Sunday, April 30, 2006

Weekend Report (part II)

Survey on TV:

How many do you have?
60% said 5
40% said 3
New surveys up.

My daughter Jennifer called me a few days ago to tell me she got her learners permit, and she wanted to know if (I) would teach her how to drive?

"Well...yeah, no problem, I'll teach you." This should be interesting...

The chicken last night was good, (see pictures below) being this was the first time I had used that grill. (I bought it last year and have never used it.)

This is a 4 burner grill, but using only 2 burners for indirect grilling, I cooked them for 1 hr & 45 mins. at 320. Not bad for the first effort but Julie wants me to use my seasoning mix next time as she is akin to the flavors in that mix that works with everything.

I may try to marinade them like the "Hot Wings" next time to see how that works. "Ah...the joys of experimentation."

(damn B.D. that's one of them there collage words.)

"I know...scares me too!"

Enjoy your day!!!
(check out the pictures)

B.D.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Weekend Report

I did Beer Butt Chicken tonight.
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.
B.D.



























































Happy B-day Vicky

It's your birthday, go party, it's your birthday, go party!!!

Happy birthday to BD's girl Vicky!!!

"Let them eat cake...and drink beer." Woo-Hoo!!!


Happy birthday darlin'
B.D.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Friday "oh" Friday

Hot damn, the weekend is at hand, although it is supposed to rain, it's still about the R & R.

I cut the grass after I got home from work and I tell you, it is growing faster than I can keep up with it!!! But that is fine, it looks a whole lot better than it did last year. The ole fertilizer is doing its thing. Thick and lush and very green.

Our "Black Bear" Sweetie, is starting to get on my nerves, she smells something in the backyard and wants to go outside every two minutes, but she comes back up to the deck and starts barking wanting in, then two minutes later she wants back out to go sniffing again! "Make your mind up, I'm trying to watch Law & Order."

Come back tomorrow and see who the birthday girl is.
Enjoy the rest of your day!!!

B.D.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Mid - Week Report

It's official, I'm going to "Memphis in May" to be a part of the "Peg Leg Porkers" BBQ Team. Woo-Hoo!!!

This should be awesome. My first time, to rub shoulders with some of the best bbq cooks in the world. I will take lots of pictures and share with you my experience of this great event held every year. This is a dream come true for me...

Somebody has a B-day coming up this Saturday. Who is it, you may ask. Come back for the Weekend Report and find out.

She's blond & she's a babe & she's one of my girls...'nuff said.

Life is good...
Beer is better...

B.D.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Monday "oh" Monday

I just got a phone call from my sister-in-law that may change my life. I have a chance to go to the "Memphis in May" barbecue cook off and be part of a team.

Will I take this chance?

Hell yes I will. Woo-Hoo!!!

This would be an awesome experience for me to learn from the "Best" barbecue cooks in the world cooking in competition.

This is a lifetime opportunity that I can not pass up.
You know my love for cooking.

This is my dream...
And I'm going to run with it...

B.D.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Weekend Report

Results of the survey:

Dog 63%
Pet Rock 13%
More than one of the above 13%
None of the above (other) 13%

New surveys up.

Boy it sure was nice yesterday. Got the grass cut, I had to cut it twice because that rain and the fact that it has been fertilized, made for thick green grass. Just the way I like it, golf course pretty. My neighbor is fussing already, his wife likes our landscape lighting, she likes our Dogwoods, she likes our flowers..."damn Terry, you got me spending all kinds of money." Sorry.

But when I get comments on how nice the yard and the landscaping looks, I think it was well worth the money spent and the time invested to make it look that way.

Well...I've got more work to do.
Enjoy your day!!!

Life is good...
Beer is better...

B.D.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Recipes & Such

Being sidetracked by other events and things, I have kind of gotten away from what "The Grill" is about. So just hang with me and we'll get back on track.

Some of these I may already have posted before, but that's fine, no harm in that.
Enjoy!!!
B.D.

Abby's Famous Pecan Pie

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
1 heaping cup pecan halves
Directions
Heat oven to 350.

Combine corn syrup, sugar, butter, salt and vanilla. Add eggs. Pour filling into unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle with pecan halves.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until center is set. If crust or pie appears to be getting too brown, tent with foil (begin testing the pie with a toothpick after 45 minutes)


Apple City Championship Ribs

Dry rub:
10 tbsp. black pepper
10 tbsp. paprika
5 tbsp. chili powder
5 tbsp. red pepper
5 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. celery salt
1 tbsp. dry mustard

Finishing Sauce:
32 oz. Hunt's ketchup
8 oz. soy sauce
4 oz. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. garlic powder
8 oz. apple cider vinegar
4 oz. apple juice
1 tbsp. white pepper or to taste

Mix dry rub ingredients. Rub into ribs. Put rubbed ribs into the refrigerator for 4 to 10 hours before cooking. Bring sauce ingredients to a slow simmer. Then add 1 finely grated onion, 1 grated medium golden delicious apple and 1/4 grated small bell pepper. Cook until desired thickness.

Cook prepared ribs for about 5 hours over charcoal kept at 200 degrees. Baste occasionally with warm apple juice. Use soaked apple wood chips in the fire to create a sweet flavor. About 30 minutes before serving, brush ribs with finish sauce. Right before serving, sprinkle on dry rub. Serve sauce on the side.


Apricot BBQ Sauce

1 jar (12 oz) apricot preserves
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 medium clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
In blender, blend all ingredients until smooth.
Great for basting chicken or spareribs.


Armadillo Eggs

1/2 pound Monterey Jack Cheese
1/2 pound Cheddar Cheese
1/2 pound bulk hot sausage
1 1/2 cup Bisquick Mix
1 to 2 Tablespoons of Water
15-20 canned jalapeno peppers (do not rinse)
1 egg
1 package Shake & Bake (pork flavored)

Grate both kinds of cheese and mix together. Then, divide in half. Set aside one portion. Mix together the second portion of cheese mixture, raw sausage and Bisquick mix with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Knead until still dough is formed.

Stuff each pepper with remaining cheese. Pinch pepper together to seal.
Then, pinch off a bit of dough mixture and pat into a pancake approximately 1/4" thick. Place stuffed pepper in middle and roll in hand to form egg shape.

Roll each ball in beaten egg and then in Shake and Bake.
Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. (These may be frozen ahead of time, and then re-heated)


Au Gratin Potatoes

1 (2 lb.) bag frozen hash brown potatoes
1/2 c. melted butter
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped onions
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pt. sour cream
2 c. grated cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients together and put into a 13x10 inch casserole. Top with buttered bread crumbs and paprika. Store in refrigerator overnight. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.


Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

1/2 Cup onion -- chopped
1/2 Cup celery -- chopped
2 Cloves garlic -- minced
1/4 Cup butter or margarine
1/2 Cup flour
2 Teaspoons sugar
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon dried basil
1/2 Teaspoon pepper
1 Package frozen green peas
4 Cups chicken -- cubed, cooked

DUMPLINGS
2 Cups buttermilk baking mix
2 Teaspoons dried basil
2/3 Cup milk

In large saucepan, sauté onion, celery and garlic in butter until tender. Add flour, sugar, salt, basil, pepper and broth; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute; reduce heat. Add peas and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in chicken. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. For dumplings, combine biscuit mix and basil in a bowl. Stir in milk with a fork until moistened. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto casserole (12 dumplings). Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 30 minutes.

Cover and bake for 10 minutes more or until dumplings are done. Yield: 6 servings.



Grilled Chili Flank Steak

2-lb flank steak, well trimmed
Kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons chili rub
lime wedges

Chili rub:
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup good quality olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Pat the flank steak thoroughly dry with paper towels sprinkle both sides of the steak with salt and pepper. Using your fingers, press the chili rub into both sides. Wrap the steak well and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 2 days. Remove the flank steak from the refrigerator 1 hour before grilling. Grill steak, turning once, until done. (12 To 15 minutes for rare, 15 to 20 minutes for medium.) Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice the flank against the grain, into thin strips. Serve warm, accompanied by lime wedge.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Sink or Swim...

We have got enough rain in the past two days to float a boat around here. Good for my tomato plants, but you can see and hear the grass growing...

Update on bowling: we finished in 6th place.
Not great, but not bad either.

I would like to do some ribs this weekend, but Julie (and others) are doing Weight Watchers, so my options are limited on meat as this is a points system. And ribs don't come cheap in the points category. Oh well, chicken rules.

Got to say "Hi" to my girls Vicky & Tracy. "Who loves ya babe..."

B.D.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Useful info to know

I thought this was some interesting info of tips about Onions.

Enjoy!!!
B.D.

Onion Hands:
Do you have onion smell on your hands after cutting one? Use the metal part of the knife and rub your hands with it while under running water.

Want to chase away onion odor from your hands. Just use a metal serving spoon. Rub off the odor under running water.

After cutting an onion, spray the vinegar on your hands as well as on your cutting board and knife. The strong odor will completely be removed.

To remove onion smell from your hands, run both hands over the chrome faucet on your sink, smell is gone!

To remove onion smell from your hands, use a half-teaspoon or so of salt in your palm. Dampen it with a few drops of water and rub it all over your hands as you would soap. Rinse and the smell will be gone.

Wet hands with cold water. Sprinkle generously with table salt, pour dishwashing liquid over hands, and vigorously rub hands together, getting between fingers as well. Rinse hands under running cold water!!

Onions:
If you have an onion that is hard to peel, because the skin is dry, just drop it in some water for about 5 mins.

When slicing an onion, to avoid tears try holding a piece of white bread in your mouth while slicing, it prevents tears every time!

When chopping onion, you will have fewer tears if you put your chopping board under the exhaust fan on your stove or light a candle and place it near the cutting board.

Before slicing onions, place the onion in the freezer for half hour. This will keep the onion from smelling and burning your eyes.

To prevent tears when cutting an onion, cut the root end off last.

To make chopping onions a less teary-eyed experience hold two unlit matches in your mouth. Have the non-striking end in your mouth. No tears on your cutting board.

Place the onion in the microwave for a few seconds and then chop it up. You won't tear up anymore.

When I cut onions, I find that eating a piece of bread through out the time of dicing prevents watering and stinging eyes.

Bite down constantly on a wooden match stick while doing your cleaning or chopping. I promise your eyes will not burn or tear. So Simple!!

Chop onions by cold running water. You'll have 0 tears.

(I love this one)
Buy them already chopped, no tears, no fuss, no mess.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

New Blog

The new blog is up and titled 'I Think Of You As...' click the link or click View my complete profile to see it. It's just started so I've got some work to do on it.

Now I've got work to do outside.
B.D

Monday, April 17, 2006

I think of you as...

Results of the survey:

Classic Rock 67%
Country 25%
R&B 8%

New surveys up.

Robyn asked me yesterday if she could help me plant my "things" tomorrow (things being the tomato plants) and I said "sure you can." Oh boy, we get to play in the dirt today.
Woo-Hoo!!!

I got just a tad bit of sun this weekend and this "white boy" done turned "red."

Yep...Spring is here.

Enjoy your day.
B.D.


PS. Blogger was having trouble this weekend posting comments (for some reason) so I hope I posted them all by everyone that stopped by here. If not, or if you had trouble leaving a comment, I'm sorry, I had trouble just getting through to Blogger yesterday.

Must have been all them bunnies hopping around...

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Easter...bunnies & kids

We went to the funeral home yesterday afternoon and everyone, for the most part, seemed to be doing well. The "little one" Hailey will be laid to rest Monday. No matter who you are, or how strong you are, this will hurt for a lifetime...

I wrote this a few years back when a friend's father died, I think I will write it again for Hailey.

Happy Easter.
B.D.

From God... we are born.
To God... we must return.

His voice called a name...
The angel sent...
It was time to go...

Tears and sadness will remain in our hearts forever
as we look upon a lifetime passed...

Until his voice calls a name...
The angel sent...

And it's our time to go...

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Weekend Report

First... let me say "Thank you so much" to TN Chick and her readers.

I had asked Chick last night to post Sad day...on her site so more folks would see "the new little star in heaven."

Thanks to all that have stopped by here and left comments. We are truly heart broken by our friends loss. Jesus said " I will lift up your yoke and carry your burden."

With all her burden he lifted her up into his arms...and carried her home.


Weekend Report (part II)

I picked up some tomato plants yesterday before they all get picked over. I may plant them in a day or two. I took a few days off next week to try and get the flower beds ready and start mulching things out.

Yard work...it never ends, I've got to do poo-per duty in the back yard then cut the grass today, get my raised bed ready to plant the tomato plants...work, work, work, and to top it off, this crap coming off the trees is giving me major sinus fits. My black truck is green right now.

Well...enough bitchin' I've got work to do.

Enjoy your weekend and if you have a child in your life...
give that little one (and the big ones too) a great big hug & kiss.

B.D.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Sad day...

A long time friend of Julie's and a woman I have grown to love as a friend also, lost her granddaughter this morning, after a brave fight with cancer. She was only 2 yrs. old.

A new star will be shining in heaven tonight, because this little one left this world at 6 o'clock this morning. Please take a moment tonight... and look into the sky to see this little star shining bright...

"God be with you little one...may you shine on forever."

B.D.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Monday, April 10, 2006

Adding a new blog...

I'm thinking about starting or adding a new blog along with "the grill." This blog will have nothing to do with cooking or recipes...it will be my personal views of the world and many other subjects that affect our lives. This will be a totally different side of me that few have seen. My opinion about life, love, sex, hate, stupidity, religion, politics and the world in general.

I may offend some, or I may enlighten many to the real world. I may open doors or close them. I may open eyes to the truth about mankind and our destiny, or I may tell you something you don't want to hear, and don't want to see.

I will tell you about the world through my eyes.

Leave me a comment, yes or no. I will go from there...

B.D.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Weekend Report

The votes are in and it's a tie.

Pizza Hut 20%
Domino's 0
Pappa John's 40%
Sir Pizza 40%
Chuck E Cheese 0

New surveys up.
So cast those votes.

For all of you in state and out of state that want to see the damage, click the Tennessean link Sunday April 9 Photos of the storm.

B.D.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Oh my God...

First...we are ok.

We have been without power since early Friday. It is just returning now at 9:50 Saturday night. Where do I start...

We were lucky...a Tornado made a path through here not less than a 3/4 of a mile from our house. Some major damage has happened around here. Homes are minus roofs and some are totally destroyed. Trees are down everywhere. Telephone poles snapped in half.

In Hendersonville... 8 confirmed dead from the tornado. Gallatin, just up the road also had some major damage. This was a nightmare in the daytime...it took me almost 2 and a half hours to get home Friday, which normally only takes 45 mins.

We cleaned out the refrigerator this morning because they said the sub-station would be down a week... but here we are, back on the air in one piece...Thank God. This could be a rough spring for Tennessee, so far it ain't looking good...

B.D.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Recipes & Such

Crabmeat Dip

1 cup crabmeat, fresh or canned, cleaned of shell fragments
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 cup mayonnaise
1 stalk celery, finely diced

Mix all ingredients with mixer until well blended.
Chill. Serve as spread for crackers or serve with chips.


Coleman's Mustard Dip

3 eggs
2/3 cup Coleman's Mustard (dry mustard in yellow tin)
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup cider vinegar
(See note)

Whisk all ingredients together in top of double boiler over low-medium heat until thick. Strain through sieve to remove egg white strands. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with warm egg rolls, pretzels, cheese or crackers. Also great on sandwiches.

My note: this makes a lot, so you can store what you don't use in a jar up to one week


Dorothy's Dip

2 cups canned Salmon
2 teaspoons sweet hot mustard
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Garlic salt to taste
dash of Tabasco sauce to taste.

Combine all ingredients, mix with a fork, and chill. Hollow out cannonball sourdough bread, fill with dip, and place the rest of the bread around the cannonball to use for spreading dip.
(Or just pour into a bowl and serve with chips)


Kentucky Hot Brown

3 ounces turkey breast, roasted and sliced
1 slice white bread, toasted
2 slices tomato
2 slices bacon, cooked and drained

Sauce:
2 ounces butter
3 ounces flour
3/4 cup cream
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup Swiss cheese, grated
Salt and white pepper to taste

Heat butter and add flour. Whisk and slowly cook for 5 minutes. Whisk in cream and milk; heat. Whisk in cheese until melted. Season. Simmer for 30 minutes. Sauce should be very thick.

Quarter toast and place in oven-safe dish. Top with turkey and tomatoes. Cover well with sauce. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Garnish with bacon.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Survey update...

On the survey of best pizza so far the votes are:

Pizza Hut 14%
Domino's 0%
Papa John's 43%
Sir Pizza 43%
Chuck E Cheese 0%

Get those votes in, I'll run this survey until I post the Weekend Report.

Enjoy the rest of your day.
We have to get ready for bowling.

Life is good...
Beer is better...

B.D.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

This & That

Man...what a difference a day or two makes. Sunday was rough around here, we didn't get any damage (I think TN Chick had some minor damage) but 23 people got killed in Tennessee from bad... bad weather, and a lot of homes got tore up too.

So take a moment... and say a prayer for these folks. It was no where near the devastation that happened during the hurricanes of last year...but it is a sad day to us when someone dies from a tornado anywhere in Tennessee.


On a lighter note...

TN Chick left Jennifer a belated "Happy Birthday" comment for her, so thank you for that. And she also left a comment on the pictures I took and said (and I quote) "Eww Shrimp."

So I take this as... she doesn't like shrimp, that's ok, I love shrimp any way, any fashion (although I do prefer grilled) but some do not like shrimp. Like I said "that's ok"... just means more for me. "Oh yeah babe..." (G)

B.D.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Stormy Night...

We had some heavy storms come through last night, this is what I caught on camera. If you look closely at the first picture, what looks like the moon or a star is actually hail. It was a rough night.

B.D.


Starting out.














BAM!!!

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Happy Birthday Jenner

Today is my daughter Jennifer's B-Day. Woo-Hoo!!!
"Happy 15th Birthday young lady."


Here are a few pictures I shot just goofing off.
Enjoy your day, and again "Happy B-Day Jenner!"

B.D.

Grilled quarters & thighs










Chow time!









My supper tonight









"It's Aaaalive!!!" Ha-Ha-Ha!









About time!!









The farm behind us.









Rain this morning.

And just to let you know, the steaks & shrimp & baked potato were excellent.








Saturday, April 01, 2006

Weekend Report

One word...Woo-Hoo!!!
A decent weekend for a change, the temp. will be 75 to 77.

Mr. Sunshine will be at the party all day, TNC got her wish for warmer weather, I just hope it stays stable for awhile and doesn't jump around from one extreme to another.

I have already been volunteered to host the family get together this afternoon. Time to clean and fire up the Holland.

After all...this is Macdaddy's Grill where the food is great and the beer is always cold. Woo-Hoo!!!

You'll see to the right I have started a survey poll, it only takes a second to vote, and the results will pop up to show you the percentage of the vote answers. You can vote every time you visit me.

Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.