I Must Go Again

I got sent out into the world yesterday. The Indiana project is done so removing the machine was a priority. I didn't really want to go. I think I'm struggling with a minor RA flare and the thought of sitting for 2.5 hours one way was not what I wanted to do. Funny how I can sit for 4 hours, get up and nuke my lunch and then go back to sit at my desk for another 4 hours but driving 2.5 hours is deemed too hard.

But, it did mean that I could stop at Steak 'n Shake for lunch. I knew I was going to get chicken fingers and bacon cheese fries. I realized, after they came, that I could make them at home. They are the shoestring fries and probably a Cheeze-Wiz kind of cheese sauce with Bacos sprinkled across the top. But really. Why would I want to? If I limit myself to getting them only at Steak 'n Shake, that makes them a special treat, something to be indulged when I want to reward myself, like when I get to spend time talking with Pam. So, I will not be experimenting with making bacon cheese fries at home. It's like Panera's chicken and wild rice soup. I can't seem to make that at home so it's a treat to get it at Panera when it's available.

I also get a Dr Pepper for the road. From this Steak 'n Shake, it's a 2 hour and 15 minute drive home. It can be really tiring so I get a Dr Pepper for the road. That perks me up and keeps me going and getting the giant size ensures there's some left for later, when I've got my feet up and a cat in my lap.

Therefore, the ONLY choice left is what flavor of shake to get. They were featuring chocolate covered strawberry and this one. No, that's not a strawberry shake. Boring. I wouldn't, unless they had shakes I'd already tried, get a solid strawberry one. This is Red Velvet. Really.

Now, if you aren't familiar with the Red Velvet flavor, here's a brief explanation of it. According to James Beard, it's a chocolate cake made with cocoa powder, vinegar, buttermilk and red food coloring. The reaction of the vinegar and the buttermilk brings out a red tinge to the cocoa.

During World War II, when food coloring was rationed, some bakers turned to beets for the red coloring. Adding beets to the mix enhanced the flavor and make the cake more moist. "Red Velvet Cake" is considered a Southern recipe although I've known about it since I was a girl. It was considered a luxury, although I'm not sure why. The flavor of Red Velvet can't really be described and I rank it with Blue Moon ice cream. I can't quite describe it either, but I do like it.

Now go and get thee to Steak 'n Shake. This shake is amazing. I'm thinking there are probably strawberries in here but I can't describe how good this was. Some of their recent attempts at new flavors, the chocolate banana shake immediately comes to mind, were off. This is not one of those "what were they thinking" shakes. I have to go to Steak 'n Shake again. April and Perry's gift card will allow for my indulgence.

I'm thinking this will be around only through Valentine's Day or maybe the end of February. Go. Just do it. You'll thank me.

Beverage:  English Breakfast tea

Deb