Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Finally something goes right



Creekside Spanish Rice
The All-American Truck Stop Cookbook Copyright 2002

2 cups rice
¼ cup cooking oil
1 ¼ teaspoons chili powder
¼ cup diced onion I used red onion
4 cups water
1 ½ cups tomato juice
I added salt to taste too
½ cup chopped green onion
1 cup canned tomatoes

In a saucepan, cook the rice, oil, chili powder, and onion over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add the water and tomato juice. Cover and cook approximately 35 to 45 minutes. When done, add the green onions and tomatoes.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

From Creekside Restaurant, Seven Feathers Truck and Travel Center, Canyonville, Oregon
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This was a simple recipe but it was the first recipe in several days that I didn't screw up (you haven't heard about some of those goofs yet). I only made half the recipe and it turned out perfect. In the middle of the cooking, I thought it was going to be too oily but in the end it wasn't. I think you could probably safely cut down on the oil though. I served this with some free-styled chicken quesadillas.

This cookbook has recipes from truck stops around the country. It includes pictures and information on these truck stops, their employees, the life of a trucker, etc. I've decided that I really need more cookbooks like this - cookbooks that offer more than just recipes. I love a bit of history mixed in with my food.

One thing about this cookbook that I wasn't crazy about is that many of the recipes have not been scaled down. This is great if you have 70 hungry truckers to feed but since most of us probably don't, I think it would have been wise if they could have scaled those large recipes down for the home cook.

A Blast From The Past: Spanish Rice and Ground Beef from just last month. I think you could use the leftovers from today's recipe to make this - just brown some ground beef, add the leftover rice and some salsa.

Question of the Day: Have you ever eaten at a truckstop?

5 comments:

DancesInGarden said...

We used to travel to London four times a year to see a medical specialist, and we would meet relatives half way at a truckstop near them. We would have breakfast and visit, then continue on our way to the hopital.

The food was plentiful, cheap, greasy and salty and wonderful LOL. Best fried potatoes with onions in the province, I bet. Their onion rings were good too. And the coffee was strong and hot, the cream was always ice cold. No little china cups there, big white heavy mugs.

We don't go to London anymore, and those relatives now live in the same city anyway. But it was good while it lasted!

Anonymous said...

I once ate @ a truckstop in Brazil. The best beef sandwich ever. I was 7 at the time with the appetite of a bird... but I managed not only finish mine, but also eat half of my dad's sandwich!!

Anonymous said...

I've eaten at a few truckstops but only for breakfast. They know how to make a gooooood breakfast. Just don't ask what the fat content or carb count is! LOL

When you say you half the recipe, are you posting it already halved or are you posting the original recipe? This one sounds good. I don't think about making rice very often but it would be a good change from pasta.

Annie said...

Never, but after reading the comments I'm starting to think I should ;)

The Cookbook Junkie said...

Jen,

Good question. I always give the recipe as it appears in the cookbook, with my changes in red, but if I halve it, I just mention that in the post, instead of listing it next to each ingredient. I hope that isn't confusing. I generally won't halve a recipe that isn't easy to halve, mathmatically.

I've never eaten at a truckstop and I practically drive right by one that my husband used to eat at with his grandfather. That one even has two recipes in this book so we'll have to try it someday.