" was either avocado or olive.

Anonymous said...

Past time for you to put together a cook book.

Anonymous said...

Not bad, but if you used good 80/20 hamburger meat, you wouldn't need the breadcrumbs or the vegetable oil and it tastes better too. I cook my onions in the drippings before I add the flour but your way is ok. Glad to see you didn't put anything tomato in it - some people do and it's hideous.

Anonymous said...

Looks great! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

That looks divine, Mr. Bear. I make essentially the same recipe, add a little dried mustard, too, and call it Salisbury steak. I put the cooked meat patties back into the gravy for a couple of minutes to get them hot and juicy before serving. Mashed potatoes are a must to sop up the gravy.

Yum! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Oh and potatoes are ok, but a pot of rice for that gravy is a must.

Anonymous said...

If you open a truck stop cafe, just name it the Chum Bucket. God almighty, that looks just like one of Sheldon's culinary creations.

Robert W Neill Jr, Land Broker said...

That looks great. What restaurants/truck stops/dive bars have the best hamburger steak?

Anonymous said...

That'll stick to your ribs. Been jonesin for some liver and onions

Anonymous said...

Please explain why restaurants and recipe-posters so often feature junk like broccoli as a 'side'.

It's the one vegetable that takes zero imagination, no prep time, no clever plating and is cheaper than week-old bagged cabbage.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

7:02

As presented, this is a keto recipe and broccoli has very few carbs. That is why we eat a lot of it at our house. Sorry, but you will see a lot of it in my presentations. Just adjust your imagination so that you see rice or mashed potatoes.

My apologies.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

Me again. I should also have said that, unlike President Bush #1, I actually like broccoli and eat it a lot because of that and as you said, it is easy to quickly cook and get on the plate.

My recipes. Do yours however makes you happy.

Cheers.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

Me again. I would like to let you know I have a tasty cabbage in a bag recipe I will post after the holidays.

Ben Waiting said...

Three posts back-to-back to express your anger? You're beginning to sound more and more like Kingfish every week.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

Angry?

Not me. Just Bored.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

And too quick hitting the submit key.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

This stuff happens when you are dealing with an old guy.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

Smile....

Anonymous said...

The only thing worse than a large gob of restaurant-plated broccoli, is asparagus as big around as your middle finger.

Why restaurants continue to pull that one on us is baffling.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

Sadly for you guys, I love me some Asparagus too. Next thing we will get is a Brussels Sprouts comment, quickly followed by a Collards or steamed Cabbage complaint.

Anonymous said...

Bear - I posted at 10:27. I love asparagus, properly selected and cooked. But you know as well as I know that spears as large as your middle finger are way past their prime.

Nothing much better than grilled asparagus, wrapped in bacon and gently tooth-picked, spritzed with Pam and salted with Tony's.

Anonymous said...

@7:24PM - I have a brother in law that drives for one of those big delivery companies. He swears by the Kewanee Truck Stop in Toomsuba, MS.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

5:29 pm - Funny, I have dined at that establishment, although it has been quite a few years (maybe 15). As I recall, they had an excellent Bacon Cheeseburger with fries and rings. I imagine it came in at about 2400 calories, but that night, I wasn't counting calories.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.