Weekend Report...

Well...ten days off has flown by. I got a few things done...but not like I would have...had it been summer time. But what the heck...

Spring will be here soon enough...and my energy will return as my batteries get recharged and ready to ride once more into the great mantra known as...warm weather.

Woo-Hoo!

It ain't been too bad this week, but it has been rather nippy and windy a day or three...



We have begun getting ready for Santa...



The tree is up, the outside is decorated and ready to go. Just a few more details to do here and there around the house.

Can't wait...

To get Santa in and out the door.
Get the 'old year' over with.
Get the 'new year' underway.
Let 'old man winter' finish his belly aching and shut the hell up.
Let life renew with spring again.

Hot dang...can't wait. (Can you tell I don't like cold weather?)

My wife, bless her depraved and twisted mind, loves it like a child would. Now that's fine...but me...

I can make the Grinch look like a mediocre amateur in a rubber suit...I'm the real deal when it comes to cold weather. If the birds can fly south for the winter...why in the name of holy humanity do I have to stay here and freeze my (Nady's) off?

Damn good question...

Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.

The day after...

Man...is my belly full.



My mother-in-law pulled out all of the stops yesterday.

Chicken
Ham
Chicken dumplings
Green beans
Green peas
Mashed potatoes
Mac & cheese
Stuffing
Corn pudding
Rolls
Deviled eggs
Pecan pie
Carrot cake
Chocolate pie

Enough to feed the world.

And when all of the family is together...it is a world of hungry folks to feed.



I've had many women cook for me...

My mother
My great grandmother
My grandmother
My aunt
My wife
My sister-in-law

My mother-in-law...she is the queen of the kitchen...no doubt about it.

You go mom...

You can cook for me anytime.

B.D.

From all of us here at MacDaddy's Grill, have a safe and delightful Turkey Day!



B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again. - James R. Cook

This & That Monday...

The Tennessee Titans are perfect no more.



The Jets saw to that.

And the Tennessee Vols beat Vandy again...



Here's a link to the New York Times telling about it and about Phil.



Sad really, but when you get lazy (as they think he has become)...you make UT fans upset real quick. They have long memories and a short temperament that don't sit still for long.



Built a fire last night...and enjoyed sitting outside with Julie & Robyn (under the stars) and feeling the warmth of the fire...as the smell of beef ribs drifted through the air from the Weber right next to me.

Yes...

A good fire, a loving family, a cold beer, my black bear, and my faithful Weber grill...all by my side.

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

Then today (of course) it's raining cats & dogs.



Go figure...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Grilled some leg quarters for my lovely wife tonight.

Was going to fire up 'Big Mama' for some ribs, but it never reached the temperature that was called for today...so I 86'd that idea.



I'd like to try some things while I'm off next week, but it just depends on the weather, as it involves outdoor cooking. As most of you know...when it comes to cold weather...that is not my forte...or my favorite time of year.

I am not a polar bear...I don't like cold weather.

My wife loves it...I hate it. The one and only thing we do not agree on. She could (and would) wear shorts if it was 10 degrees outside. Me, I could have on 10 layers of clothes, light a fire under my butt and I would still be cold.

No amount of beer will cure this fact. Have a buzz...still cold.

So...

I'll just play it by ear and try...try...to get something done next week.

If not...Oh well, there's always next year..


B.D.

This & That...

Got a few snow flurries last night, but nothing to amount to anything. Going to be very cold today (for me anyway) high only in the 30's.

Time is flying...

Thanksgiving next week and Christmas right around the corner.

Just like everything else (right now with the economy in the toilet) we have no work. So...I'm off for the next ten days, free to twiddle my thumbs, drink beer and not give a rat's patootie about anything and try not to drive my wife nuts for the next ten days.

My mother-in-law, takes care of the Thanksgiving grub for the family. We get out of her way (unless she asks for help) as she rules the kitchen, so I'm free of the apron on that holiday.

I may try to smoke a turkey breast next week (depending on the weather)

It's supposed to rain Monday and maybe Tuesday, so we'll just see.

I haven't got that far ahead yet...



Enjoy your day!!!

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Life at work is like a tree full of monkeys, all on different limbs at different levels. Some monkeys are climbing up, some down. The monkeys on top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. The monkeys on the bottom look up and see nothing but assholes.

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Corinthians 13

This & That...

Well...

From the post below...I made chili this weekend because of the weather.

I did not deviate from my recipe. But Julie said...it was too hot.



Now...

If it don't take the first three layers of skin off of your lips...It ain't that hot.

But my wife said otherwise. So...

Anytime she expresses her opinion about my cooking and imparts her two cents...I must take it for what it is...and with a grain of salt.

She feels that I get bent out of shape when she tells me, or gives me, her opinion.

Not true...

I love my wife and I respect her opinion. But...

If it don't melt the spoon on contact...

It ain't hot.


Trust me...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

What a week...wet and soggy.



Time to make some chili. Woo-Hoo!

Picture of my chili featured in the Tennessean in 2007


We will have guests staying overnight tonight. So a few brews and some chili for the adults, hot dogs and snacks and movies for the kids.

The grills have been wet all week. So, I guess it's time to retire the grills until next spring and bring out the indoor recipes of the wintertime hibernation period I go through every year.

That means...chili (for one thing)

I'll have to dust off my indoor repertoire of recipes to refresh my culinary skills and memory.

I will experiment in my test lab this winter on some things I have wanted to try...but never got around to it for one reason or another.

But, back to chili. As pictured above, my chili has (OH MY GAWD) beans...

Now...once again, true chili, doesn't contain beans. They are served on the side because it is more about the meat and sauce, than the beans. There are hundreds of thousands of recipes for chili...with...or without...beans.

In true competitions, beans are a no-no.

But here...at MacDaddy's Grill...we are talking about beer belching, butt scratching, good southern redneck, down home chili...with beans.

I like beans in my chili...so get over yourself. I mean what's the big deal?




Take gumbo...it has everything in it except the kitchen sink. And why is that?

To feed lots of folks. Way back when...folks had big families and a lot of mouths to feed. So everything you could find went into the pot.

Well...us Hillbillies had the same reasons, big clans, but about all we had left out of the growing season that could go with the meat and tomatoes was corn and beans.

We kept the corn to feed the hogs and make moonshine. So what was left?

Ding Ding Ding...that's right...beans.

So there you have it...a short history lesson on chili. Hope you learned something.


B.D. you are so full of...

(beans?)

Enjoy your day!!!

B.D.

This & That...

It seems that Absence of Mind & Body (aka) It's a Shih-Tzu's Life! has signed off of her blog. I don't know why, but she was a good read and we wish her well and good luck. I will remove the link next post.

It has rained most of the week (off and on) and rain is forecast for this weekend...so no outside cooking.



That's OK...I need to revisit my indoor recipes for a change.

Now...if I can only remember what I did way back when...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison

Simply Tuesday...

Not much going on...

I could rant...but I won't...same old BS. I'll save that for another day...

Stupid is...as stupid does.

'nuff said.

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Cold weather is coming (not my favorite time of year) so Julie will be happy about that.



Not me...I'm a bear already. I've got a lot on my plate right now,

The auto industry is damn near on it's knees and about to go belly up, the economy is at a stand still almost, the big wallets on Wall Street have screwed EVERYBODY.

The oil speculators (they drove prices to 147 a barrel and 4 dollars a gallon) have now pissed off the Middle East because they are finally starting to show their greed by cutting production to jack prices back up.


Way to go boys...


Do you idiots not realize what you have done? Your greed and your bosses big fat wallet has damn near ruined the lives of no telling how many low income and middle class people in this country.

People that came right out of high school and went to work...well over thirty years ago!

We worked with our hands to build things, to make a decent living for our family. We saved and planned for retirement, not to live like millionaires but live with dignity in your remaining years and leave something for our kids to start out with.

We ARE The Economy...you idiot.

But no...you had to become greedy. You...had to fill your wallet with gold and silver while we peasants (and we might as well be called that because that's what we were in mid-evil times) grope for the copper pennies you throw to us as a bone and hope we will go away.

Greed
Jealousy
Hate

Greed turns to jealousy, jealousy turns to hate, hate turns to greed. It's a vicious cycle...And now you've got the whole world pissed off.


Well played big wallet, well played...


And now...you want our help. Oh, your big wallet friends in government will come running to your aid in your time of dire distress as you point fingers at someone else and cry "it ain't my fault, the peasants did it!"

Yes...shame on us peasants for wanting something...


Well played big wallet, well played...

B.D.

This & That...

Grilled some chicken for my lovely wife last night as she has dropped the hint from time to time...you don't grill much anymore. Well...this is true.

The transition from summer to fall is a pain in my side...when it comes to grilling. Wind gusts, lousy days at work, (the last thing I want to do is fool with a hot grill) and I've just gotten behind on so may things around the house this year...

I'm only one man and can do only so much at a time...

I plan things...then...they get unplanned and pushed around or shuffled back in the mix and before you know it...

You have a 'To Do' list a mile long.

Turn loose of some money B.D. and hire somebody to do it for you.

Are you insane?
Me...turn loose of money to hire out work around the house?

Grass cutting
Landscape trimming
Mulching
Planting
Cleaning out
Hauling off
Yada, yada, yada...

Then on top of that, personal chef and all around nice guy (except for when I'm a grouch and that seems to be about everyday now)

Oh well...work does that to me and you know my feeling on that subject and I have a feeling work won't last much longer.

But, life goes on. Things are bound to get better down the road.

I hope...

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

We have hit a milestone here at MacDaddy's Grill.

I have posted here 1000 times...

I started this blog back in May 2004. It has been a part of my life for that long... and it has been my baby from the very beginning...

MacDaddy's Grill has let me express myself and give you (my readers) some great advice, some great recipes, a little fun and a look into my life...

It has been a great time (for me) to let you get to know me and my family.

My writing skills and story telling has grown over the years. I try to type like I talk...

By doing this, I try to give you a prospective into my own little world of a down to earth country boy...who loves cooking, loves cold beer, and loves life, friends and family.

I hope you keep coming by to check us out...

To all of my girls and to the many faithful readers we have acquired over the years...

From myself and Julie and Robyn...

Thank you...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.