Bring on the soup...

I know yesterday was National Chili Day but I never follow the crowd. Instead, I made some mixed veggie soup.

Julie was very skeptical at first and so was I, because I hadn't made this soup in over thirty years. It's a wonder I even remembered the recipe. But it's kind of hard to forget because it is so simple and easy.

And believe me...simple...definitely works well for this lowly white boy's brain.

And as I said, Julie was skeptical at first, but she warmed up to the idea and made some corn bread to go with it. She will tell you though, she's not much of a soup person.

(Well I guess not...being married to the grill master and king of the culinary kitchen.)

But for not being much of a soup person, she liked it.
This old dog still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Like I said the recipe is simple.

A couple of bags of mixed vegetables
Stew meat cut and browned
equal parts of beef and vegetable stock
can of diced tomatoes with basil, garlic & oregano
small can of tomato sauce
salt & pepper

Mix everything together-add salt & pepper at the end of cooking. Cook on med-low heat for a couple of hours.



There you go...

B.D.

National Chili Day...

{This is a picture of my chili shot by the Tennessean}


Today is national chili day. There ain't nothing better than a good ole bowl of chili to warm the soul on a cold day. With the weather the way it is right now here in the south, we can wear shorts one day and long johns the next day.

Old Man Winter, just ain't ready to cut us loose just yet. So chili is a good thing in times like this. I have looked at thousands of chili recipes on the Internet. They can be very simple to very complex and contain everything...except the kitchen sink.

The chili recipe I came up with has evolved over the years. It's a very meaty chili full of flavor and yes...it contains beans.

Now, before the chili purist blows my recipe off ( don't get a knot in your shorts ) that's why it contains a lot of meat, so the beans can be left out or served on the side as true chili was intended. But for folks that like beans in chili...well, there you go.

So since this is National Chili Day, I will share my recipe with you.

Not everything has to be added that's in this recipe because this does make a big batch. You can cut it in half, leave out some of the beans or some of the meat. The flavor will still be the same no matter what you do.


And one note:

The Modelo is a Mexican beer-good to cook with-sucks to drink and the trick for this chili is to let the meats simmer in the spices for 10 mins. that lets the meat absorb the flavor.

Ever had a chili that was good but the hamburger meat tasted just like...cooked hamburger meat? I found out a long time ago if you simmer it for 10 mins (no shorter-no longer)

The meat will taste just like real chili meat should taste.

Enjoy!!!


B.D.’s Chili

3 cans Ranch style Original Texas beans

1 can (1 lb. 12 oz) Del Monte diced tomatoes with garlic & onions

1 lb. Ground chuck beef

1 lb. Ground sirloin

Small package of stew meat (cut larger chunks into smaller pieces)

1 lb. Ground Angus beef

1 can Rotel chili fixins

1 pkg. McCormick Chili seasoning (hot or mild)

1/2 to 1 tbs. Chipotle Chile pepper powder

1/2 tbs. Mexican-Style chili powder

1 can of Modelo Beer

1 can (14.5 oz.) crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped sweet onions

1 Tbs. Chopped Jalapeno peppers ( in a can )

add ground Cumin and brown sugar to taste--1 Tbs. of each is what I do

In a large pot, put beans, tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, Rotel, and ½ can beer. Heat slowly.

Meantime, brown stew meat in a little oil and dusted with Chipotle pepper powder first. Do not drain, add to pot.

Brown ground chuck beef (do not drain), add chili seasoning, mix well then lower the heat and simmer for 10 min. Add to pot.

Brown sirloin & ground Angus beef, add Chipotle pepper powder and Mexican powder and onions, and the other half of the beer. Mix well and reduce heat and simmer for 10 min. Add to pot, mixing everything together well.

Simmer for 3 hrs on low heat, covered. Stir occasionally.

Wordless Wednesday...

Every adversity carries with it the seed of equal or greater benefit. - Napolean Hill

B.D.

This & That...

I now have four blogs running.

Besides "the grill" I have Macdaddy's Grill Recipes Page
and I have i think of you as...
and now I have Hillbilly Rib Runners

The recipes page, I took all of the recipes I have posted here over the years and put them into one place. The "i think of you as..." blog has become a place for pictures and odds & ends.

The Hillbilly page will become a place where I talk about barbecue and what my team is doing and what we hope to do, so check all of these out. I will still post here at "the grill" most of the time, but I will update all of the blogs from time to time.

I hope you enjoy all of my blogs as I try to keep things fresh and funny.

Sometimes... I may vent or rant and rage about things, but for the most part, I just try to be me and tell you about my life and what goes on in this house hold, in this part of the south and in my little corner of the world...

So check them all out...

You might be surprised by what you find.

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

As you can see below, this is my second attempt at beef short ribs. The first round, I cooked them to 145 ( just like a steak ) and they were a bit chewy. Time was 2hr. 25 mins.

This time I went 3hrs. 45 mins. and I did not check the temp. so the happy medium is in between these two time ranges. The ones last night were good, but not as good as they can be. I'll get it on the third try. That's my lucky number when it comes to new things.

And I'll watch the internal temperature next time. I know I have to go above 145.

Maybe 150 or 155.

We'll see...

B.D.

This & That...

Tonight's dinner.

Beef short ribs, smoked for 3hrs. 45 mins. at 225.

They were a little bit more done than I would have liked.
So next time, 3 hrs. should be just fine. But this is still a work in progress. Last time, I didn't cook them long enough and this time, I cooked them just a tad bit too long.

But you learn from your mistakes...

The next go round, I will be spot on baby.

B.D.






Sorry these are not the best pictures in the world. My picture machine was about to bonk out because of low batteries.

Weekend Report...

We got a little surprise last night or early this morning. It's not a big snow by any means but it reminds you that it ain't warm yet...









Oh well...

My son called me last night and told me that he and Amanda got married that morning. That's great...

And he also told me that Amanda entered a chili cook off and took second place. She had added the rub I gave them to the chili and thinks that made a big difference. Now, they put it on everything, ( I've had more than a few folks tell me that. )




I had a gal tell me her son loved it so much she had to hide it from him. He even wanted to put it on his oatmeal...( I'm not kidding )

Bruce told me that he has some sales lined up for the rub and the BBQ sauce. Spring will be here soon and orders for the rub will pick back up as grilling season comes back to life. And now, people are finding out I have a BBQ sauce, so I've given out a few test samples and just like the rub, the results and feed back are outstanding.

Speaking of the BBQ sauce, I gave them some to take home because I'd sent some ribs home too for her dad. The ribs made it and he said they were the best ribs he'd ever had. The sauce didn't make it...What happened? ( I asked )

Bruce, liked the sauce so much while he was eating ribs here that he drank it on the way home. So Amanda's dad didn't get any BBQ sauce.

Hey, maybe I've hit a gold mine here...a BBQ sauce that you can eat AND drink...

Hey that might work. But, what would I call it...

BBQ sauce on the rocks?
This BBQ sauce is for you?
Wet willy? ( nah.. )

I'll think of something...
B.D.

Simply Thursday...

Yesterday was one of my girls B-day. I had aready posted and we were half way down the road when julie reminded me of that fact...

I didn't forget it. I just kind of over looked it here at "the grill" so I'll post it today.

Happy B-day to my girl Tracy Ray.

We here at the "the grill" hope you had a wonderful day and you know we all love ya'

I drank a few for myself last night so tonight...I'll drink a few for you.

Happy birthday darlin'


B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Hurry no man's cattle; you may come to own a donkey yourself. - Sir Walter Scott

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Uhm...B.D. it seems you're a little pissed by the post below. What's the deal?

I'm fed up with people...
I'm fed up with fake people...
I'm fed up with work...
I'm fed up...period.

I give two hundred percent into anything I do no matter what it is.

I'm just fed up with small minded people.
I'm fed up with having to be, or run, in the (so called) suck my...look at me group.

That's not my style...

I'm my own man. I know who my true friends are...

It's like this...my girls love me and they know me and I don't have to prove anything to them.

They know who I am and they know my passion. It's to bad that nobody else can figure that out.

I'm a winner, but it seems I will have to prove myself to mindless people.

So be it...

B.D.

And the saying goes...

You know...when things happen, you find out who your friends are real quick.

It seems...that since I've decided to start my own team for KCBS and walk away from Peg Leg, nobody wants to have anything to do with me anymore...except for Dave, who has called me a few times. Dave and I worked well together.

But from the rest of the team's aspect, I'm an outcast, I left the team...

Well...let me tell you something boys...

In a year or two, I will come down to Memphis and take you on, or in KCBS, and I will kick your ass six ways from Sunday...

And...I can back my shit up.

You will realize who you have screwed with and also who carried the work load while you all got shit faced...

I have my team put together and there ain't no ass kissing or politics involved.

We cook...

We will win...

...that's a fact.



B.D.

Weekend Report...

The weather treated me right tonight.

I got to grill some chicken for Julie and not have to freeze my butt off in the process...

But Sunday, it's suppose to be windy and rain...

Oh well...at least I got one nice day out of the weekend.




Winter = cold and dark.
Cold and dark = Unhappy.
Unhappy = Grouchy.
Grouchy = Bad.

B.D.

It's Friday...

Hopefully, I can grill some chicken tomorrow for Julie. The weather has not been on my side here lately.

But, this is Tennessee, it will change...I've got a million things in the works right now. If only I can get them all done.

Work... is about to drive me nuts. It won't get any better.

But, I can only hope that things do get better down the road.

It's a slim hope...but hope, just the same.

B.D.

Happy Everything...

Happy Valentine's day...

You know...this is a holiday, created by women, to make us guys spend money.

That's ok.

They have to pony up too...(one way or another) which makes it equal and fun. I have to give a shout out to all of my girls.

Big Daddy loves ya' girls.

Hope your day is great and drink one for me...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Enough is as good as a feast. - Sir Thomas Malory

B.D.

Simply Monday...

God...I hate cold weather. It never lets up.

The weather around here has been so crazy. Why do I say that?

When we had this house done, I never even thought about being out in the elements when it came to cooking.

Boy...did I screw up.

I sit right in Mother Nature's lap, and I don't even get any sugar with that screwing...

Stupid me.

Oh well...we learn from our mistakes.

But, I do like a little sugar...when I get screwed.

But right now...I ain't getting nada...zilch...zip...

Only a case of, cold Mr. Wind opening his big pie hole and trying to freeze my butt off.

I hate it when that happens.

Go figure...

B.D.

This & That...

I wanted to smoke some beef short ribs today, but why is it that during the week it's pretty nice... but come the weekend, Mr. Wind has got to show his butt and come out of the friggin' North at 15 to 20 mph?

That sucks...

I grilled the steaks last night and it was nice and calm, until I put the steaks on and here comes Mr. Wind, out of the West at about 15 mph. What gives?

Last year, the Budda of the Grilling Gods, wouldn't let it rain because they wanted to smell the smoke from my backyard. And now, starting this year off with a bang, Mr. Wind has to open his mouth (every weekend) and cause a ruckus around here...

Oh well, spring will be here soon enough.



Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.

Mine may be shot to hell already.



Or maybe not...

Weekend Report...

Here's a few pictures of dinner.

I have some more beef short ribs for tomorrow. Yum-O.











B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the conquest of it. - William Danforth

B.D.

The day after...

Yesterday was a great day. We got to spend time with my girls and watch a great football game. But...I have to re-deem myself, because my ribs were not up to par.

I under cooked them because I knew they would have to be re-heated and I didn't want them over cooked by re-heating them. It didn't work out as I had hoped.

My bad...

They weren't up to snuff, and not my best effort by any means. So I need to do better next time for Vicky and Steve. Sorry guys...

I screwed up and I will take the full blame. I should have known better. I didn't do as well as I should have...They were looking forward to some good grub and I let them down...

It won't happen again...

B.D.

Weekend Report (part II)

I did some beef short ribs in the smoker while the St. Louis ribs were cooking and I had both Webers fired up for the wings. There was plenty of smoke in the air yesterday...

The beef ribs were pretty good, but I still need to work on them just a tad. They weren't as tender as I thought they could have been, but the taste was very good. That is still a work in progress...



Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Weekend Report...

I have got my application for a KCBS judging class being taught by Lee and Bobbie McWright from Music City Pig Pals in Dickson this coming March (3-22-08).

This class will teach you everything you need to know and what to look for and if you pass, you can become a certified KCBS Judge. Sign me up...

I picked up three slabs of ribs that I'm going to cut St. Louis style and a boat load of chicken wings. There'll be smoke in the air today boys...I'm going to cook today, so I don't have to fool with it tomorrow. They can just re-heat everything and be good to go...

I'll take some pictures and post them later.

Right now, I've got to make some rub up and make some sauce and get started working my magic...





Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.

Yeah for us...

Today, marks the day we were married 7 years ago. Yep, 7 years today, I had the flu and we got married...

We had set the date and I just happened to come down with a bad case of the flu. Julie wanted to wait until I was better, but I sucked it up and said "let's get 'er done." So we did...flu and all.

Happy Anniversary to us...

The weather was a little strange yesterday. Rain, sleet, snow, sleet, rain, rain, snow, sleet, (etc. well you get the idea.) Today will be cold but the weekend may be better. I hope...

I am smoking some ribs and wings to take to one of my girls and her husband (and the rest of the gang) for their Super Bowl party on Sunday. So I hope the weather will calm down a tad so I can get that done.

I don't think they would be too happy if I showed up empty handed (no ribs and wings) because of the weather. I can hear them now...

You married Julie when you had the flu, but you can't fix some ribs in a snow storm?

Suck it up bbq boy and get 'er done...

Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.