MeXscape

I realized as I was finishing up the Chicken Fried Steak post that I should probably include a recipe for cream gravy as well, and I almost added it then. But as I started to think a little bit more about it, I decided that cream gravy deserved to stand on its own. Plus the CFS post had already gotten pretty long. I never knew I had so much to say about Chicken Fried Steak.

When people discover I am a year-rounder, and, in fact, have not left Mazatlan since I moved here three years ago, they often ask me if there are any foods that I miss. My answer is always a quick and unequivocal yes. I don't need to think about it. My little Texan heart yearns for Chicken Fried Steak.

I am a Texan, ergo I love Ranch dressing. Texans have always had a special relationship with this creamy, tangy little bit of heaven. We eat it on everything: Pizza, french fries, vegetables, even an occasional salad. Pretty much anything we can batter and fry (which covers a lot of territory) we dip in Ranch dressing. The ultimate treat for me is deep fried dill pickles dipped in Ranch. Yum.

It's that time of year when you see everyone from age two to 100 eating ice cream at all hours of the day. It's not unusual for me to see someone enjoying an ice cream cone at 8:00 in the morning. I see people eating ice cream while walking their dog, driving their car, and riding their bicycle. The summer heat in Mazatlan makes ice cream an enjoyable and welcome treat.

Reku has a powerful need to chew. He always has. We have provided him with a long line of chewy treats since he was a puppy. This has helped to keep him chewing on approved items only, rather than, say, my favorite pair of leather shoes. The problem is there aren't a lot of dog chews available here in Mazatlan. Knowing this, we brought 900 large Greenies with us when we moved here, but that supply has run out.