LOOKS LIKE THE FOOD NETWORK

MAVERICK WIRELESS BBQ THERMOMETER

THIS IS THE MAVERICK WIRELESS BBQ THERMOMETER. IT HAS TWO PROBES, ONE FOR THE TEMPERATURE OF THE GRILL AND ONE FOR THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MEAT.

THE PROBE FOR THE GRILL TEMP GOES ON THE GRATE.

 

AND THE PROBE FOR THE MEAT IS INSERTED.

 

HERE YOU CAN SEE THE GRILL IS 270 DEGREES AND THE CHICKEN IS 43 DEGREES.

 

THIS IS THE SENDING UNIT AND STAYS BY THE GRILL. IT FLASHES THE TWO DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES.

YOU CAN CLIP THE OTHER UNIT ON YOUR SHORTS AND WALK AWAY.

 

OR IN THIS CASE SET IT BY THE COMPUTER INSIDE ON THE PORCH AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE THE DEVIL’S EGG.

 

THIS IS GREAT, TO RAISE OR LOWER THE TEMPERATURE YOU NEED ONLY TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE VENTS ON THE TOP OR BOTTOM OF THE DEVIL’S EGG. YOU CAN RUN THE EGG AT ANYWHERE FROM 200 DEGREES TO 700 DEGREES. I LOVE IT.

THE BEER CAN ROASTED CHICKEN CAME OUT PERFECT. OF COURSE I FORGOT TO GET A PICTURE OF THE FINISHED BIRD BEFORE WE ATE IT.

BEEF SHORT RIBS

THE WALMART USED MEAT SPECIAL OF THE HOUR WAS BONELESS BEEF SHORT RIBS. FIRST I HIT THEM WITH A RUB.

THEN I LOADED THEM INTO THE DEVIL’S EGG TO BE SMOKED.

 

THIS IS A METAL TACO HOLDER, DESIGNED SO THAT YOU ASSEMBLE FOUR TACOS AT A TIME AND THEN PUT THEM INTO YOUR OVEN OR GRILL TO HEAT THE TACOS. BESIDES TACOS I FIGURED IT WOULD HOLD THE SHORT RIBS, AND EVEN TROUT IF I DECIDE TO SMOKE SOME TROUT SOMETIME.

 

AFTER 3 HOURS ON THE GRILL AT A LOW TEMPERATURE WITH SOME HICKORY WOOD SMOKE, EACH RIB IS INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED IN FOIL WITH A SHOT OF BEER AND RETURNED TO THE GRILL TO STEAM.

THE LAST STEP IS BRUSH THE RIBS WITH BBQ SAUCE AND FINISH THE COOKING.

 

NOW I KNOW WHY BEEF SHORT RIBS ARE OFTEN ON THE USED MEAT LIST AT WALMART. THEY WERE TUFF EVEN AFTER FOUR AND A HALF HOURS IN THE DEVIL’S EGG. WE WILL TRY PORK RIBS THE NEXT TIME.

THE DEVIL’S EGG

LAST FALL WHEN WE WERE CAMPING WITH AIM, DAN, AND THE BOYS I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO CHARCOAL FOR GRILLING. BASICALLY I HAVE TWO WORE OUT GAS GRILLS, AND DECIDED I WANTED CHARCOAL.

AIM AND DANIEL SUGGESTED THE BIG GREEN EGG, BECAUSE THEY HAD AN UNCLE THAT USED ONE AND THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. LAST WINTER I RESEARCHED THE BIG GREEN EGG ON THE INTERNET AND IT’S A HEAVY CERAMIC KAMANDO STYLE CHARCOAL GRILL. INTERESTING, BUT I JUST COULDN’T PAY $900.00 FOR A GRILL!

I DECIDED ON A FULL SIZE WEBER, BUT ALL WINTER LONG I PUT OFF BUYING ONE. I’D GO TO LOWES AND HOME DEPOT AND LOOK AT THEM, I READ FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, AND WATCH YOU TUBE VIDEOS OF HOW TO COOK IN A WEBER, BUT I NEVER PULLED THE TRIGGER, AND WENT WIHOUT.

THEN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE SUMMER, I STARTED LOOKING AND READING ABOUT A BIG GREEN EGG KNOCK-OFF MADE BY CHAR-GRILLER. LOWES CARRIED THE GRILL IN BLACK, AND YOU COULD SPECIAL ORDER IT IN RED FOR A $100. MORE. AS I WAS READING THE FORUMS I FOUND OUT MENARDS HAD THE OPPOSITE DEAL. THEY SOLD THE RED ONE AND A $100 SPECIAL ORDER IN BLACK.

WELL, WE WERE HEADED BACK TO WISCONSIN AND I CAN BUY THE GRILL AT MENARDS AND GET THE RED ONE, WHICH I PREFERRED. WHEN WE GOT TO LA CROSSE ON MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY WE STOPPED AT A MENARDS TO CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF A SALE THAT KNOCKED $30.00 OFF THE THE $300.00 PRICE. SWEET !!!

SO INTO THE PICK-UP IT WENT TO BE HAULED BACK TO ARIZONA. THE OTHER DAY WE UNLOADED THE NEW GRILL STILL IN THE BOX.

YUP, SOME ASSEMBLLY REQUIRED. I SCHEDULLED THIS PROJECT EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE IT GETS HOT, AND BEFORE “MILLER TIME”. MARY AND I MANAGED TO USE REAL TOOLS AND PUT THE THING TOGETHER.

 

 

AMY GIVES THE NEW GRILL A NAME

WHEN AMY HEARD THE STORY SHE STARTED CALLING THE NEW GRILL, “THE DEVIL’S EGG”. AND THE NAME STUCK.

WE SEASONED THE CAST IRON GRATE, AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR A WOOD FIRED PIZZA.

OMG, CHECK THIS OUT……

GET READY FOR SOME COOKING BLOGS OUT OF THE DEVIL’S EGG. NEXT UP I THINK, IS A SLOW ROASTED,SMOKED, BEER CAN CHICKEN.

Be Careful….Very Careful

I’ve mentioned once or twice how much I like Trader Joe’s.  A stop at Trader Joe’s is the carrot Rex uses to get me to look forward to going to Vegas.  Otherwise I am not that much of a Vegas fan. 

Trader Joe’s puts out a publication called Fearless Flyer in which they feature various items on their shelves.  These items are not “sale” items because they never have sales.  The philosophy behind their store is they offer the best prices they can each and every day…..so no “sale” items.

Anyway when we first get to Trader Joe’s Rex always heads for the Fearless Flyer and looks it over.  A few months ago he found an item that interested him called Cookie Butter.

The label reads “Speculoos Cookie Butter”, a deliciously unusual spread reminiscent of gingerbread and made with crushed biscuits.  All you have to do is taste it to understand!

Since the first time we bought it,   it has been on our list every time we go.  So a couple of weeks ago when we went to Vegas to have the car serviced, I looked for the Cookie Butter.  What, NONE on the shelf…..sorry Rex you are out of luck.  Then just by chance I head someone else ask one of the employees about the Cookie Butter and he was told it was at the customer service counter.  How come I wondered as I headed for the customer service counter.

And the reason is:  The stuff sells out EVERY DAY so they limit people to two jars.  WOW!  That is how addictive it is…so be careful if you try it!!

Oven

We used to have a built in combination oven.  The combinations were microwave, convection, and “half-time” oven.  After about 9 years it became unhappy and died.  I looked but could not find a replacement. 

Our good neighbor Steve had given us a small toaster oven, which I used for about 6 months.  Then we bought a larger one which I have been using.  In the last 6 months it has been failing…..

So after some research decided to replace it. 

 

 Here comes UPS…….

  The box is pretty big…..

 

 Breville is the brand Rex had been reading about in different rv blogs.  Calls itself a “smart” oven.  I just hope it works using even temperatures.  

 

Looks pretty nice doesn’t it??  Haven’t had a chance to bake anything yet but I have been happy with what I’ve used it for so far.  Big improvement over the other one.

MOUNTAIN MAN BREAKFAST

EVERY BOY SCOUT THAT HAS BEEN ON A CAMPOUT HAS HAD THE MOUNTAIN MAN BREAKFAST.  THE MOUNTAIN MAN BREAFAST INCLUDES MEAT, HASHBROWNS, AND EGGS ALL IN ONE DUTCH OVEN.

SINCE IT’S ALL COOKED IN ONE PAN, CLEANUP IS A SNAP. YOU BEGIN BY BROWNING THE MEAT IN THE DUTCH OVEN. IN OUR CASE IT’S SAUSAGE AND ONIONS.

THIS HAS TO BE GOOD, OUR CHEF EVEN HAS  ORANGE CROCKS LIKE IRON CHEF MARIO BATALI

AFTER FRYING THE MEAT, SET IT ASIDE AND FRY YOUR HASHBROWNS TO A GOLDEN BROWN.

NEXT YOU CRACK AND SCRAMBLE A DOZEN EGGS.

MIX THE MEAT BACK IN WITH THE HASHBROWNS AND POUR THE SCRAMBLED EGGS OVER THE TOP.

A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE EGGS ARE DONE BAKING ADD A POUND OF EXTRA SHARP CHEDDAR OVER THE TOP.

IF YOU’RE INTO COUNTING CHARCOALS, AND I AM, IT’S 14 ON TOP AND 10 ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DUTCH OVEN.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A “HOW TO” COOKING BLOG IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE PICTURES OF THE FINISH MEAL BEFORE EATING IT ALL, BUT THIS BLOG IS ALL ABOUT FUTURE EAGLE SCOUT EDDIE SAUCER AND HIS VERY FIRST MOUNTAIN MAN BREAKFAST.

NICE JOB EDDIE !!!

CUB SCOUT COOKING

WHILE WE VISITING IN ALBUQUERQUE, EDDIE AND ALAN WERE WORKING ON THEIR COOKING REQUIRMENTS FOR CUB SCOUTS.

ALAN DID INDIVIDUAL PIZZAS ON THE BBQ GRILL ON SUNDAY NIGHT, AND EDDIE SPENT ALL DAY SATURDAY SMOKING CHICKEN FOR GRANDPA REX.

THANKS BOYS !!! SMOKED SAUCER CHICKEN IS MY FAVORITE, AND PIZZA ON THE GRILL IS MARY’S FAVORITE.

17 BEAN SOUP

WE’VE BOTH BEEN HUNGRY FOR HAM AND BEAN SOUP.  APPARENTLY MY OLE IOWA PIG FARMER FRIENDS ARE GETTING RICH OFF THE PRICE OF HAM IN ARIZONA.

JUST WAIT UNTIL THANKSGIVING AND TURKEY AND HAM WILL BE ON SALE.  SURE ENOUGH WE GOT AN OLE FASHION, BONE IN, CHUNK OF HAM ON SALE AT SMITH’S FOR $1.39 A POUND.

GREAT, NOW WE CAN MAKE HAM AND BEAN SOUP, AND POTATO SOUP WITH HAM.

YOU REMEMBER THE OTHER DAY WHEN MY ALL DAY PROJECT TOOK 20 MINUTES FLAT? SO REX WAS IN CHARGE OF HOMEMADE HAM AND BEAN SOUP.  I PUT THE HAM IN THE SLOW COOKER SOUP PAN AND FILLED IT WITH WATER TO GET A NICE BROTH.

 

THE HAM BROTH WAS TOO SALTY, SO HERE IS MY COOKING TIP.  MARY READ SOMEWHERE TO CUT A RAW POTATO IN HALF AND PUT IT IN THE BROTH TO ABSORB THE EXTRA SALT. I LEFT THE RAW POTATO IN THE SALTY BROTH WHILE I CUT UP THE REST OF MY VEGGIS, AND IT WORKED.

WE HAD A ONE POUND PACKAGE OF 17 DIFFERENT BEANS FROM TRADER JOE’S SOAKING OVERNIGHT AND READY TO RINSE AND ADD TO THE SOUP.

 

AS USUAL WHEN WE MAKE SOUP IN THIS POT, WE STOP ADDING THINGS WHEN THE KETTLE GETS FULL.  LOOKS GOOD DOESN’T IT?  IT SIMMERED ON THE PORCH FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND WAS READY FOR SUPPER.

I ENDED UP WITH A COUPLE OF HAM BONES AND DECIDED I’D SEE WHAT “AZ” THE CAT, WOULD DO WITH THEM.  YOU REMEMBER, “AZ” EXHIBITS A LOT OF DOG LIKE QUALITIES?

JUST LIKE A DACHOUND, HE SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON GNAWING ON THE HAM BONES. CRAZY “AZ” !!!

Lobster

  A little while ago the Smith’s grocery store had “whole cooked lobsters” on sale for $5.99 each.  Just out of curiosity I had to check them out. 

 Aren’t they cute in that red netting?  Who could resist?  Obviously not me.

 Actually they are cute from all sides, not very big, but cute.

 

 

 

Quite honestly there was not much “meat” on them but it was good, I made sort of a half-assed lobster roll and it was a nice change of pace meal.  Then to be frugal, all the shells and guts went into a pot along with some Old Bay and a bay leaf to make some lobster stock.  This winter when we are hungry for soup, lobster bisque will be on the menu!

THE NEXT DAY

AFTER ALL THAT NEW AND STRANGE FOOD AT THE EPICUREAN AMERICANA** WE BOTH HIT THE SACK EARLY. ABOUT 4 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING AFTER TOSSING, TURNING, AND FARTING ALL NIGHT I WOKE UP TO USE THE BATHROOM.

**Rex missed a few of the menu items: hot, fresh, crunchy, New York pretzels for one.  Cherries jubilee, tacos, burritos, fried chicken legs, jambalaya, banana leaf wrapped pork, fried dough, pulled pork sandwiches, and a lot of beverages I don’t even recall. And I can’t believe he didn’t get a picture of the dueling piano ladies.  They both had great voices and did a wonderful job.

ON THE WAY BACK TO BED MARY SPOKE TO ME AND SAID SHE WASN’T SLEEPING VERY WELL EITHER. WELL, LET’S GET UP, AND DO A WALK-ABOUT AND WATCH THE SUNRISE. 

WE DID THE LAUGHLIN RIVER WALK FROM THE BRIDGE TO RIVER PALMS AND THE “DONUT SHITS” BETWEEN CASINOS.

Do you agree that this is just a little TOO MUCH INFORMATION??

NOT CLEAR ON THE “DONUT SHITS”?  IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND MARY, PAULIE, AND I WERE OUT ALL NIGHT ON THE STRIP IN LAS VEGAS DRINKING 10-20 BEERS AND ALL THE JACK DANIELS “GRANDMA JACK” COULD HANDLE.  AT 4 AM, ON THE WAY BACK TO OUR ROOM AT THE LUXOR , WHICH WE WERE SHARING WITH AMY AND DANIEL, WE HAPPENED ALONG A KRISPY CREME DONUT STAND JUST OPENING, AND A DOZEN OR TWO SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME.  SORRY, I’VE GOTTEN OFF ON A SIDEBAR…..

AFTER OUR 4 AM SUNRISE HIKE WE WENT BACK TO BED AT 7 AM AND SLEPT LIKE A COUPLE OF BABIES UNTIL 11 AM.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA, SWIMMING….

AFTER SWIMMING IT WAS SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEA DANCING AT THE RIVERSIDE.

A STOP AT THE REGENCY FOR CHEAP BEERS, A TROT AROUND THE HORIZON OUTLET MALL, A PEEK IN THE DOOR AT THE BIKINI BAR, AND WE SETTLED INTO PINTS AT THE BELLE FOR OUR REGULAR WOOD FIRED PIZZA.

Quite frankly, my stomach is about to explode with “eating out” food—not our usual diet and my digestive track is REBELLING!!

REX & Mary

EPICUREAN AMERICANA

WE GOT AN E-MAIL FROM THE COLORADO BELLE CASINO WITH A SUBJECT LINE OF “EPICUREAN AMERICANA”.  WHAT?

HEY MARY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT “EPICUREAN” MEANS?

REALLY? A FANCY FOOD SHOW?  COOL LET’S CALL OUR BUDDY CINDY AND SEE IF SHE HAS COMPED TICKETS TO THIS SHOW.  SURE ENOUGH SHE DID.

WE’RE SPENDING TWO NIGHTS AT THE BELLE IN A COMPED ROOM WITH TWO TICKETS TO THE FANCY FOOD SHOW.  THAT’S A GOOD THING, WE NEED ANOTHER BREAK FROM THE CAMPER IN THIS EXTREME HEAT.

 

I COULDN’T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE ALL THE DIFFERENT FOODS.  THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS DIVIDED INTO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, EACH A DIFFERENT COUSINE.  ONCE INSIDE, I WAS HUNGRY AND HEADED TO FOOD I UNDERSTAND.

THIS BOOTH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO CHICAGO-LAND FOOD.  FIRST TIME I ATE A 3 INCH BRAT.

STILL HUNGERY, I HEADED ACROSS THE ROOM TO NEW ENGLAND AND CLAM CHOWDER IN A BREAD BOWL.  MARY SKIPPED NEXT DOOR TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND SCORED US PASTRAMI SANDWICHES ON MARBLE RYE.

NOW WE WERE THIRSTY….

OH MY GOD, A MARTINI ISN’T FOR ME. 

WHERE’S THAT NAPA VALLEY WINE BOOTH?  BESIDES THE WINE AND CHEESE, (AND I HAD THE BLUE CHEESE), I TRIED A CUSTARD WITH LOBSTER IN IT, YUMM.  I HAVE NEVER TRIED SUSHI, AND TODAY WAS THE DAY, YUP I DON’T LIKE RAW FISH AND RICE.

HEY I’M STILL THIRSTY…..

NEXT STOP, MIAMI.

JERKED CHICKEN…  HOLY SHIT! THAT WAS HELL HOT !!!

BACK TO THE BEER BOOTH AND MAKE IT QUICK !

MEAN WHILE BACK IN MIAMI….

AND MY FIRST CUBAN SANDWICH, NOT BAD , BUT I LIKE LIKE MARY’S TOASTED HAM AND CHEESE BETTER.

I’M GETTING KINDA FULL.  GUESS I’LL FOLLOW MARY AROUND AND SEE WHAT SHE’S EATING.  HER NEXT STOP WAS THE CALFORNIA PICNIC. LOOK AT THAT, ON THE OUTSIDE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A WATER MELON, AND ON THE INSIDE IT LOOKS LIKE A YELLOW CANTALOPE.

BABY BACK RIBS FROM KENTUCKY, AND MARGARITAS FROM THE SOUTHWEST.  AT THIS POINT I CAN HARDLY WALK….

DID WE MISS ANYTHING? YUP, THE FOOD FROM LAS VEGAS.  WHY IS THE LINE SO LONG THERE?

OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER,STEAMSHIP ROUND, SHRIMP COCTAILS, AND BANANAS FOSTER.  THE BANANAS ARE ON FIRE…. I’LL TAKE THREE OF THOSE, PLEASE!

OH MARY, RUN BACK TO THE AIR CONDITIONED ROOM AND GET THE LUGGAGE CART TO WHEEL ME BACK WILL YA?

DID I MENTION THE ENTERTAINMENT? DUELING PIANOS.

I DON’T THINK I’LL BE ABLE TO EAT AGAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER.