Lone Star Pork & Cabbage

We didn't eat a lot of pork in my house growing up. I'm sure it was because of Dave the Fox's taste in food (which was carved by his Texas-born Swedish mama -- whole lotta chicken and peas), but I grew up thinking that beyond ham and bacon, pork was something that Yankees eat. And yes, we did use that term. Still do in certain parts.

Of course, me with my penchant for the exotic, I was a little crazy about folks from the northeast as a young woman. I get along peculiarly well with people who hail from The City (as those in the know refer to NYC). Something about a brashness factor, I think. We natives of The Republic don't exactly fit the stereotypes of The Genteel South. Anyway, I learned about a lot of new ways to do things from my friends the Yankees, one of which was how to eat pork.

I was so tickled to eat something other than chicken and hamburger steak in my first shabby little apartment with a merry-go-round of roommates, that I got a nickname from one roomie's boyfriend: Chop Chop. One of these days, I'll resurrect that recipe for Pork Chop Stew.

Later on, when times were even leaner and I had a husband who was a serious meat-and-potatoes eater, I discovered pork steaks. It's a cut from the shoulder, and you can just ignore what Wikipedia says about it being tough. It's not... always. H2 and I found out that pork steaks are very tasty grilled. Pretty much anything you want to do with a beef steak, give pig steaks a shot and see what you think.

And here's what you do with pork when you have a can of Lone Star that you dropped on the concrete while carrying in the groceries.

Lone Star Pork & Cabbage

4 pork steaks
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 head cabbage
1/2 red onion
1-2 tbsp caraway seeds
1 busted can lone star
1/4 cup cilantro
2 tsp kosher salt

Brown steaks in oil in a deep pan. Don't cook too long, just 'til pretty and brown on both sides.

Slice the cabbage thick. Place slices on top of steaks. Slice the onion thick. Place on the cabbage. Sprinkle on caraway seeds. Pour on beer. Sprinkle cilantro, finely chopped, and salt. Cover. Cook on low for an hour.

You could serve this instead of that smelly Yankee favorite for St. Patrick's Day, corned beef cabbage.

(Note: Busted beer cans should probably be used pretty soon after busted.)

Comments

[Ivett]

Oh, yum!I was wondering if you would be winlilg to do us a favor? We have been collecting postcards of all the states for our geography. We don't have one of West Virginia yet. Would you be winlilg to send us one? No worries if this is something you don't wish to do.

[TPK Bodhisattva]

Um. I've never even been to West Virginia. But thanks for stoppin by. :)