Wordless Wednesday...

The real art of conversation is not only saying the right thing at the right moment but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the most tempting moment. - unknown

Sunday cook...

Sunday was a great day for cooking. Family & friends & neighbors were on hand to pig out on some good Q. It was not my best effort as Big Mama wanted to run hot starting out...totally my fault, but she calmed down and everything turned out well...not bad for a white boy.

I took a few pictures and Dave took the rest, go to...
A Motley Collection to see the rest of them.

Sunday cook (part II)...

In remembrance to those...

I'll let you know later about the cook yesterday...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

It will be a busy day tomorrow, as I and Big Mama work our magic. I'm telling you I love this pit. Each time I fire her up and cook, she teaches me something...

A great Pit Master must know every nook and cranny of their pit. What it will do, what it won't do, what you can make it do, what you can finesse out of it and what you must do to keep all things running like a finely tuned machine.

Me and Big Mama have become one...



So tomorrow, we saddle up and ride into barbecue territory as the smell of Q fills the air once again.

Remember what Memorial Day is about...

It is about family and friends and food...but is a day when we remember all of those that served in our armed forces that did not return home...

Say a prayer for all of them, say a prayer for us, say a prayer for all of those that have fallen and can not get back up...

Be thankful and remember...

All of the brave souls that serve and sacrifice their life in the line of duty...

May God be with you and thank you for all you have done...

From all of us here at MacDaddy's Grill...we salute you.




B.D.

Simply Thursday...

The Memorial weekend is coming and I have been commissioned to cook on Sunday for the family and friends and whoever else wants to show up. That's cool...

I can handle that. Just bring the beer...



I found the team results from Memphis in May and the boys from Peg Leg Porker did not do well...

I could say a lot and point fingers and say I told you so...but I won't. I'll just let it pass...

I'm sure the guys put forth their best effort.



This weekend, Big Mama will roar to life and cook ribs and wings and beans and whatever else I decide to throw at her. And she will not let me down...



I love this job...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.- Mark Twain

Weekend Report...

The air was filled with the smell of barbecue yesterday as Big Mama roared to life once again.



9 racks of baby back ribs, 25 to 30 whole chicken wings and baked beans.





I had promised Dawn & David last year I would fix them up some Q. I took care of them yesterday...they brought the beer and I provided the cooking experience.



The ribs cooked for about 4 1/2 hours, wings cooked about 2 hours, beans about 3 hours.

I used the lump charcoal and that worked really well, even though I barely have any hair left on my arms because of pouring it into the firebox from the charcoal stater but now, I have it down to a science. (and some really long fire proof gloves)

Oh yeah babe...



Enjoy your day!!!

B.D.

Beer Run...

Some friends are going up to Illinois past St. Louis this weekend and offered to pick me up some Fat Tire beer. Oh, bless you my child...

In the process, what I have learned, is that Fat Tire beer will be available state wide here in Tennessee in July.

Oh, bless you my child...



This is a damn fine brew. One of my girls husband, had some at the Super Bowl shindig at Vicky's and it was some fine drinking.

ULIKA Food Blog (Rob and the boys) had said something about it way back but I couldn't get anybody in the grocery industry to confirm it.

Well now it seems to be true...

I'll believe it when I see it, but...sounds good to me if it happens.



I have plans on firing up the pit tomorrow and cooking a bunch of ribs for some friends. I made up a fresh batch of rub & sauce tonight...so I hope it works out.

Tomorrow, is supposed to be very windy...but hell...if it ain't rain... it's wind.

The Budda of barbecue is giving me a hard time this year as far as cooking. Maybe he likes the smell of chicken better than he does ribs.

Who knows...

All I know is, it has been a pain in the butt for me to try to cook on the weekends...


B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life. - Chinese Proverb

This & That...

It's time for the Memphis in May BBQ cook off, but sadly, it will be done without me as I am no longer a part of that team since I have decided to go my own way.

But even sadder is the fact that Carey caught the cooker on fire and completely destroyed the inside of it (because of a grease fire).

That cooker is toast...



I hate that for the guys.

That was Carey's baby and many, many, pounds of barbecue was done on that cooker. I worked her for two years and began to know her well...

Pat, is going to take his rig down. Last I saw they were still working on it.



I wish the guys the best of luck. I was extremely pissed when I walked away from the team after Opryland, but life goes on and I do wish the guys good luck and I hope they do well.

As for me, I won't do any competitions or judging this year because work just won't allow it to happen. Next year will allow time however and we will be ready. I'm doing some test cooks on the pit (to get use to it) when the weather will allow it and so far, I like what's coming off of it.



Hope everybody had a wonderful Moms day yesterday.
Here...it was windy as all get out...like Popeye would say.

Well blow me down...

It almost did...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

To all of the moms out there...

We love you...




Chicken is getting pricey and smaller.

I did some leg quarters for Julie and some thighs for me and Robyn. The quarters were OK, but the thighs weren't big enough to shake a stick at...

If it rained last night (and it did), I never heard it, but the wind sure is whipping around here today!

Robyn had two ball games yesterday, so I cut the grass after we got back because of the forecast for the week...rain, rain, rain.

Between rain, work and bowling, I'm lucky to get done what I DO get done...

Anyway...

Happy Mother's Day

From all of us at MacDaddy's Grill, enjoy your day!!!

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Only a fool hates that which he knows nothing about. - unknown

Simply Tuesday...

Cutting grass, is like an ex-wife...

It never leaves you alone and you always have to deal with it.

Go figure...

Yep...that was my chore when I got home from work today...cut the grass. I'm getting too old for this. It's like an ex-wife...it's always there, it pesters the crap out of you and you have to deal with it all of the time...

And it costs you money...continuously (one way or another...)

But, it's done...until the next time the beast rears it ugly head and I have to fight with the lawn mower all over again...(in about four days...)

Talk about PMS. (Post Mowing Stress)

Will the insanity never end???

B.D.

Weekend Report (part II)

I made this last week...

This is a recipe for Wayne's Beef Macaroni and Cheese (whoever Wayne is) given by Paula Deen. I watch her show from time to time and the boys started doing this one.

Julie, started talking to me about something at the same time, so I was kind of distracted away from the recipe.

She thought it looked good and found it for me to try out since she felt that the Pork Chop Bake Casserole was not up to snuff...



So, I said OK after hesitating a moment, (why hesitate you ask?) we did a recipe before from them and it sucked, even after many tries to fix it, I gave up on it.



I'll always give you a second chance...but you will never get a third. We all have our off days...maybe the Food Network didn't copy it down right or something, I gave up.

But this recipe worked...it could use a little tweak (here and there) but it worked. It also took me almost a week to eat the rest of it because it makes a lot...

Wayne's Beef Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:
1 lb box elbow macaroni
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 lb lean ground beef
3 cup canned crushed tomatoes
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon each dried basil, cumin, and dried oregano
2-3 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions:
Cook the macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet; add the peppers, onion, and garlic, and saute until soft. Add the ground beef and saute until browned. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and the basil, cumin, and oregano.

In a large bowl, (and they do mean LARGE) combine the macaroni and the beef mixture.

Spread this mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Top with the cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

Cook's Note: Ground turkey or chicken can be used in place of beef, if desired.

Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 25-30 minutes


Speaking of food...




We went (Julie & myself) to Friday's last night because we had not been out in awhile and for the money I spent, I was not impressed. It made me want to have my own place and show people what real food is. And the price of beer...well, let's just say Friday's is not what it use to be...


Maybe next time, for that kind of money we'll go to...



They always have good food and affordable beer and we have never had a bad meal or bad service there. You know, if you're going to charge in the higher dollar end of the scale, then your stuff better be worth it.

Friday's today is nothing like Friday's of the past...

Sorry guys...you won't get a second chance.

Not for that price...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

It has started to become disheartening...looking forward to the weekend...because it seems to rain every Friday and Saturday. Same was the case this weekend, rain and plenty of it...Oh, Mr. Sunshine is out now, but it has been a rough start to the time I like to call... R & R

My neighbor, asked me if I was going to fire the pit up this weekend. My response, was not the normal endorsement of...does a bear do his thing in the woods? no...it was... depends on the weather...

Depends on the weather, is like having beer without ice...that ain't gonna work.

Nothing would spoil a party faster (or my appetite) than hot beer and rain soaked bar-b-cue. It won't rain every single weekend, but it sure seems like it. My neighbor said to let him know next time I put fire in the hole, he would go to the store and get some stuff.

OK boys, enough with the wind & rain...

If Jim, is willing to go to the store and buy some things to put on the pit...

This...I've got to see...



B.D.