My grandparents (specifically my mom's grandpa) were fantastic cooks. They were depression kids, so they were taught to always use up everything and never waste a drop of anything. It's why I have a soft spot for what my grandpa called "Kickapoo Joy Juice" -just the remnants of whatever was left at the bottom of the orange juice/apple ju…
My grandparents (specifically my mom's grandpa) were fantastic cooks. They were depression kids, so they were taught to always use up everything and never waste a drop of anything. It's why I have a soft spot for what my grandpa called "Kickapoo Joy Juice" -just the remnants of whatever was left at the bottom of the orange juice/apple juice/grape juice/lemonade/whatever's left in the fridge- all mixed up into a jug. A kid's dream cocktail.
My favorite thing they made though was "Gaffney Brown Chicken." Basically, one night they were making Chicken Marsala, but didn't have Marsala wine. Rather than go out and get it, my grandpa declared that he'd just use dry vermouth (they were BIG on their martini's, so there was always vermouth lying around.) So in it went, and with some other minor tweaks (more breading on the chicken, like a chicken parm cutlet,) came out INCREDIBLE, and the meal is now a staple for everyone in the family when we get together once or twice a year.
The funniest part: the debate that would rage between a thinner sauce (my grandpa's preference) and thicker (grandma's.) It would be funny to watch grandpa walk away to make a drink, only for grandma to sneak over and try to thicken the sauce, and to watch grandpa notice when he came back and cuss up a storm & fuss over trying to thin it back out. Always served over spaghetti, with a TON of parmesan cheese.
My grandparents (specifically my mom's grandpa) were fantastic cooks. They were depression kids, so they were taught to always use up everything and never waste a drop of anything. It's why I have a soft spot for what my grandpa called "Kickapoo Joy Juice" -just the remnants of whatever was left at the bottom of the orange juice/apple juice/grape juice/lemonade/whatever's left in the fridge- all mixed up into a jug. A kid's dream cocktail.
My favorite thing they made though was "Gaffney Brown Chicken." Basically, one night they were making Chicken Marsala, but didn't have Marsala wine. Rather than go out and get it, my grandpa declared that he'd just use dry vermouth (they were BIG on their martini's, so there was always vermouth lying around.) So in it went, and with some other minor tweaks (more breading on the chicken, like a chicken parm cutlet,) came out INCREDIBLE, and the meal is now a staple for everyone in the family when we get together once or twice a year.
The funniest part: the debate that would rage between a thinner sauce (my grandpa's preference) and thicker (grandma's.) It would be funny to watch grandpa walk away to make a drink, only for grandma to sneak over and try to thicken the sauce, and to watch grandpa notice when he came back and cuss up a storm & fuss over trying to thin it back out. Always served over spaghetti, with a TON of parmesan cheese.
It's so good.
This is all amazing.