Decade in review:

From the worry of Y2K and the end of the world as we know it...until today.

Wow, that was a fast 10 years.

2010 will begin at midnight...and a new beginning will arise out of the ashes like the Phoenix reborn. What will the future hold for us? I haven't a clue...But hopefully it will be brighter.

In the decade past: A lot of things happened in my life in that short amount of time.

I was single again after 15 years of marriage
Had just barely survived the 80's recession
The 90's slowdown
The 2000 recession
The auto industry had been in turmoil again (3rd time by my count)
Lost touch with old friends
I was still trying to recover from the death of my father
I was drinking too much to try and kill the pain
My son blamed me for everything, my daughter still loved me
I almost went insane...for the second time
I met an angel that pulled me out of the ditch
I changed my life and my attitude, I cleansed my soul of pain
I looked at life differently
I met Julie, I fell in love and I married my soul mate
Moved out of the apartment and bought our first house
Was very happy
Made new friends
Robyn was born
Sold first house and bought second house
Really focused on and developed my cooking skills
Learned to cook real barbecue
Did 2 years in Memphis in May
I left after politics got in the way, I don't play games in cooking
Butt kissing never suited me
Work was headed into uncharted territory and took me with it
Company changed hands 3 times and we became slaves to the kings
Worked related stress has taken its toll
My bowling has really suffered the last 3 years
Lost money in the stock market just like everybody else
Lost my faith in humanity
Lost myself for awhile, but regained my footing in the realm of things
Lost a friend

Who knows what the New Year of 2010 will bring. All I know is I've made it through another year with the love of my wife Julie and our daughter Robyn. My son has lost the chip on his shoulder towards me and we are getting along fine. My oldest daughter is doing well in her life as well.

In these years I've made new friends from New York, Brooklyn, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Australia, Colorado and many other fine places from around the world.

What will 2010 bring?

I don't know...but let's stand beside one another, open our eyes and find out together...

Happy New Year!!!

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

Simply Tuesday...

Picked up the new truck and she is a sweet ride. As many of you know, I have always been a Ford man for many years.

Not so anymore...

I bought a Chevrolet.

Why?

Because I have bought Julie two vehicles from Tom Bannen Chevrolet, so I decided to buy a truck from them. They have always treated us right so I forked out the money for a new truck.

The first non-Ford vehicle I (myself) have ever owned. Do I worry about what everybody else says about GM ?

Nope...

Remember...I work in the auto industry. It's my choice...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Yesterday, I did my part to help out the economy. I bought a new 2010 truck.



Yep, sure did...

My Black Stallion has 102,000 miles on her, is 9 years old and was starting to show signs of giving me some trouble.

Now, a few folks wanted that truck, and she is a good truck, but I wasn't about to run the risk of selling her to them and then she comes up lame. So I traded horse and saddle for a new saddle and pony.

I'll pick up the new ride Monday.

Well, Christmas has come and gone...kids are happy, grandkids are happy, everybody is happy. Except for me...I don't like cold weather. I know, it could be a whole lot worse and I'm glad it's not but still...

The wind around here for the past four days has been rip roaring plain old nasty. And yes, I know it's December and fixing to be January but that still does not change the fact...

People ask me, "are you cooking anything?" Ah, noooo...does it look like it?

I would cook some chili...



...but nobody really wants any because it's not done on the grill or the smoker, it's done (heaven forbid, aaahhhhh!!!) on the stove...

So...I'm just hanging back chillin' but I'm really just trying to stay warm and ride out Old Man Winter and his bad temperament. Same old crap every year...

I enjoy the change of the seasons!
I don't...

I like cold weather!
I don't...

I want it to snow 2 ft.
I don't...

Why are you such a grouch?
Because I can...

Enjoy your day!

B.D.

Merry Christmas...

Ah Christmas time...

The time of year for last minute deadlines, did we forget anybody, did we spend enough, did we spend too much, clean the house from stem to stern to only have it destroyed in less than thirty minutes.

Well mannered kids become wrapping paper demolition demons in thirty seconds flat.



Food is devoured by folks that act like they haven't eaten in weeks. Don't even try to hide the candy...

Trying to get sugar loaded, adrenalin hyped, toy overloaded pumped up kids to go to bed. And dealing with the never ending question...

IS THAT ALL ???

Ah Christmas...what a wonderful time of year...



Just kidding...

Merry Christmas!
B.D.

A Red Neck Christmas...

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the trailer
Not a creature was stirrin' 'cept a redneck named Taylor.
His first name was Bubba, Joe was his middle,
And a-runnin' down his chin was a trickle of spittle.
His socks, they were hung by the chimney with care,
And therefore there was a foul stench in the air.

That Bubba got scared and rousted the boys.
There was Rufus, 12 Jim Bob was 11
Dud goin' on 10 Otis was 7.
John, George and Chucky were 5,4, and 3:
The twins were both girls so they let them be.

They jumped in their overalls, no need for a shirt,
Threw a hat on each head, then turned with a jerk.
They ran to the gun rack that hung on the wall.
There were 17 shotguns they grabbed them all.

Bubba said to the young'uns, "now hesh up ya'll!
The last thing we wanna do is wake up yer Maw."
Maw was expecting and needed her sleep,
So out they crept out the door without making a peep.

They all looked around, and then they all spit.
The young'uns asked Bubba, "Paw, what is it?"
Bubba just stared he could not say a word.
This was just like all of the stories he'd heard.

It was Santy Claus on the roof, darn tootin'
But the boys didn't know they was about to start shootin'!
They aimed their shotguns and nearly made a mistake
That would have resulted in venison steak.
Bubba hollered out, "don't shoot, boys!"
That's Santy Claus and he's brought us some toys.

The dogs were a-barkin' and a-raisin' cain,
And Bubba whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
"Down, Spot! shut up Bullet! quiet, Roscoe and Enos!
Git, Turnip and Tater and Sam and Bosco!"

"Git down from that porch! git down off that wall!
Quit shakin the trailer, or you'll make Santy fall!"
The dogs kept a-barkin' and wouldn't shut up,
And they trampled poor Pete who was only a pup.

Santy opened his bag, and threw out some toys.
Bubba got most, but left a few for the boys.
Since the guns had been dropped he just might not die.

He jumped in his sleigh, told his reindeer to hurry.
The trailer started to wobble Santa started to worry.
Just as the reindeer got into the air,
The trailer collapsed, but Bubba didn't care.

He was busy lookin' at all his new toys.
Then a thought hit him, and he said to the boys:
"Go check on yer Maw, make sure she's all right.
That roof fallin' on her could-a hurt just a might."

But Maw was OK, and the girls were too.
They fixed up the trailer it looked good as new.
And as for Bubba, he liked Old St. Nick,
But Santa thought Bubba was a hick!

Bubba had a nice Christmas, and the boys did, too.
And the Taylors wish a Yee Haw Merry Christmas to you!!!



From all of us here at MacDaddy's Grill - Merry Christmas to you!

Simply Tuesday...

I finally got to cook the steaks for Julie's birthday. (three days later)

And I have actually gotten a few things done around the house. Although I am far from finishing my To-Do list, I did make some headway on it. As the old saying goes-Steady as she goes boys.

We're meeting the girls tonight for what has become our annual Christmas Throw Down. We eat, we talk, we enjoy a few cold libations and we all enjoy good company and friendship.

By Wednesday afternoon, rain will be moving again. It's not cold enough for snow (sorry my sweets) but they say we will get some heavy rains Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I might be able to cook again by the weekend.

My Black Bear is at the car wash for her Holiday bath so she'll smell nice and pretty for Christmas. (If she can't eat it, she'll roll in it) That dog is all about smell. Some good, some not so good...



B.D.

Weekend Report...

Well finally...the craziness from work is lifted off the shoulders of this lowly ole white boy. It may be twice as bad when we go back, but right now work takes a Holiday.

Right now it's colder than a "Well Digger's butt" in Alaska.

But Friday and Saturday was not the case. We got some rain from that big storm system that was parked on the backside of Texas. It rambled on up across half of Tennessee, then on up the East Coast. They got the snow Julie wished for.

You see...Julie always wishes for snow on her birthday.



And I always say "be careful what you wish for."

We've gotten the rain several times, but not the full mix of rain and cold to produce that white stuff. So once again we had the rain, but not the cold. She got her wish for snow...

...it just missed us by a few states that's all.

Next year honey, wish for snow in Texas and we might get it here.

So what's up this week?

Try to get a few things done around the house.



Meet up with the girls for our annual Christmas throw down, get ready for the Christmas festivities with the family and just try to relax.

Be politically correct - Happy Christmas & Merry New Year!

Maybe even cook something...

B.D.

Happy B-Day to my wife...

Today belongs to my wife Julie. It's her birthday...

Julie is my wife, my best friend and my soul mate. Julie and Robyn are two of the best things that has ever entered into this here country boy's life.

Happy Birthday my darling...

I love you with all of my heart and soul. Thank you for loving me...

And thank you for coming into my life.

I'd be lost without you...

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Not much going on right now except living at work for the last three weeks.

Talk is going around about a take over or a sell to PGW a spin off company from PPG Glass Works.

All I know is I'm getting pretty tired of all the BS that has camped out in my life for the last three years.

Now...I'll be nice and not call any of these fine upstanding folks names such as Morons or Dimwitted Dip Shits wearing ties or College Rejects from the Stone Age or...

...well you get the point. I'll play nice, but I do wish they would make up their minds and tell the truth for just once in their life.

I know you would rather hear about cooking and recipes and grilling and barbecue and the likes...so would I.

But until these fine folks (that I did not call names by the way) make up their frigging dimwitted burnt out light bulb for a brain mind up...

It may be a long dimwitted winter...

B.D.

Weekend Report (part 2)...

Smoked some chicken thighs on R2D2 last night. Folks let me tell you, me and this little WSM smoker are going to be good friends. Although it is not a real tight smoker, this thing holds temperature really well.

We work next week, then we're laid off until Jan. 4th. That will give me some time to get some much needed things done around the house.

Then I can get out my toys and play barbecue guy! Woo-Hoo!



I want to try some Ribs and Beer butt chicken and a few other things while I'm off.

Maybe make some smoked Oysters or smoked Mussels or Clams or Fish or smoked Grilled Cheese Sandwiches or smoked Peanut butter and Banana Sandwiches or...

The possibilities are endless.

May be time for the Lab coat to come back out of retirement...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Ah the holidays...

Rude people, bone chilling cold, high winds, Christmas music playing before Halloween, the smell of perfume drowned people going about their pathetic little lives with not a clue in sight.

Cell phones a ringing
Cash registers a ringing
Bell ringers a dinging
People a sneezing
The wind a breezing
Tis the season

To be a grouch...



Ho-Ho-Ho!

B.D.

This & That...

I'm sorry guys and girls that I have not posted anything. I have been working 12 hour days and that takes a big dent out of my life.

To update...

I cooked on R2D2 last weekend and the leg quarters were the bomb. Today, I bought the Weber Genesis E-310 gas grill. I've seen a lot of great reviews about this grill, so I bought one. (I just caught the mistake of saying Genius instead of Genesis E-310, my bad)

My Holland that is 8 years old is pretty much shot. My Char-Broil is okay, but never met my standards for cooking so it's history too.

So my cooking arsenal now consist of-two Weber charcoal grills, the Smokey Mountain gas smoker, the two WSM smokers, the Weber E-310 gas grill and Big Momma.

Now if only I had time to cook something...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

I finally got to fire up R2D2 (on left) yesterday and I like it.



Of course chicken was the first sacrifice to R2D2 and it came out great. Leg quarters cooked for 2 1/2 hours at 275 to 250 - rested for 15 minutes.

The smoker would jump to 275 when the access door was opened to add wood or charcoal, when the door was replaced it took about 10 minutes to settle back down to 250 and hover there just chugging along. I never lifted the lid to look at the chick until 2 hours in. I figured it would take 2 1/2 to 3 hours cooking time.

Big Momma cooks leg quarters at 3 hours at 250 so I based this on that theory and checked the temperature of the leg quarters at 2 hours in because of the smoker being smaller and closer to the heat. They were at 170 degrees steady.

I knew from experience that it would take another 20 to 30 minutes to reach 180 degrees at this stage of cooking at 250. So inside I went to start up the sides and check the score of whatever game was playing at the time.

Leg quarters came off, rested, plated, and devoured.



These were some of the BEST smoked leg quarters that have ever come into this kitchen. I've done some Righteous smoked chicken plenty of times but this was the most Righteous chicken that has ever walked through that door.

I can't wait to do some beer butt chicken, some ribs, Boston butt, brisket, anything I can get my hands on. This little WSM will fit right in with the repertoire of cooking gear I have.

Welcome aboard little buddy...

B.D.

This & That...

You know B.D. we just realized you don't have a beard anymore, how come?



Too much gray my friend...

Julie said it made me look old (older than I am) so I got rid of it, plus it was a hassle to fool with. I tried to keep it in line by not looking like Beards Gone Wild but it was a hassle.

If I kept it short it would itch like a hound dog with fleas.

So back to shaving...

I clean up pretty good for a white boy. I use to have hair (back in the day) that I would let grow long in the winter to keep my ears warm.



Then the best thing since sliced bread came out...ear muffs. Just in time too as my hairline receded into nonexistence.

Maybe that's why I grew the beard in the first place. To grow long enough so I could rap it up over my ears and head to stay warm in winter like some guys do comb overs to keep their heads warm.

Ya think?

Probably not...


B.D.

Simply Friday...

We headed out from the Grill yesterday to spend the day with the family.

As always, Mom and Mish laid out a pretty good spread for all of us to chow down on.

And as always the food was great. Here are just a few pictures that were taken. I'll post some more later on down the road...


Big Daddy & lovely wife Julie


Uncle Dale & Robyn


Uncle Dale, Brother Tommy (behind dale), Dave (aka) Honey, Big Daddy, Brother Rob & Peggy Sue


Outside enjoying the fire


Barb (aka) Mom & Granny

Thanks to the family for the food because they have all been under the weather and feeling puny for awhile especially Mom & Mish. They could have said "sorry everybody fend for yourselves this year." But we have a saying...

Love me, love my germs. We'll see...

On a sad note:

It's my sad duty to say that one of our friends and my girl Vicky, lost her husband Steve O yesterday. Steve O, leaves behind a loving wife, children and many heartbroken family members and friends.

I don't know what else to say, so I'll just leave it there...

B.D.

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Every year our local county paper will print local holiday recipes. I just thought I would share some of the names that these recipes are so eagerly called.

Everyone has a recipe...but it has to work for one thing and it must have a decent title for the other thing.

Let me put in my two cents...

Christmas Champagne Punch: nothing wrong with that
Warm and Spicy Autumn Punch: Okay
Holiday Cranberry Sangria: interesting
Santa's Suit Punch: ??
Apple Cider Punch: traditional
Egg Nog Simplicity: yuck, I hate egg nog!
Malt-Peppermint Chocolate Shake: I'd have to think about that
Autumn Fruit Mocktail: ??

OK, enough of the drinks...let's move on to bread.

Praline-Apple Bread: ??
Walnut-Swiss Cheese Focaccia: gross
Pina Colada Bread: has possibilities
Spinach-Parmesan Loaves: ??
Holiday Healthy Pumpkin Pomegranate Muffins: try saying that fast three times
Pumpkin-Filled Crescent Rolls: why mess up good crescent rolls
Holiday Pumpkin Bread: traditional
Banana Nut Bread: my favorite

Ok, let's move on to salads.

Deluxe Layered Taco Salad: simple enough
Cherry-Pecan Tossed Salad: Okay
Spinach Salad: simple enough
Artichoke Salad: standard
Festive Potato Salad: Okay
Crunchy Cauliflower Salad: duh
Deviled Egg Salad: yummy
Pistachio Pudding Salad: some of that there fancy stuff
Frozen Cranberry Banana Salad: sounds like a smoothie
Harvest Moon Salad: whatever

All right, let's move on to veggies.

Tabouleh: ??
Potluck Lima Bean Bake: yup i'm a cheap date
Stuffed Vidalia Onions: who don't like these?
Artichokes Pembroke: ??
Fall Pumpkin and Rice Pudding: wrong category guys
Pasta With Peas: i can cook woo-hoo!
Broccoli-Spinach Casserole: green goop and green poop

Let's get to some meat.

Christmas Turkey with Herbs and Citrus: traditional
Mimi's Chicken Cordon Bleu: Okay
Pomegranate Honey Roasted Game Hens: yuck
Walnut Crusted Chicken with Pumpkin Sauce: say what?
Hawaiian Chicken: that's simple enough
Chicken with Champagne Sauce: f-a-n-c-y

Oven Barbecued Spareribs: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

You don't BARBECUE in the OVEN, you BARBECUE SAUCE in the OVEN. Jeez come on people! You don't BARBECUE in a slow cooker, you BARBECUE SAUCE in a slow cooker.

It should read: Oven Cooked Spareribs with Barbecue Sauce.

How hard is that?

If you're going to cook or publish recipes at least get your method right and your title right.



Jeez...

B.D.

Simply Thursday...

Work, work, work...

These morons can dig a hole in the yard faster than a dog can. I've never seen anything like it. I've asked myself how much more stupidity these guys can spit out and it just amazes me that the supply seems limitless.

They dig the hole faster than we can fill it up...and they just keep digging.

Maybe it's a good thing I never went to college. If that's what Henry Ford College turns out to send down here, I'd want my money back.

Anyway...

One of my girls' husband is in the hospital, so we are thinking about them and we hope and pray for the best. Some of my in-laws are moving this weekend and just so happens, I have to work Saturday.

How convenient, was the response from one sister.

In a way yes, in a way no. I had plans you see...and going to work wasn't one of them. But for the past two years my plans have never worked out so why complain now.

The Gods of Stupidity have spoken...I must obey.

Silly me...always thinking the weekends belong to me. Bad doggy...



B.D.

Happy B-Day...

Today is my brother-in-law Tommy's birthday.



So from all of us here at MacDaddy's Grill we wish you "Happy Birthday" brother.

We love ya, and we hope you have a great day!!!



B.D.

Simply Monday...

My buddy Jay from work sent these pictures to me and I thought I would share them with you.

Jay, buys my rub and BBQ sauce and the man is an avid grilling machine. Dude loves good food.

Ain't nothing wrong with that...





Looks like some dang fine eatin' my brother.

Of course, I taught him everything I know...and he took the ball and ran with it.

I love Jay, he has that passion for top quality and top notch food and he's a big old country boy and a good friend.

Ain't nothing wrong with that. That's my kind of brother...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Man -oh- man, the weather is perfect this weekend. I fired up Big Momma yesterday as we had some friends come over and enjoy some dang tasty grub.

Slab ribs
Short ribs
Chicken thighs
Chicken wings
Smoked beans

I made some hot sauce for the wings, but it just wasn't the same...

Why? Did you pull out the lab coat and shoot yourself in the foot again?!

Jeez Jethro, cut me some slack.

No...I did not shoot myself in the foot. A key ingredient that is part of the mix is no longer sold in Tennessee.

Yes, let us stop shipping this fine product to Tennessee so Big Daddy will just have to go back to the drawing board and find something else that will no longer be sold in stores after he finds the replacement for this product.

Not to worry...

We've got it covered. Found it on the Internet, thank you very much.

Problem solved...unless they go out of business, then the lab coat will come back out again.



B.D.

Simply Thursday...

Just a quick post. I've been working overtime for the Masters of the Universe this week, so that's why I haven't been chewing the fat of late.

Tomorrow, is a regular work day so I'll be back on track. When the Master beckons, we peons must obey. Stupid rule if you ask me...but I haven't won the lottery yet.

Lord, please let me win the lottery.

Buy a ticket...

B.D.

Trick or Treat...

From all of us here at the Grill, have a safe and happy Halloween.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

B.D.

To someone...

I've never used the Grill as a political or formal format to say anything.

But, we have a friend that reads us everyday and she has some things going on in her life that must be addressed here.

So this is for her...without saying any names or revealing her identity.

We are always behind you and beside you always. We are only a phone call away...

You are always in our thoughts. We love you with all our heart and only wish the best for you. You have always been a true friend to us and we will always be a true friend for you.

Sometimes life is not fair...but you are never alone...not as long as we are in your corner.

All of us here love you...

You are very special to us darlin' and we are always here for you, no strings attached. We would rather see you smile than to ever see you cry...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls. For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Yesterday started out cloudy and cool. But Mr. Sunshine finally came out and graced us with his smiling face.

Fired up Big Momma and cooked up some slab ribs, pork tenderloin, beef short ribs, chicken thighs and country ribs.





I've got enough food to feed an army for a week, but it will be gone in a day or two.

Stuff like that just don't hang around for long...

As Alton Brown would say: Good eats

B.D.

This & That...

You know...sometimes life just gets in the way.

Someone asked me how come I don't cook as much anymore? Mostly right now because of the rat race called life.

Cooking to me is a pleasure, a source of relaxation and harmony with myself. It slows me down (in a good way) makes me smell the flowers or the smoke, it makes me concentrate on one thing...cooking.

But when life steps in...it becomes a chore.

People depend on me to be the laid back cooking guru that they know and love.

But, the chain of events that have happened last year and this year has put too much noise in my head. I'm way behind on my 'To-Do List' this year because of this or that.

Aggravation from work, peoples demand on my time, the weather, life itself sometimes makes my simple pleasures that relax me...become a chore.

My neighbors son asked me, When are you going to fire up the pit again? It's about time to close it down for the winter.

My response: Depends on the weather and what's going on. I might try to fire her up this weekend. We'll see...

(Which means I doubt it.)

I do have some pecan wood split logs I need to use up, but do I have the time to waste a whole day tending the pit? I mean, I've got a lot of things to do...would this be a pleasure or a chore?

I'll bring over the beer.

Damn...

Oh well, even Superman has his kryptonite...



B.D.

The lost days of summer...

(sigh...)

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Weekend cook...





Country style ribs with a little bit of rub and a little bit of love and a little bit of BBQ sauce.

Oh yeah babe...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Had a few cold libations yesterday, watched it rain almost all day, watched the race, had a chocolate birthday brownie with chocolate ice cream made by Julie and Robyn, settled in on the couch and went to sleep.

It's cold and windy today, with lows expected in the mid 30's tonight and lower 30's tomorrow night.

Winds NNW at 10 to 20 and then on Tuesday shifting out of the South to warm up to 72 degrees. Figures...

Four days off and the weather sucks. Go back to work and the weather turns nice for a few days.

Whatever...

B.D.

Happy B-Day...

It's that time of year again when the 'Grill' gives a shout out to another birthday boy...



...me!

Yes...the Grumpy grouchmeister is 52 today.

Thanks to the girls for the gifts and best wishes.

What shall we do today? Probably nothing, seeing as the weather will pretty much suck the next few days. But you never know about me. This old dog still has some life left in 'em.

So thanks to everyone for the best wishes and gifts. And as we always say to that special person on their special day!

"Happy Birthday" to...



...Me!

Enjoy your day!!!
B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart.

Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.

Do not now look for the answers.

They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything.

At present you need to live the question.

Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

Simply Tuesday...

This was Sunday's cook...

White Trash BBQ said on the Weekend Report: I see the steak - but I have to say that's the weirdest looking bunch of chicken I ever saw.

That was steak and shrimp and rolls my brother...

Chicken...was the next day.

B.D.