Grilled to Perfection

Tonight I am making a frisse (curly leaf lettuce) with sliced scallions, chopped bell pepper, diced celery, and fresh garden grown tomatoes. Yes, it is a crunchy and crisp salad. This will be topped by a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing, grilled chicken, and a sprinkle of chow mein noodles. I have been marinating the chicken all afternoon in a light soy sauce and then shall grill it up to perfection before the storms hit. Yes, I said storms and you can already hear the thunder on the horizon. They are drifting to the east just north of us. I am also grilling some skewers of vegetables. Kind of a poor man's kebab. I can already taste those caramelized and sweet grilled onions now. I had thought of grilling some steaks tonight. Big. Juicy. Bloody. Burnt. Steaks. My wallet protested though when I was shopping.

I got a phone call from my brother and he spoke of my father's grill sessions and juicy ribeyes grilled medium-well upon a hot flame. This got me in this train of grilling thought, the compulsive man that I am. "I could kill for one of dad's steaks and potatoes," he said. My brother has really been lamenting the frou frou food they find in San Diego Restaurants. "There just isn't any down home southern charm here." I asked my brother what he eats for lunch everyday at the hospital. "Half a ham or turkey sandwich with a box of raisins."

"Everyday?!"

"I eat that everyday without fail," my brother replied.

"Oh God. I would just starve to death and would probably eat the furniture."

My brother laughed.

"You would have loved my supper last night," I then said.

I told my brother what I cooked and you could hear his stomach grumble over the phone.

"That's it!" he exclaimed. "I'm moving back to the South. I miss down home cooking. Jennifer feels the need to cook like everyone out here. I've eaten baked fish twice this week. I want some macaroni and cheese, turnip greens with fatback, and cornbread."

I smiled as I told my brother goodbye. That reminded me to run by the store tonight and pick up a block of sharp cheddar and some macaroni noodles. Tomorrow's supper is going to be a ham steak, macaroni and cheese, and turnip greens with a vinegary homemade hot sauce. I can taste it now. Man, I love living and eating in the South.