SOS Variations

[Aunt Bea]

This time of year a can of tuna or salmon with some peas is a welcome change.

[Rob Babcock]

Growing up our version of SOS was Creamed Hamburger on Toast. Pretty simple- brown some burger, season with S&P, add milk then beat in some whitewash (ie a slurry of flour and water). We served it over toast made from whatever bread was in the house, usually something my mom made from scratch. Since I'm a chef, when I reproduced this family recipe at home I use bechamel sauce, but beyond that I don't change it. Okay, maybe I'll add a tiny smidgeon of sage but not much- it shouldn't taste like sausage gravy.

[PrincessFiona60]

Originally Posted by Rob Babcock

Growing up our version of SOS was Creamed Hamburger on Toast. Pretty simple- brown some burger, season with S&P, add milk then beat in some whitewash (ie a slurry of flour and water). We served it over toast made from whatever bread was in the house, usually something my mom made from scratch. Since I'm a chef, when I reproduced this family recipe at home I use bechamel sauce, but beyond that I don't change it. Okay, maybe I'll add a tiny smidgeon of sage but not much- it shouldn't taste like sausage gravy.

Add some Mushrooms, peas and onions, a little garlic and Soy Sauce...Hamburger Gravy. Yum...great comfort food. I serve it on mashed potatoes.

[Selkie]

Just to remind old salts, SOS was just about the most expensive meal served in the galleys of U.S. Navy ships, and yet more it was also the butt (so to speak) of the most jokes about navy food.

You try buying enough chipped beef to feed one hundred or more hungry sailors SOS, two or three time a week all year long!

[Zhizara]

Originally Posted by Selkie

Just to remind old salts, SOS was just about the most expensive meal served in the galleys of U.S. Navy ships, and yet more it was also the butt (so to speak) of the most jokes about navy food.

You try buying enough chipped beef to feed one hundred or more hungry sailors SOS, two or three time a week all year long!

Especially at today's prices.

I just bought some, I didn't bother looking at the price. I knew it was a treat. Unfortunately, I didn't get any milk, and don't have any canned or dried either, so the jar sits there mocking me, untouched, until my next shopping trip which won't be until Thursday. *Sigh*

[Claire]

When I was a child, growing up in the military, my Mom made the best SOS (and yes, excrement for the first, toast for shingle). She'd buy dried roast beef slices in a jelly-jar type jar. Milk gravy, some chopped green onions, but she always topped it all with some slices of hard-boiled eggs, and always had a thing about fresh ground black pepper. Come to think of it, I haven't made it for hubby in years, and he'd probably like it again. Oh, yes, now that I think about it, she'd sometimes add some peas.

Although the dried beef wasn't cheap, you used very little of it because it was so darned salty. Do they even make the stuff any more?
Yes, it always did remind me a lot of various southern sausage gravies.

[Zhizara]

Originally Posted by Claire

When I was a child, growing up in the military, my Mom made the best SOS (and yes, excrement for the first, toast for shingle). She'd buy dried roast beef slices in a jelly-jar type jar. Milk gravy, some chopped green onions, but she always topped it all with some slices of hard-boiled eggs, and always had a thing about fresh ground black pepper. Come to think of it, I haven't made it for hubby in years, and he'd probably like it again. Oh, yes, now that I think about it, she'd sometimes add some peas.

Although the dried beef wasn't cheap, you used very little of it because it was so darned salty. Do they even make the stuff any more?
Yes, it always did remind me a lot of various southern sausage gravies.

That's the one I bought, but can't make until I get some milk. I know, I could make up another sauce, but I'll wait until I can make the traditional style.

Pouring it over cornbread was really, really good, and I like HB eggs too, but I grate mine over it with my box grater. Pretty, and good for a breakfast for dinner.

I usually find it on a top shelf in the canned meats section. Hormel, I think.

[PrincessFiona60]

Originally Posted by Claire

When I was a child, growing up in the military, my Mom made the best SOS (and yes, excrement for the first, toast for shingle). She'd buy dried roast beef slices in a jelly-jar type jar. Milk gravy, some chopped green onions, but she always topped it all with some slices of hard-boiled eggs, and always had a thing about fresh ground black pepper. Come to think of it, I haven't made it for hubby in years, and he'd probably like it again. Oh, yes, now that I think about it, she'd sometimes add some peas.

Although the dried beef wasn't cheap, you used very little of it because it was so darned salty. Do they even make the stuff any more?
Yes, it always did remind me a lot of various southern sausage gravies.

Except for the onions, that's exactly how my Mom fixed it. I love the stuff!

[Zhizara]

BTW, it's Armour Dried beef, not Hormel.