Thanksgiving

        Leaving Missouri 4 days early we boondocked enroute at the Cherokee Casino at Sallisaw, OK, price $0.  They have a very nice large lot designated just for RV overnights.  After a nights rest and Barb's $51 winnings we headed west, deciding to stop in Oklahoma City for some shopping, etc.  We camped again at the Little Axe CG at Lake Thunderbird State Park. 

     Great sites under the oaks right on the water; with our discounts $80 for 4 nights.  This park does have all the amenities and we could have a fire for the first time since April!  14.5 mpg towing on the way here.  We also got to visit with our son Chad and his new wife for a bit and eat some great Chicken Fried Steak out on Old Highway 66.  

      The one scheduling item we can always count on this time of year is visiting with our grandson in SW Oklahoma.  We try to spend a week or two here each year.  We have always enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of our in-laws during this holiday.  They have always been very gracious during our visits as well as putting out quite the spread during 'Turkey Day'.   Grandpa Ricky can sure roast a turkey as well as a Cook's Ham to perfection and Grandma Frankie is as gracious as any Southern Lady you'll ever meet.

'Downtown' Marlow, OK

     Arriving in Marlow we once again we set up camp at Town n Country RV Park about 2 miles out of town with full hookups at the price of $180/week.  A very nice park with all the amenities to include laundry, WiFi, and trash pickup.  We have stayed here 3 times.  Marlow is a small town, but has a very nice butcher shop and several nice home cookin' cafes.  Even the Marlow Market has some very fine meats.  10 miles down the road is Duncan with all the other amenities anyone could want including my fav Chicken Express chickene.com/ I can get my gizzard fix here, although admittedly they have other delicious chicken dishes as well as tasty catfish.  Marlow offers the best of small town living.   This came in handy as we arrived with a slow leak in one of our tires.  

      Our oldest grandson, Brock is 16 now and we consider ourselves pretty lucky as he loves to visit with us and his passion for old movies, especially SciFi, is very mutual.  Many of our visiting days when he is not shackled with such slavery such as high school include watching movies, comparing criticisms, and just snacking on whatever Grandpa Rich prepares.  This year we brought him the movie 'Shin Godzilla' to kick off our visit.  Brock called it a 'Classic'.  I considered it time well spent.

      We also took Brock to see Bladerunner 2049.  SENSATIONAL FILM!  I was able to find the original 1984 version of Bladerunner on DVD at Vintage Stock, a shop in Oklahoma City that specializes in anything you need to find.  He watched the original first so he could appreciate the strides I story and technology that this movie has accomplished.  I think I finally found something to impress him.
      Thanksgiving this year however was at Brock's other relatives in nearby Chickasha.  Although we were a bit hesitant to intrude, we were once again greeted with open arms;  Southern Hospitality.  What a spread!   Time spent here helps me to realize that the world is still a pretty friendly place with love and fellowship considered normal family values.

What a Thanksgiving spread!

      I did find some time to (finally) get back out with the camera and got a couple more good BW shots.  We also took an afternoon to cruise the country looking for wild hogs which are supposed to be prevalent in the area.  Alas on a 78 degree day none where to be seen.  We spent the last couple of days just visiting and relaxing with folks.  Being here is always a good visit.  In between we dined on Cudighi Cheeseburger Casserole, Fried Rockfish, Greek Shrimp Salad, and a Low Country Boil to name a few.

Yooper Cudighi Cheeseburger Casserole

Low Country Boil

      Not that we didn't dine out.  Rib Crib, Chicken Express, and Smokin' Joes Rib Ranch got a bit of our business as always.  All have excellent food. 

Smokin' Joes Sausage, Hot Links, Okra, and Beans

     We don't get to visit our grandchildren as often as we would like, but who ever does?  We always enjoy these visits and as I said, so does Brock.  We are fortunate to have such warm and friendly in laws.  Of course time always goes too fast, but we makes sure our visits contain as much quality time and love as possible.  From here we head NW towards the Oklahoma Panhandle and the tiny community of Hardesty.  We'll boondock for the first 4 days or so of pheasant season as well as hopefully enjoy Roux's good work.  

"The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends"

Shirley MacLaine

WiFi courtesy of Town and Country RV Park

Creole Camp Food

     Even on the road, camp food is as good as you want it to be.  With Barb helping out her sisters this week I'm left to prepare my own cuisine.  This will be quite wide ranging as it usually is; from blackened rockfish to sushi to Cajun.  Although the weather this time of year can be a bit unpredictable, why should the menu?  My latest example of this is Creole Crawfish Tasso Chowder.  The day I made this was a cold, rainy November day which made this perfect compliment to flakey biscuits and a puppy's cold nose.    

      One of our most valuable culinary tools on the road is our mini 2 quart crock pot.  As long as you are hooked up to shore power this creates some very tasty meals.  I adapted a recipe I found on the  NOLA restaurants recipe website, but you can prepare it in a stockpot on the stove if you like instead.  Technically this is a Creole recipe, but like any true chowder it has it's share of corn and taters.  I like Yukon Golds.  It also adds carrots to the bell pepper/celery/onion mix, much like a true mirepoix.  

www.neworleansrestaurants.com/new-orleans-recipes/recipes_bombay.php 

      It is always easy to find crawfish on the road.  Wal Mart nearly always carries them in the frozen fish section.  Although not fresh, they are already peeled, ready to use, and not prohibitively expensive. 

      I am fortunate to still have some Tasso from our last trip that will work very well in this dish.  Outside of SE Texas or Louisiana this might be difficult to find.  For the bacon I love to use Wright's Brand Applewood Smoked, delicious.  I also like to buy my bacon at Wal Mart as Wright's Bacon is usually about 40% higher elsewhere.  The rest of the ingredients are pretty much in daily use and not hard to find.  I use an instant roux, but homemade is always the best if you know how to make it.  Remember, Creole cooking makes roux with fat drippings and cream, not flour.  Of course I had to scale down the ingredient portions to fit our pot.

      The best part about my adaptation of this recipe is the crockpot does most of the cooking.....I don't have to pre-parboil the taters; just dice them about 1/2".  I do lightly saute the bacon, veggees, garlic, and Tasso (about 2 minutes).  I use a separate pan; adding the stock, roux and bring to a boil for a minute; just to begin thickening.  Don't overdo it as it should go into the pot a bit soupy.  It'll help meld all the flavors as well as thicken on it's own.  The magic of the crockpot.  

Simmering mirepoix

Ready, set, GO into the crockpot

      Add everything (except the crawfish) to the pot, it'll do the rest.  Heat on low for about 4 hours.  I DO NOT, however, add the crawfish till the last 30 minutes.  When finished serve with garlic baguette or cornbread on the side.  The LSU game is optional.  

Give me a biscuit.....I'll keep your belly warm.

"Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all"  

Harriet Van Horne

WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi

Fiddlers Fish House & Family Restaurant

    

     Here we are on the road again;  Winter 2017 and our first stop is SE Missouri.  This restaurant is located in Dexter.  We have eaten here several times while visiting Barb's family.  If there ever was a Webster's Dictionary For Dining, Fiddlers Fish House sets the standard for Family Style Southern Cooking. They feature an incredible buffet for lunch and dinner as well as 'ala carte' ordering if preferred.  We have always enjoyed their incredible buffet when we dine there, but I hear their prime rib and steaks are wonderful.

     The buffet is well stocked and features either thick, thin fillet, or whole catfish, shrimp, frog legs, clam strips, chicken (fried, BBQ, and gizzards), mac n cheese, meatloaf, roast beef, pork chops, and other daily items.  The sides include hushpuppies, corn on the cob, mashed taters and gravy, sweet taters, beans, green beans, kernel corn, okra, black eye peas, ham & greens, corn bread, biscuits, and many others that vary day to day.  The salad bar is excellent while the dessert bar has, among other items, the best darned peach cobbler you will ever taste.  Price?  Depending on time of day $7.99 to $10.49

www.zomato.com/dexter-mo/fiddlers-fish-house-dexter-dexter/menu

     

      Of course what restaurant would be complete without their 'Food Challenge'.  Fiddlers features the Man vs. Fish Challenge.  20 Catfish fillets, a pound of fries, a pound of baked beans, a pound of hush puppies and a pound of coleslaw, as well as a gallon of water make up this challenge.  Eat it all and it's free.  It is featured on Missouri's Top Ten Restaurant Challenges.   www.onlyinyourstate.com/missouri/eating-challenges-mo/

      Ok, down to our visit.  Barb had already committed to work at her sister's house so I took advantage of the lunch buffet.  Behave myself I DID NOT.

Plate #1:  Catfish, frog legs, ff, and coleslaw

Plate #2:  More catfish, chicken, fried green beans n okra, and taters

Yeah baby, warm peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream tops it off

      The food is as good as ever and the hostesses keep your ice tea glass full all the time.  My tab for lunch buffet.......$8.56.  Of course there are literally thousands of Catfish Restaurants throughout the south as well as BBQ, but Fiddlers deserves several BIG THUMBS UP.  I have enjoyed catfish pretty much throughout the country and this is among the best I have ever tasted.  The salad bar and dessert only add to the meal.  DO FINISH WITH THE PEACH COBBLER.  There is NOTHING lacking about a meal enjoyed here.  The food is excellent and as always southern hospitality dictates the service 7 days a week. 

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table"

Ronald Reagan

WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi