Happy T-Day...

Yes it has been a long time since I have posted here. Things have changed, the job, the weather, life and me. I hope you all have a wonderful day of blessings and food.

I'll be back...

Wet Labor Day...

Rain...Rain...Rain...

Weekend Report...

Yes, it has been awhile. To get caught up, the new AC unit was installed and the new replacement windows are in. We can tell a big difference in the inside temperature now.

You would think that a house being only 7 years old, you would not have to do these things...

But, it had to be done. We should be good to go for a long time on these two things. Next on the list, will be to replace the gas water heater. Then comes painting the inside of the house.

New landscaping is also on the list. What I have right now, I just can't keep up with it, not the way I'm working right now.

Sorry I haven't been on the Grill in awhile. I'll try to do better...

B.D.

Simply Wednesday...

I'm still here...still here and still alive. Been working alot. Still working on my to-do list and trying to deal with life.

Weather's been crazy around here but that's just Tennessee. Sorry I haven't updated lately but the grill's still going and I'll be back soon.

B.D.

This & That...

I have never seen (or can't remember) seeing such wild weather around here. It seems that the Northern fronts and the Southern fronts are playing war games right over the South Eastern part of the woods. We do have a saying around here, "If you don't like the weather, stick around, it'll change."

That old saying has hit the nail on the head this year...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

I know I'm about a week late with this and I am sorry, but I do the best I can.

Happy B-Day to my girl Vicky!



I get on line when I can...sorry it took so long.

B.D.

Simply Friday...

The weather around here has taken a roller coaster ride lately.

Hot
Cold
Hot
Cold

Windy

But...at least it ain't Winter anymore. I'm trying to get some things done around the house from my To-Do List, and I have added a few things to my Done-List.

But, it's a never ending deal when you own a home. That's one reason I liked living in the apartment. No work, all play...

Well, you do have to keep the inside clean. But the only work I did outside was lay by the pool and drink a few cold libations. Oh the life of a working man.

But having a home is a lot of work. Cutting the grass, landscaping, doing something all the time. No rest for the working man...

I did some yard work yesterday and I'm sore as hell today, but I have to push through it and cut the grass again before Sister Rain comes to the party again.

No rest for the working man...

Happy Easter!

B.D.

This & That...and a few other things.

A quick update before I get into the body of this post.

New AC & Heating split unit is installed and running. That's good...that weekend it was 90 degrees. Today, it's mid 40's. Only in Tennessee...

New replacement Vinyl Windows are measured and on order and should be here in a few weeks.

Yes...I spent some mega bucks for these two home improvement updates. But, it was a necessary evil that had to be done. So...these two upgrades should save me some mega bucks on heating and cooling.

Put it this way, I spent more money on these two items than I have spent in a lifetime on beer and grills. And I've gone thru some beers and grills in my lifetime.

So...these upgrades were not cheap. And I've always said, you get what you pay for. I bought the top of the line equipment...and...they are made in the USA!

Can't beat that...


So...as I spent a lot of my hard earned money I thought, I need to find a classic beer budget recipe and put a champagne twist to it. To celebrate my short lived growing bank account...I found the perfect one.


Caviar Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

6 hard cooked eggs

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

1/8 teaspoon salt

dash pepper

1 dash Paprika

6 teaspoons caviar


Preparation method

1. Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks; set whites aside.

2. In a bowl, mash the yolks. Add mayonnaise, horseradish, dill, mustard, salt and pepper; mix well.

3. Pipe or spoon into egg white halves. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate until serving.

4. Right before seving, top with 1/2 teaspoon of caviar on each egg half.


There you go...



B.D.

Weekend Report...

Here it is April 10th and the weather is geared for summer already.

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

90? ...In April?

Ah...yep. 90...

These South winds just bitch slapped Old Man Winter and told the old boy to take a hike. That would fine with me but can we start with some 70's please?

90? ...In April?

B.D.

Simply Thursday...

I had some of these yesterday and they are good. So I did a recipe search...


Hot Crackers

Use a glass pickle jar to mix crackers and the seasonings and roll the jar on its side. You can use a Ziploc bag, just be careful not to break the crackers.


Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups of canola oil

1 ( 1 ounce) package of dry ranch flavored dressing mix

2 Tablespoons of red pepper flakes

1 16 ounce box of saltine crackers


Use a large Ziploc storage bag. I use the 2 gallon size. Add the oil, ranch dressing mix, red pepper flakes and crackers. Tumble constantly for 15 minutes. If you have small kids or don’t like it too hot, only use 1 TBS of the red pepper flakes. These crackers are great with cheese balls or your favorite dip or all alone. Just make sure you have something cool to drink, because they’re spicy.


Now...

Here's what I'd do. You would first think, that's a lot of oil. But if you use the entire box of crackers, its not. So you must adjust the oil and seasonings to the crackers.

I don't need a whole box of hot crackers sitting around the house. My tummy and tush would not like that at all.

So I would use maybe a hair over a 1/4 cup of oil to a sleeve of crackers. Also, since I like garlic, I would add some garlic powder or Italian seasoning as well.

And lastly, I would bake them in the oven at 250 for...15 to 20 minutes.


That's just me. But these bad boys are good, and worthy of trying if you like hot stuff.

B.D.

This & That...

The last weekend of freedom before we switch back to 12 hour shifts at work.

Yea...

Today, the motorized billy goat comes out of the pen and back to life because the grass has done a Frankenstein...It's ALIVE!!!

Mop Top City around here. I've got to get ahead of it before it gets ahead of me.

Now sure, I'll still have weekends off...but they will be, or already have been booked. I've got to stay ahead of my yard work this year. Ball games, projects, etc.

New AC unit, driveway redone, deck redone, fence redone, patio redone...

A big list this year.

And going back to 12 hour shifts...is not on my Happy List at the moment.

So...

First things first.

It's time to dance with Frankenstein...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

As we transition from winter to spring here in Tennessee, the weather, develops an attitude.

Strong South winds push up from the Gulf to warm us up before it's really time to be that warm. And North fronts say 'Oh no you don't...'

That...makes it ripe down here for Tornadoes and strong storms with heavy rain.

This time of year, who knows what we will get. But it does make everyone a bit nervous...

When fronts collide around here this time of year, things can get righteous quick. And as we speak...storms with heavy rain are moving into our area this morning.



And also...

We found out Friday, they will be changing our work schedule...AGAIN...

Gloom and doom...What a way to start a weekend.

B.D.

Simply Monday...

The weather has been crazy...here of late.

We have had snowfall 5 times this year so far...and now...tornado watches and warnings.

It's that time of year here in Tennessee. The weather can change at a drop of a dime.

High winds, rain and weather that knows no bounds. Winds out of the Gulf of Mexico bring moisture to our humble area of woods and rain that would make a duck proud to be from the South.

70's one day...30's the next. It's a wonderland of change around here to say the least.

But...that's Tennessee. If you don't like the weather...hang around...it'll change.

It does everyday...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Yes I know...I've been slack in writing this week. Hasn't much gone on this last week.

Well, I did get a new pony. I traded my 2010 extended cab Silverado for a 2011 Z71 4x4 crew cab Silverado. Same color, more options, sweet truck.

Besides that? Go back to work Monday and look at all the bright cheery faces that just love being there.

So...

That's all for now, I'll see y...Yo B.D. a word please.What the...?

What is it Jethro? Can't you see I'm talking? That's just rude...

Sorry B.D. but you forgot to mention a B-Day today.

B-Day?

Yes, you know...(whisper, whisper, WHISP-HER!!!)

Oh...THAT B-Day. We can't forget about one of my girls...



Happy B-Day Tracy!!!

May your beer be cold
Your cake be sweet
Your germs be...noncontagious
As your feet get...uh...bathed in the glory of...uh...open toe showiness...uh...of sweet cold beer?

(I'll have to work on that poem)

Happy B-Day!!! from all of us here at the Grill.



B.D.

Sweet Corn...

"..take the first step in faith..you don't have to see the whole staircase, just the first step." - Martin Luther King Jr.

This & That...

Greatness: To bear up under loss, to fight the bitterness of defeat and the weakness of grief, to be victor over anger, to smile kindly when true tears are shed, to resist evil men and trust instincts, to hate hate and to love love, to go on when it would seem good to die, to seek ever after the glory and the dream.

Simply Thursday...

Here we are...under a blanket of snow...again.

This is the 10th time this year, I think. Years ago, I'd be right out in the middle of it driving and playing. But back then...a vehicle didn't cost as much as they do today and you didn't have to worry about an air bag blowing up in your face if you did hit the ditch.

Insurance was cheaper as well and it didn't cost an arm or a leg to get the fenders fixed if you did happen to have a boo boo.

Now...

It costs a fortune to get anything on a vehicle fixed and you are out some major pocket money for your little boo boo. So...

'Me no likey' snow much anymore when it comes to driving in it. And folks around here get stupid when it comes to driving in it as well. We don't get as much snow like we use to as kids. And our fathers always had a set of snow tires stashed in the garage for just this kind of weather.

The old truck and snow tires could climb mountains and never slip, hiccup or burp even in the nastiest of weather. But today, we don't carry on that tradition here in the South.

Folks up North laugh at us because we complain about a little snow and ice. But you see...it's like this. Snow tires up North are like bubble gum to us down here. You can buy them anywhere.

Here in the South...

You have to special order them. No tire dealer around here wants a bunch of snow tires just sitting around taking up space, waiting for the major snow fall event we might not even get. So you have to order them. Years ago, they cost thirty five dollars apiece. Now they cost a hundred and thirty five dollars apiece and it could take four to six weeks to get them in and then, you have to pay to have them mounted.

So that's why 'Me no likey' to play in the snow anymore.

It just costs too much these days...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Today is the Big Day of the Big Game.

Have you got your apron on? Grill fired up, chili ready, dips and chips, and cold libations iced down, ready to settle in and chow down and watch some football?

I know...your favorite team may not be in the Big Show and I've seen where people polled will not go all out this year and only spend a few bucks.

Spending 50 to 100 bucks as compared to previous Super Bowls spending 200 to 275 bucks.

Is it because of who's playing or is it because of the economy? I think it is a little of both...

Like I said, I'll watch the Super Bowl even if I don't care for the teams playing just for the commercials. And at 3 million dollars for a 30 second spot...they should be good.


So...

Is my team in the Super Bowl? No...

Am I going to spend a lot of money on food and drink and have people over? No...

I'll save that for this spring and summer. Chips and dips are about it I reckon.

I haven't been in a cooking mood lately.

I don't know if it is the weather (probably) or the fact that I have to listen to the neighbors 3 loud mouth dogs barking at me the whole time I'm out in the backyard smoking or grilling something...

So the menu will be simple. And who am I pulling for?

I'll have to say Green Bay.

I've really never been a Steelers fan. And before you say it...I'm not a Tennessee Titans fan nether. They can move back to Houston.

I'm not really a fan of any team. Just depends on who is the quarterback at the time.

I've liked:

Dallas
The Bengals
The Colts
The Bears
The Falcons
The New York Giants
The Jets

So, I've liked a few teams. But I'm not a die hard fan of any team. I just like to watch football...

The only thing I would like to see is the Super Bowl played on Saturday night instead of Sunday night.

But, you can't have everything...

B.D.

Happy Anniversary...

Yes...

It's that time of year again. Happy Anniversary to Julie and myself for being married on this day. I was sick with the flu that day. Julie asked me if I wanted to wait, nah, love me, love my germs.

So we got married and I went back to bed...

Happy A-Day honey!!!

B.D.

This & That...

Well, Super Bowl weekend is just around the corner. Do you know what you're going to do? Are you cooking and watching it at home? Are you going out to friends or the local watering hole?

Don't know yet if you'll even watch it because your team didn't make it?

You can't miss the commercials...that's the best part. I've watched many a Super Bowl game that I didn't really care about the teams playing just to watch the new commercials.

I don't know yet what I'll do. (Work has gone into a death spiral and I may be out of a job soon, but that's another story sometime in the near future.)

Here's a recipe I pulled out of the 'old recipe box' from years ago that still works just as good today as it did in the days of yesteryear. At the time, this was a staple at any Super Bowl party.


B.D.


Layered Nacho Dip

This recipe dates all the way back... to 1981 from Southern Living. I use to make this a lot, but some how the recipe got tucked away and forgotten about at some point in time...until now.

Time to dust off this bad boy, and share it with you. At that time... this was the Cadillac of dips. Now remember, this is from 1981, an original recipe. Being that this is 2011, you can doctor it anyway you want. But the original ain't bad at all.

1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning mix
1 (6 oz.) container Avocado dip
1 (8 oz.) container Sour Cream
1 or 2 small can chopped black Olives-drained
1 can chopped green Chiles-drained
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Tortilla chips

Stir together beans and seasoning mix. Spread mixture into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Spread avocado dip and sour cream evenly over bean mixture.

Sprinkle with olives and next 4 ingredients.

This recipe can be doubled or tripled. You can also warm up the beans a little, you can add cooked ground beef

Serve with chips.



Sausage Pinwheels

This is a recipe that my very own Mrs. B.D. makes and everybody loves these things.

1 lb bulk sausage (mild is better)
1 lg pkg cream cheese
1 tube of crescent rolls
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Set the cream cheese out at room temperature (it's easier to mix with the sausage). Brown the sausage and drain thoroughly (with paper towels).

Combine the cream cheese and the sausage in a mixing bowl. Mix together with your hands (it's much easier than using a spoon).

Separate the crescent rolls along the perforations onto a cookie sheet. Take each 'roll' and cut it diagonally to make 2 separate triangles.

Using a spoon, place some of the sausage and cream cheese mixture onto each triangle. Use as much or as little as you like. Maybe a 'dollop' size. Fold the edges of the triangle to the center so that it looks like a child's pinwheel. (I'm not too sure these actually look like pinwheels but I didn't come up with the recipe.)

Bake at 375 for the amount of time that the crescent roll pkg states. Usually 9-11 minutes.
One pkg of the 8 count crescent rolls makes 16 pinwheels.

The mixture would probably make up to 50 pinwheels, depending on how much you put on each triangle. These are great appetizers.


Hot Wings

makes 16 wings, prep 5 min, cook 50 min
2 lbs wings, separated at the joints, tips removed
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce
1-2 tsp Tabasco sauce, to taste
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1.Cook wings.

Fry at 370°F for about 20 minutes or bake at 425°F to 450°F for 30-50 minutes. You can also broil wings.

2.While wings are cooking, melt butter in a small sauce pan.

3.Add Hot sauce, Tabasco and Worcestershire.

4.Whisk to combine well then add cooked wings and toss to coat. Serve with Blue Cheese Dressing.

While this may seem like a lot of work, you will notice the prep times for all of these add up to only about 20 minutes total of actual work. Also, feel free to use pre-cut wings or drummettes or whatever but if you cut the wings yourself, be sure to keep the wingtips in a bag in your freezer. They will be a great addition to stock later on.

Weekend Report...

It takes a lot of money to start a business. I've been doing research for a while now and it takes a lot of moola, I mean serious pocket money to do anything nowadays. Figure what you need to start a small hole-in-the-wall BBQ Shack.

First off, you have to find a place to put your hole-in-the-wall shack.

Most owners of land will sell you the building but not the land under it. So right off the bat you have acquired two bills. Renovation of the building to suit your needs and a lease. Most people think rent is high, try a lease on commercial property. We're talking in the thousands of dollars a month or in a quarter.

If you buy undeveloped commercial land and build, you'll spend a few million.

Equipment, the price of equipment, the price of installation of said equipment. (This covers all equipment, cookers, freezers, dishwashers, etc.)

Permits
Licenses
Insurance (of all kinds)
Supplies
Utensils
Pots and Pans
Plates and glasses
Tables and Chairs
Cleaning supplies
Cleaning equipment
Meat
Produce
Cooking fuel (wood, charcoal, gas)
Pricing of food and drink
Employees pay
State taxes
Federal taxes
Utility bills
Payments on Bank loans
Advertising
CPA to keep up with everything


Is your head spinning yet?

That's the short list...

You can expect not to make a profit for over a year or more. You may start to break even in 9 months...maybe. So you see, it takes a lot of money.

You don't want partners because they tend to think they own the business and you work for them. Which is why some businesses fail because silent partners aren't silent most of the time and they expect a quick return and profit on their partnership money and you have to pay them before you pay yourself.

So...

What is the moral of this story? Keep your day job...

Start small, like on the weekends. Can your food make you a good living? Don't listen to family or friends.

Family and friends may love your stuff, but they aren't paying you in money, they are only paying you in compliments, which is fine, but compliments don't fit in your wallet like money does. Can your food make you money and pay for itself?

There is only one way to find out...



B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

We have a choice every day - to act on yesterday's good intentions or get an early start on tomorrow's regrets.

Happy B-Day...

Happy B-Day to our daughter Robyn. She is 9 years old today!!!

We love ya honey, and we are blessed to have you in our life.

From all of us here at MacDaddy's Grill, Happy Birthday!!!

Love, Big Daddy, Tootie and Sweetie...

Weekend Report...

This just totally sucks...



I've got a few days off and guess what?

More snow?

Nope, freezing rain or rain or sleet or as the weather guru so kindly puts it...a Wintry Mix of precipitation.

Great...

Down here in Tennessee, that means be prepared for anything because our weather guru just can't predict what will happen.

"It could or might or possibly be this, that, or the other, or it could be..."


Now, I'm not suffering from cabin fever, oh no, I'm suffering for my poor lonely cold babies that miss their daddy.



My poor, poor, orphaned Weber's. Just sitting there...cold and lonely. I'm a bad man...

A shameful man, a lowdown man, a chicken liveried no good sidewinder of a polecat son of a biscuit eater kind of man. A sorry excuse of a Grill Master.

Letting my babies sit there...unloved. Daddy's coming my pretties...



...just as soon as Spring gets here.

B.D.

This & That...

My oldest daughter had to put a long time family dog down. Buddy...

Buddy, had a good life filled with a lot of love. It's always hard when a dog has to go down. It's a heart wrenching decision and it's like losing a child. I have had many dogs in my life, and they were always a child to me and a part of the family.

It didn't matter if you had a bad day or not, they were always happy to see you every time you walked through the door and they will always show you love...

I'm sorry Buddy, but it was your time to go free and play in the big backyard of the big guy.

You will be missed...but never forgotten. And one day...

...you will see your master again.

It's time to rest for awhile...


B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

If the South sucks so bad, then please stop moving down here and complaining about everything while wearing black socks with shorts every time it goes above 50 degrees, and showing us your pasty white legs.

Weekend Report...

Well, here we go again. 3 to 6 inches of snow is forecast for our area. Cold temperatures all week with a chance of rain and freezing rain toward the end of the week.

Well ain't that just lovely...

Yes, I know it's winter. And yes, we have been lucky so far. But, our luck may have run out this time. A winter storm warning and winter storm watch has been issued.

I don't know which one I hate more...Winter or cutting grass.


I've added another link to the right of the blog. It's called the Beef Jerky Reviews. If you like jerky like I do sometimes, check it out. It reviews all types of jerky.

B.D.

This & That...

I saw this in the paper yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you. It's about fear...

We all have some kind of fear...

Fear of heartbreak
Fear of disappointment
Fear of pain
Fear of the unknown
Fear of loss
Fear of failure
Fear of rejection

What is...Fear?


“I am Fear. I am the menace that lurks in the paths of life, never visible to the eye but sharply felt in the heart. I am the father of despair, the brother of procrastination, the enemy of progress, the tool of tyranny. Born of ignorance and nursed on misguided thought, I have darkened more hopes, stifled more ambitions, shattered more ideals and prevented more accomplishments than history could record.


“Like the changing chameleon, I assume many disguises. I masquerade as caution. I am sometimes known as doubt or worry. But whatever I’m called, I am still fear, the obstacle of achievement.


“I know no master but one; its name is Understanding. I have no power but what the human mind gives me, and I vanish completely when the light of Understanding reveals the facts as they really are, for I am really nothing.”

Wordless Wednesday...

Start off every day with a smile and get it over with...