“Keep on Truckin'”  (Story)

In 1973, Dan and I had been married a couple of years.  I was homesick, so we decided to make a trip back to Darjeeling and Kathmandu.  We decided to return via New York and drive across country to Los Angeles, Greyhound to Seattle and State Ferry up the "Inside Passage" to Juneau, Alaska.

Since we were traveling on a budget we contacted a drive-away company to save money.  All we had to do was pay for the fuel, tolls, food and lodging, call a phone number in LA every 24 hours or so and give them a progress report of where we were.

My parents had gifted me with some beautiful saris and jewelry.  I decided it would be fun to try on a new sari or a new ornament every day while cruising down the highway.

To save time and money, we ate snacks for 500 miles.  We had reached Ohio when we decided we needed a hearty grand-slam truck stop breakfast that Dan had told me about in our courting days.  We spied our first likely spot, pulled into the parking lot and walked in. 

All eyes followed this bejeweled and bedecked “apparition” in a flowing garb. The breakfast was delicious; in fact my best memories of that trip are eating great American breakfasts all the way to LA.  And Dan’s “horizontal on a poll” stunt, which seemed to be his “exercise” on each rest stop, is also memorialized with the photo you see here.

When we got back into the car I asked Dan: “Hmm, is this a good idea - to dress up the way I am and stop at these great American truck stop diners!!”

He said.  “Yeah why not?  That was a lot of fun. You should 've seen the look on their faces.  Let’s do that all the way to LA. They see a big black spanking new Oldsmobile cruise into a parking lot full of 18 wheelers, and out steps this foreign looking chic all dressed up, speaking in a strange accent - they probably think we’re mafia!!”

It was fairly dark when we arrived in LA.  We followed the last part of the driving directions to our destination.  We pulled into a street lined with huge warehouses, seemingly without end.  We were stopped at a gate for a while.  The guard made a phone call from his booth, and then told us to drive on in. 

A few yards away a couple of serious-looking fellows in dark suits waved us to a stop.  We got out of the car and Dan handed one of them the papers.  The other inspected the car and when he was satisfied, motioned Dan to take our luggage out of the trunk. Not a word was spoken. The one who inspected the papers grunted, then handed Dan a wad of cash.   

On cue, a VW bus came out of the shadows; the driver told us to get in.  We did.

He said “Where to?”

Dan said “Greyhound bus depot”

And we were out of there.  We did not say a word until we reached the depot.  We thanked the driver.  He just nodded and drove away.

I said: “Dan, You didn’t count the cash.”

He said: “All I wanted to do was get the heck out of there!”

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"Keep on Truckin'"  (Breakfast Recipe)

BUTTERMILK PANCAKES (serves 4)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 beaten egg
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tablespoons oil or melted butter

Directions:

1. Whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt (optional)
2. In a separate bowl mix together the egg, buttermilk and oil or butter.
3. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until blended.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray.
5. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface; about 2 ½ minutes.
6. Flip over. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute.

Note: Adjust the thickness of the batter to your liking by adding more flour or buttermilk if necessary.

OVEN FRIED POTATOES (Serves 6-8 people.)

Ingredients:

4-5 med. potatoes
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 teaspoon salt*
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
6 Tablespoons oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Scrub potatoes, then cut them into 1/2 x 1/2 inch cubes.  
3. In plastic bag, combine flour, cheese, salt, pepper and garlic powder. 
4. Moisten potatoes a handful at a time under water.
5. Shake in flour mixture. 
6. Pour oil in a 9x13 inch pan and put potatoes in single layer in pan oven. 
7. Fry for 1 hour.
8. Stir every 15 minutes.

*Note: You can use Lawry's seasoned salt.

BISCUITS (approx 9 biscuits)

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1-1/4 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
Milk
Non stick spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Grease baking sheet.
3. Mix flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
4. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.
5. Stir in buttermilk and egg.
6. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead GENTLY until smooth; dough will be moist.
7. Roll dough out into circle 1/2 inch thick. Cut out biscuits with a biscuit cutter.
8. Place on greased baking sheet.
9. Brush top with milk.
10. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

SAUSAGE GRAVY

Ingredients:

½ pound ground breakfast sausage.
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
2 c. warm milk
Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1. Brown sausage
2. Drain the grease.
3. Decrease heat to medium.
4. Add flour quickly.
5. Add warm milk; constantly whisking, until thick.
6. When you reach the desired consistency add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Remove from heat.
8. Serve over biscuits.