Hello from San Antonio!! I'm on my way back to the FREE STATE of Maryland!!

[madinmaryland]

:woohoo:

And not a second too soon for me!!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. Did you ever hit the McNay museum like I said?

[WolverineDG]

4. Probably not

probably stayed in the hotel room & whined about being in Texas & how awful it was.

dg

[tango-tee]

13. Dear WolverineDG: Former resident of Beaumont checking in here!

I returned to Germany to take care of my aging parents, but Texas is my American "home". That is where my only child was born, and after a couple of moves to other states and four years in the Marine Corps, my son returned to his home town, got married and lives there with his family. He is a liberal to the core.

Never mind that Texas has its generous share of reactonary dingbats (which state doesn't, to one degree or another?), but there is indeed *something* about Texas. I met so many kind, sweet and generous people there to more than make up for the proverbial rednecked knuckledraggers.

Gimme some of that BBQ!

:hi:

[WolverineDG]

16. Scoot on over & make some room there....

:9

IIRC, this person asked for things to do in SA & several people responded. To me, it's highly ungracious to post something like this instead of saying "Thanks for the ideas, I did x, y, z & had a good time."

But then, I'm from Texas & we have manners.

dg

[tango-tee]

20. Come sit next to me....

I made a dinner some time ago over here.... Smothered pork chops, collard greens, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes and dirty rice. Banana pudding for dessert. Had to have it, was homesick!

If you ever get to Beaumont and feel like some BBQ - go to Gerard's in the North End. Try the hot links, they are to die for. No kidding. As I'm typing, I'm drooling.

[madinmaryland]

32. Where is that?

[WolverineDG]

48. Google is your friend

http://www.mcnayart.org/

dg

[rcrush]

2. Can I come with you?

You'll have to feed me and provide entertainment of course.

[WolverineDG]

3. Good bye & good riddance nt

[JonLP24]

6. LOL

Funny coming from a Cowboys fan to another Cowboys fan.

Was he Texas bashing despite being a fan of their favorite team?

[WolverineDG]

7. Sounds like it to me nt

[madinmaryland]

30. You know, here's the thing. I'm in from Sunday night to Friday afternoon,

working 7-7 everyday, except Friday. I'm 30 minutes SW of San Antonio Center, and the only places to eat are at chain restaurants. At 8pm there are not even any bars other than those at buffalo wild wings.

Not meant as a bash, but rather that I am happy to be going home.

BTW, there were only a few replies to my thread a few weeks back.

[WolverineDG]

38. and I believe I recommended Schilo's

and others recommended other places, including the McNay. I can understand you being happy to go home, but to say that you are going back to a "Free State" is bashing & rude to those who gave you suggestions so you might have a good time.

dg

[madinmaryland]

47. A couple of things for you.

I went back and read that thread. More people suggested that I leave San Antonio or go to Austin than actually recommended anything.

Yes, I did go into San Antonio proper the first weekend and saw the alamo and did the Riverwalk and had lunch. Found a shop of little chatcki stuff for wife and daughter and found another place, En Fuego, which sells spices and salsa. Good stuff and they are local. www.enfuegosauce.com. I also wanted to go to the San Antonio Genealogical Historical Society, but it was too late by the time I was finished with the other stuff in town.

BTW, Maryland is the "Free State" just as Texas is the "Lone Star" state.

[madinmaryland]

33. It is kind of funny.

I thought I was just saying that I wanted to go home. Funny how that becomes bashing. Did I say something about Texans being ***holes. No I didn't, because they are not (well at least the ones I met and worked with).

Sounds like a few people have the easily upset cboy4-syndrome.

[JonLP24]

34. Sorry mad

I don't know what goes on here in the lounge most of the time so I don't know what everyone is upset about. Don't take it personally. :pals:

[madinmaryland]

35. The truth is I would say that about almost anywhere that I went.

Home is always the best. Well there is NY City and the Olive Garden in midtown!!

:hide:

[JonLP24]

37. Yeah.

I recall you making Delaware/Toll booth jokes in Condem's thread last night. You're sarcastic 99% of the time. :)

[kimmerspixelated]

5. Just another Texas Bashing thread!

[texanwitch]

8. You are missing the wild flowers.

I hope you had some decent chicken fried steak.

You are welcome back anytime.

We will have Bill White for governor, he will kick goodhair's ass.

[wryter2000]

11. I have not figured out chicken fried steak

I have the coating more or less right now, and I know how to make the gravy, but I can't get the meat right.

I've been using sirloin tips, aka flap meat, because it's tender, but it isn't right, either. What cut of meat should I be using and how do I prepare it, do you know?

BTW, I'm nuts about lupines. I'd love to have a garden full of blue bonnets.

[texanwitch]

12. I just buy the meat that is tenderized in the store.

Look for the meat that looks beat up, it will have marks on the meat.

The meat must be thin.

I can't remember the offical name of the steak.

[tango-tee]

14. Is it flank steak?

Tough as leather, but I marinated it in lime juice and herbs for a couple of hours and it seems the acid broke down the tough fibers. Came out smooth and tender.

[texanwitch]

15. I don't remember the name of the steak but it has dents in it.

I will check the name tomorrow at the store.

It is already tender.

The problem comes from cooking the chicken fried steak to long.

The steak should be thin so it doesn't take very long to cook.

I cook mine in deep fryer.

I dip the steak in flour, egg and then more flour.

Season to taste.

[WolverineDG]

18. the dents come from the tenderizing process

my mom had a tenderizer & used to take out her frustrations on dinner. ;)

The gadget I remember looked like a little hammer with pointy things to make the dents.

dg

[texanwitch]

19. I used to have one of those little hammers.

The hammer had two sides.

One side had big points and other side smaller points.

Very dangerous in the hands of a pissed off person.

[texanwitch]

22. I found it.

Mean little hammer.

[tango-tee]

21. My grandma had one of those little hammers, and I used it on a burglar once.

If it works on a burglar, it's got to work on a tough piece of meat.

[tango-tee]

25. Try flour, egg and dry bread crumbs (instead of more flour).

I whirl regular sandwich bread through the blender for those. Then let the whole thing sit in the fridge for a couple of hours, so that the coating gets really dry. I do that with fried chicken as well and it comes out super-crispy. I can't recall where I got this hint from, but it works! And I fry in a mixture of bacon grease (for flavor) and oil.

Dear cardiologist, forgive me, for I have sinned. But it tastes so damn GOOD!

[Kali]

42. ROUND STEAK!

those little packages of cube steak (aka breakfast steaks) suck - get a real round steak, have them tenderize it if it hasn't already been done and cut it into serving size pieces yourself.

Alternatively you can buy a tenderizing mallet and get your aggressions out, but the commercial machine at the meat dept is better.

(a little bacon grease in your frying oil/gravy really kicks the flavor up a notch)

[WolverineDG]

17. I think it's flank steak

don't quote me on that, but whatever cut it is, they bang the hell out of it to get it that flat.

dg

[tango-tee]

26. Yes, same meat as for fajitas.

Just beat the living daylights out of it. And/or do as I do O8) and marinate in lemon/lime juice. No need for artificial tenderizers - ever.

[Capn Sunshine]

29. That's not flank steak, it's skirt steak

take a look at the price and you'll notice the difference. Skirt steak is a little farther down the "flank" and looks very similar, but is tougher. That's why it's always marinated (Like in fajitas) or tenderized(like in chicken fried steak)


Flank steak is tighter and when sliced diagonally against the grain, acceptably tender - about like a top sirloin in consistency.

[tango-tee]

44. You're absolutely right!

My memory isn't what it used to be.... All I can offer in the way of an explanation is that I left America 16 years ago, and haven't been able to go back (family obligations over here in Germany) with the exception of one visit last year.

But good lord, this thread is making me hungry....

[Kali]

43. no marinade for chicken fried steak!

eww

[tango-tee]

27. Completely unrelated to this thread, but want to say it before I forget

I so much enjoy your photos of your dogs, the flowers and birds.

Thank you, texanwitch! You mention bayous - you must live in Southeast Texas!

[texanwitch]

28. Houston has plenty of bayous.

Mine is not really pretty, it is concrete lined.

There is lots of green space around it.

The wild flowers are really coming in now.

It is nice to have open spaces.

[madinmaryland]

31. Actually, I was told Rudy's has some good barbeque. When I go back next week

I'll try that place.

[sammytko]

49. Rudy's hasn't been the same since the head chef died.

Its okay, but for me, San Antonio just doesn't have good barbque. I live in a small town south of there. It isn't consistent.

If you go to Rudy's go to the one out on I-10 on the way to Boerne.

Don't even go to Bill Miller's.

One of my favorite things to do is drive around to the small towns surrounding San Antonio. Seriously, what is there to do in the city, but shop and eat?

If you are in the area in June, head out to Blanco for the lavender fest, if you are into that sort of thing.

[old mark]

9. We might be visiting in Texas in May, to League City near Galviston....

Any recommendations?

My BIL really wants us to move there permanently.


mark

[EndersDame]

10. Go to Austin in the People's Republic of Travis County

[tango-tee]

23. Hi Mark!

Wish I could be in the area when you're there with your family, but won't be able to get back stateside until Christmas. Galveston is pretty close to where my son lives!

[old mark]

45. My dad lives nearby, too - we are mainly going to see him - he was

93 in January and is getting old, and we want to see him while we still can.

mark

[tango-tee]

46. Indeed, you need to do that. Go see your dad

and enjoy every minute of your visit, dear friend!

Wasted opportunities are like a lead weight on the soul.

[elleng]

24. Hey, mad, SOMEONES missed you!

(Terps, that is!)

C'mon home! That western b.s. is NOT GOOD for anyone!

[madinmaryland]

36. I'm back in MD.

Had dinner tonight at a new local Italian restaurant here in Columbia! My wife had a small pizza with fresh basil, and I have garlic shrimp!

Great to be back!

[mix]

39. What Kind of Dallas Fan Are You?

Texas is home to the Cowboys.

[KamaAina]

40. You are going to stop off in Arlington on the way back, right?

To make the obligatory pilgrimage to the Temple of St. Jerry?

[JonLP24]

41. !

:spray: