What is CFS?

When I first moved to Texas, I had no idea what people around here meant by the term “CFS.” To me, it sounded like shorthand for a debilitating disease!

I eventually learned that CFS stands for, “chicken fried steak,” or, “county fried steak,” depending on whose etymology you choose. Recipes vary, but the general idea is a battered fried cutlet. In Texas restaurants, it’s usually topped with a thick white gravy flecked with black pepper and a side of mashed potatoes.

Does CFS Have European Roots?

Like the hamburger, whose origins are widely disputed, the exact origins of CFS are hard to pin down.

Here in Texas, the town of Lamesa claims to have invented the dish and even holds a yearly Chicken Fried Steak festival to prove it.

Remember Freedom Fries?

Although recipes vary, Chicken Fried Steak bears a striking resemblance to Weiner Schnitzel. Considering that Texas had a strong influx of German and Austrian immigrants in the late 1800’s, Lamesa’s claim to fame carries some weight.

It’s also interesting to note that cookbooks prior to the 1920’s refer to this dish as Weiner Schnitzel, not CFS. It’s even been suggested that due to anti-German sentiment after World War I, the name was changed to Chicken Fried Steak out of political correctness.

Why the Cloud Photos?

I must confess that I don’t have any good photos of CFS. I’ve tried, but it’s not the most photogenic dish.

On the other hand, I have taken tons of crazy cloud photos here in Texas, and since “cloud” starts with C, I’m using a couple of those photos to adorn today’s post.

A to Z blogging challenge

This was my post for the letter C of the A to Z blogging challenge. Tune in tomorrow to see what the letter D will bring!

In the meantime, click on this link to find out what other A to Z blogging challenge folks are writing about.