In civilian circles it is called "creamed
chipped beef on toast." Anyone who has dined elegantly in the sumptuous splendor of a military mess hall knows it as "SOS." The O and second S stand for "On a Shingle," the shingle being toast.
Unlike Cookie, who is forever pictured in a stained T-shirt stirring sauce or slopping
chipped beef on a tray, Davenport is a slim and trim culinary specialist who is the executive chef/senior enlisted aid to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen.
I don't care if it's
chipped beef on white bread or fried liver cutlet with lima beans, I order myself a big plate.
Don't expect to find
chipped beef or military MREs at the Officers' Club's new eatery, Arguello.
Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg Co., for example, last year added frozen Kashi Moroccan Minestrone Soup and Kashi 7 Whole Grain Orzo Pasta, while the Stouffers line, from Solon, Ohio-based Nestle Prepared Foods, now includes, alongside perennial favorites like creamy
chipped beef and chicken pot pie, more exotic fare such as Sautes for Two Ginger Soy Shrimp.
"Zero temperatures, maybe hot coffee and oatmeal in the morning, K rations for lunch and if you were lucky
chipped beef on toast for dinner.
Anyway, the shingle in question was a piece of dried toast, and what sat on it was either crumbled hamburger or
chipped beef in a sauce made of milk and basic seasonings.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOT PECAN DIP 24 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 large green bell pepper, minced 1/2 cup milk 3 small jars dried
chipped beef 2 cups toasted pecans, chopped Soak dried beef in water for about 30 minutes to draw out excess salt.
The thing with
Chipped Beef and Gravy was that I was going to write it in diners over breakfast.
(Applying that same logic, to guarantee that your next family car trip is accident-free, make sure you back over the mailbox on the way out.) Apparently, I now qualify as elderly, since last week a waitress handed me the menu with the "Seniors Specials." But I sent her away with a youthful wave of my hand, telling her to mind her own business and bring me the
chipped beef. (It's easier to chew.)
When unexpected guests drop by my house I don't serve them
chipped beef on toast.