I am going to confess this is not an original idea. I found it from a 63 year old veteran whose email I lost, so I can not give him his full credit by name. He said he was tired. And I agree. I am tired too.
I am tired of people whining about BP not getting them some money because they don't have the documentation. BP made a mess, and as far as I am concerned they are doing good to clean it up. They offered to replace lost income to the fishermen and other coastal workers. All the workers have to do is prove their 2009 income by showing their tax returns. Should not be a problem. The rub is that many of these folks work on a cash basis and don't report all the cash as income, so it is tax free income. I have absolutely zero compassion for people that cheat the tax system, then whine cause "BP won't gimme no money!" I am tired of the whining. Oh, and just a word of caution, I double dog guarantee you that BP is going to report the check they gave you to the IRS. You may want to go ahead and report that income.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Benjamin Franklin's Rules
1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Friday, July 2, 2010
July 4th at the lake
Our happy band of Tiki Travelers is on the road again. We like to spend the 4th of July at Smith Mountain Lake in Southwest Virginia. We have a good spot picked out to view the fireworks. Aunt Bri, Uncle Eddie, Sammie and Charlie will join us with Granddaddy and Grandmother for a week of quilting, swimming, boat riding, and fishing.
Grandmother has asked that we paint her ceilings while we are there, so we will squeeze that in too. I just hope she doesn't want us to start painting before 10 in the morning because it is a vacation.
Have a great holiday. Happy Birthday America!!!
Grandmother has asked that we paint her ceilings while we are there, so we will squeeze that in too. I just hope she doesn't want us to start painting before 10 in the morning because it is a vacation.
Have a great holiday. Happy Birthday America!!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
My Next Batch of Ribs
Before vacation I made a new rub for ribs. I tried it a few weeks ago. Here are the ingredients.
My dry rub consist of turbindeno sugar 1/2 cup(I know I misspelled that), cayenne pepper 1 TBs, chipotole pepper 1 TBs, salt 1/2 cup, black pepper 1/2 cup, dry mustard 3 TBs, and paprika 1/2 cup. I chopped it all in a spice grinder to blend.
The only prep I did to the ribs was to liberally add rub to both sides and rub it in. Then I put another coat on. I smoked them with a bullet type smoker with a propane heat source. I put cherry chips and hickory chunks above the fire. I had a pan of water inside the wood chip bowl and a pan of orange juice and apple juice under the ribs. The liquids help keep the heat down and the moisture up. After two hours in the smoke, I applied more rub and wrapped the ribs in aluminum foil. The trick is to get the foil to hold in the moisture at this point which converts the rub into a sauce. I didn't add any bottled sauce.
As I was cutting the ribs to serve and doing the proper taste testing, I thought there was too much cayenne spice. Later when eating the ribs, the additional meat helped cool down the spice. The next time I make a batch of rub, I am going to cut the 2 hot peppers back by 50% and change the paprika to smoked paprika.
My dry rub consist of turbindeno sugar 1/2 cup(I know I misspelled that), cayenne pepper 1 TBs, chipotole pepper 1 TBs, salt 1/2 cup, black pepper 1/2 cup, dry mustard 3 TBs, and paprika 1/2 cup. I chopped it all in a spice grinder to blend.
The only prep I did to the ribs was to liberally add rub to both sides and rub it in. Then I put another coat on. I smoked them with a bullet type smoker with a propane heat source. I put cherry chips and hickory chunks above the fire. I had a pan of water inside the wood chip bowl and a pan of orange juice and apple juice under the ribs. The liquids help keep the heat down and the moisture up. After two hours in the smoke, I applied more rub and wrapped the ribs in aluminum foil. The trick is to get the foil to hold in the moisture at this point which converts the rub into a sauce. I didn't add any bottled sauce.
As I was cutting the ribs to serve and doing the proper taste testing, I thought there was too much cayenne spice. Later when eating the ribs, the additional meat helped cool down the spice. The next time I make a batch of rub, I am going to cut the 2 hot peppers back by 50% and change the paprika to smoked paprika.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Marinating taken to a new level
They say you are what you eat. I think what you eat depends on what you feed it first. We've expanded the farm with chickens and now some pigs. I am going to put some smoked paprika on their feed to go ahead and get a start on those ribs. Yum.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Homecollege article by Voddie Baucham
This is a good article that shares many of the reasons we chose College Plus for Katie's advanced education.
(This article appeared originally as a blog on www.voddiebaucham.org)
Those who have followed my blog (or have heard me speak on the issue of education) know that I am an exponent of Christian education. I believe all education is religious in nature, education is inseparable from discipleship (Luke 6:40), and Christian parents, therefore, are called to give their children a Christian education. I am also convinced that these principles apply to every level of education whenever possible (I recognize that sometimes we need a course that is only offered in less-than-desirable places). Hence, I believe we must evaluate our plans and decisions regarding college education from a biblical perspective. In the past even avid Christian education advocates have often 'dropped the ball' when college rolled around.
I am also a homeschool dad who, like many home educators, had no idea how poorly educated I was until my wife and I began to teach our children at home. There is a saying among home educators: "Homeschooling is really the education of two generations at once." I envy my children their education. I have often said that my daughter, Jasmine, was better educated when she finished High School (at sixteen) than I was when I graduated from college. And yes, I mean that literally. It's not even close. As a result, we began to re-think the whole college idea.
My family and I have chosen College Plus as an affordable alternative to the University. College plus is a two-year program that offers a fully accredited BA for as little as 1/10 the cost of traditional college education. Moreover, it circumvents the college campus experience (though some degrees may require a course or two on a campus nearby, i.e., a science lab) I recommend College Plus highly to anyone fed up with the status quo. Jasmine (now eighteen) is currently enrolled, and we plan to start my son, Trey (now fifteen), next semester.
Here is a synopsis of a five-point "sermon" that my children have grown tired of hearing over the past few years (don't act like you've never preached the same sermon over and over to your kids). These five principles led us to choose College Plus over the traditional route:
1. Most BA Degrees Aren't Worth The Paper They Are Written On
What is a BA worth nowadays? Some estimate the value at nearly $1 million in earnings over a lifetime (compared to High School graduates).
"[O]ver an adult's working life, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million; and people with a master's degree, $2.5 million." (Source: "The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings")
Is this worth the cost? Are there other ways to earn that kind of money? In fact, there are. If you gave your eighteen year-old $10,000.00 (half the first year cost at the University of Texas), and encouraged them to save $500.00 per month, they could have a million dollars in the bank by age fifty-one (8% rate of return). That's not being a Millionaire; that's having a cool million in the bank in addition to your other assets!
Send your kid to Harvard, for example, and you spend $250,000.00 (or accumulate that much in debt) in order for them to gain an estimated $900,000.00 more than the average High School graduate over a lifetime. That's insane! Especially if they come home with a "non-degree" (i.e., Sociology, Education, or practically anything ending in 'Studies').
2. Four Years Is Too Much Time to Waste
The years between eighteen and twenty-two are critical years in the life of a young man or woman. Why should they spend those four years in the company of fools (both students and faculty in most cases)? Remember, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20) Therefore, we must "Look carefully then how [we] walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16) College, should you deem it necessary, should be completed as early and as quickly as possible, and with minimal exposure to 'fools'. Get in; get out; get on with real life. Campus life can be quite enjoyable. It is also a breeding ground for some of the most wasteful, unsavory aspects of young adulthood. Don't buy the lie that says four years at university is a necessary season to "sew wild oats."
3. $80,000 (room & board/State School) to &250,000 (room & board/Ivy League) is Too Much Money to Spend
Lets face it, unless a person leaves a university with a degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and the like, they are probably leaving with a 'non-degree' (a non-degree is something subjective, politically motivated, designed to fill quotas, or keep athletes in school, and requiring little or no academic rigor). The overwhelming majority of kids in college today are wasting time and money on foolishness. And their parents are spending tens, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars for the privilege. I talked to a family who sent their daughter to an Ivy League school to get a degree in 'Women's Studies'. What on earth is 'Women's Studies' anyway? A quarter of a million dollars for that? Talk about poor stewardship. Instead of paying for that degree, find the person who figured out how to get people to pay a quarter of a million dollars for it and ask them to teach you marketing, political manipulation, and salesmanship!
Besides all of that, have you talked to a recent college graduate lately? Not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. Don't take my word for it; listen to the Washington Post:
"Literacy experts and educators say they are stunned by the results of a recent adult literacy assessment, which shows that the reading proficiency of college graduates has declined in the past decade, with no obvious explanation."
"It's appalling -- it's really astounding," said Michael Gorman, president of the American Library Association and a librarian at California State University at Fresno. "Only 31 percent of college graduates can read a complex book and extrapolate from it. That's not saying much for the remainder."
What a monumental waste of time and money! Not only are people coming out of college with degrees they ought to be ashamed of; they can barely read to boot!
4. College is Not For Everyone
Listen to most people talk and you'd think that a college education is the birthright of every American, and that a degree was required for every job. However, that is simply not true. Not everyone is college material, nor should they be. There are very honorable trades that are disappearing before our eyes because no one seems to want to do them anymore. Moreover, instead of viewing college as a placed of advanced learning for people of advanced intellect, we have lowered entrance requirements, offered remedial courses, dumbed down the degrees, and rendered college virtually worthless:
"[O]f the 12 California state university colleges, 60% of students need remediation; a Florida study showed at least 70% of recent high school graduates need remedial courses when they enter community college - - in other words, they need to learn material they should have mastered in public high school - but did not - - costing an extra $59 million per year." (USA Today, November 24, 1997)
Meanwhile, there is a desperate shortage of technicians in many fields. My jeweler told me that Rolex was giving away the tools of the trade (valued at almost the cost of a college degree) to those willing to complete the training to work on their watches! This is just one example. There are dozens more. Lots of people do just fine without a college degree (see: the pool guy, the yard guy, the cabinet guy, the floor guy, etc.).
5. Most Universities Are Philosophically Antagonistic to Christianity
Here's a little scene I like to play out for my kids to illustrate the folly of many educational choice:
Mr. and Mrs. Christian, we here at 'Ivy League' University are philosophically opposed to virtually everything you stand for. We are among the most liberal, Darwinian, Secular Human, neo-Marxist, Feminist bunch on the planet. However, if you give us $250,000.00 we'll take your daughter off your hands for the next four years and make a man our of her. Between the money you've spent on her prep school, private tutors, and college education, she'll be put in a position where devoting herself to being a wife and mother would be a criminal act. Therefore, she'll put off marriage as long as possible, have no more than one.... maybe two kids, pay someone else to raise them -since she'll start off her career up to her eyeballs in debt-but don't you worry... She'll always be the most impressive person in the room when she mentions the fact that she was indoctrinated by us... So how will you be paying?
I believe in education. In fact, I think Christians should be more, not less educated than the general public. If we really believe what we say we do, then we should be stewards of the minds God has given us, and we should be leading the way like Augustine, Edwards, Copernicus, Galileo, Faraday and others who served God and their fellow man by honing, sharpening and engaging their intellects in lofty pursuits. However, It is not necessary to spend a quarter of a million dollars for a BA in order to get it done.
A BA is virtually worthless these days (with some notable exceptions). Many fields, realizing this collapse of value, now prefer (or require) advanced degrees. And once you have an advanced degree who cares where or how you got your BA? We've got to stop making the Pagans rich while they make us dumb. Take a look at College Plus. It may not be right for your family (there is no clean, easy, one-size-fits-all way out of this mess), but I hope it will at least give you another tool in the toolbox as you try to figure out the next step. And if you just happen to have a quarter of a million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, go plant a church. Or better yet, come with me to Zambia next time and we'll plant a hundred churches, or fund the education of a hundred pastors. In fact, we could probably do both.
VB
(This article appeared originally as a blog on www.voddiebaucham.org)
Those who have followed my blog (or have heard me speak on the issue of education) know that I am an exponent of Christian education. I believe all education is religious in nature, education is inseparable from discipleship (Luke 6:40), and Christian parents, therefore, are called to give their children a Christian education. I am also convinced that these principles apply to every level of education whenever possible (I recognize that sometimes we need a course that is only offered in less-than-desirable places). Hence, I believe we must evaluate our plans and decisions regarding college education from a biblical perspective. In the past even avid Christian education advocates have often 'dropped the ball' when college rolled around.
I am also a homeschool dad who, like many home educators, had no idea how poorly educated I was until my wife and I began to teach our children at home. There is a saying among home educators: "Homeschooling is really the education of two generations at once." I envy my children their education. I have often said that my daughter, Jasmine, was better educated when she finished High School (at sixteen) than I was when I graduated from college. And yes, I mean that literally. It's not even close. As a result, we began to re-think the whole college idea.
My family and I have chosen College Plus as an affordable alternative to the University. College plus is a two-year program that offers a fully accredited BA for as little as 1/10 the cost of traditional college education. Moreover, it circumvents the college campus experience (though some degrees may require a course or two on a campus nearby, i.e., a science lab) I recommend College Plus highly to anyone fed up with the status quo. Jasmine (now eighteen) is currently enrolled, and we plan to start my son, Trey (now fifteen), next semester.
Here is a synopsis of a five-point "sermon" that my children have grown tired of hearing over the past few years (don't act like you've never preached the same sermon over and over to your kids). These five principles led us to choose College Plus over the traditional route:
1. Most BA Degrees Aren't Worth The Paper They Are Written On
What is a BA worth nowadays? Some estimate the value at nearly $1 million in earnings over a lifetime (compared to High School graduates).
"[O]ver an adult's working life, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million; and people with a master's degree, $2.5 million." (Source: "The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings")
Is this worth the cost? Are there other ways to earn that kind of money? In fact, there are. If you gave your eighteen year-old $10,000.00 (half the first year cost at the University of Texas), and encouraged them to save $500.00 per month, they could have a million dollars in the bank by age fifty-one (8% rate of return). That's not being a Millionaire; that's having a cool million in the bank in addition to your other assets!
Send your kid to Harvard, for example, and you spend $250,000.00 (or accumulate that much in debt) in order for them to gain an estimated $900,000.00 more than the average High School graduate over a lifetime. That's insane! Especially if they come home with a "non-degree" (i.e., Sociology, Education, or practically anything ending in 'Studies').
2. Four Years Is Too Much Time to Waste
The years between eighteen and twenty-two are critical years in the life of a young man or woman. Why should they spend those four years in the company of fools (both students and faculty in most cases)? Remember, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20) Therefore, we must "Look carefully then how [we] walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16) College, should you deem it necessary, should be completed as early and as quickly as possible, and with minimal exposure to 'fools'. Get in; get out; get on with real life. Campus life can be quite enjoyable. It is also a breeding ground for some of the most wasteful, unsavory aspects of young adulthood. Don't buy the lie that says four years at university is a necessary season to "sew wild oats."
3. $80,000 (room & board/State School) to &250,000 (room & board/Ivy League) is Too Much Money to Spend
Lets face it, unless a person leaves a university with a degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and the like, they are probably leaving with a 'non-degree' (a non-degree is something subjective, politically motivated, designed to fill quotas, or keep athletes in school, and requiring little or no academic rigor). The overwhelming majority of kids in college today are wasting time and money on foolishness. And their parents are spending tens, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars for the privilege. I talked to a family who sent their daughter to an Ivy League school to get a degree in 'Women's Studies'. What on earth is 'Women's Studies' anyway? A quarter of a million dollars for that? Talk about poor stewardship. Instead of paying for that degree, find the person who figured out how to get people to pay a quarter of a million dollars for it and ask them to teach you marketing, political manipulation, and salesmanship!
Besides all of that, have you talked to a recent college graduate lately? Not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. Don't take my word for it; listen to the Washington Post:
"Literacy experts and educators say they are stunned by the results of a recent adult literacy assessment, which shows that the reading proficiency of college graduates has declined in the past decade, with no obvious explanation."
"It's appalling -- it's really astounding," said Michael Gorman, president of the American Library Association and a librarian at California State University at Fresno. "Only 31 percent of college graduates can read a complex book and extrapolate from it. That's not saying much for the remainder."
What a monumental waste of time and money! Not only are people coming out of college with degrees they ought to be ashamed of; they can barely read to boot!
4. College is Not For Everyone
Listen to most people talk and you'd think that a college education is the birthright of every American, and that a degree was required for every job. However, that is simply not true. Not everyone is college material, nor should they be. There are very honorable trades that are disappearing before our eyes because no one seems to want to do them anymore. Moreover, instead of viewing college as a placed of advanced learning for people of advanced intellect, we have lowered entrance requirements, offered remedial courses, dumbed down the degrees, and rendered college virtually worthless:
"[O]f the 12 California state university colleges, 60% of students need remediation; a Florida study showed at least 70% of recent high school graduates need remedial courses when they enter community college - - in other words, they need to learn material they should have mastered in public high school - but did not - - costing an extra $59 million per year." (USA Today, November 24, 1997)
Meanwhile, there is a desperate shortage of technicians in many fields. My jeweler told me that Rolex was giving away the tools of the trade (valued at almost the cost of a college degree) to those willing to complete the training to work on their watches! This is just one example. There are dozens more. Lots of people do just fine without a college degree (see: the pool guy, the yard guy, the cabinet guy, the floor guy, etc.).
5. Most Universities Are Philosophically Antagonistic to Christianity
Here's a little scene I like to play out for my kids to illustrate the folly of many educational choice:
Mr. and Mrs. Christian, we here at 'Ivy League' University are philosophically opposed to virtually everything you stand for. We are among the most liberal, Darwinian, Secular Human, neo-Marxist, Feminist bunch on the planet. However, if you give us $250,000.00 we'll take your daughter off your hands for the next four years and make a man our of her. Between the money you've spent on her prep school, private tutors, and college education, she'll be put in a position where devoting herself to being a wife and mother would be a criminal act. Therefore, she'll put off marriage as long as possible, have no more than one.... maybe two kids, pay someone else to raise them -since she'll start off her career up to her eyeballs in debt-but don't you worry... She'll always be the most impressive person in the room when she mentions the fact that she was indoctrinated by us... So how will you be paying?
I believe in education. In fact, I think Christians should be more, not less educated than the general public. If we really believe what we say we do, then we should be stewards of the minds God has given us, and we should be leading the way like Augustine, Edwards, Copernicus, Galileo, Faraday and others who served God and their fellow man by honing, sharpening and engaging their intellects in lofty pursuits. However, It is not necessary to spend a quarter of a million dollars for a BA in order to get it done.
A BA is virtually worthless these days (with some notable exceptions). Many fields, realizing this collapse of value, now prefer (or require) advanced degrees. And once you have an advanced degree who cares where or how you got your BA? We've got to stop making the Pagans rich while they make us dumb. Take a look at College Plus. It may not be right for your family (there is no clean, easy, one-size-fits-all way out of this mess), but I hope it will at least give you another tool in the toolbox as you try to figure out the next step. And if you just happen to have a quarter of a million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, go plant a church. Or better yet, come with me to Zambia next time and we'll plant a hundred churches, or fund the education of a hundred pastors. In fact, we could probably do both.
VB
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Where has my vacation gone
It is wrap it up time on the Jackson Tiki Travelers vacation. Does anyone know what Boudin is? and why they sell it with Cracklins in LA? My thought for the day.
My good friend Sharon asked me what was the best thing you did on your vacation. I've had many miles to ponder this question. We've added 13 bumper stickers to the back of the RV from places like the Alamo, Meteor Crater, Grand Canyon, Arches, Wupatki, Mesa Verde, Tobasco, etc... but none of the places we went were as meaningful to me as the journey to get there with my wife and kids.
We are on day 16 spending our lifes in a 31 x 8 foot box on wheels. We have stayed in 14 KOA camps in 7 states and traveled about 4500 miles. I am going to look on this adventure as one of the highlights of my life because I was able to share all of those miles, even the ones where she was gripping her pillow and not trying to look outside, with Donna at my side and Katie, Amy, and Will behind us all the way. The two bad sections of road were in Mesa Verde National Park and the old route 66 to Outman Az., a supposed ghost town that looked a lot like the Disney back lot.
The togetherness, laughter, game playing, grilling, joke telling, and an occasional visit from Dr. Graham kept us having fun, not growing weary of each other, and solidified our family. We had some disappointments like the restaurant we went to in San Antonio where they assulted us and were obnoxious, rude, and filthy, and the 4 corners was closed for repair. Still don't know how you can close a geographical location??? But all of that will be overshadowed by the fun times painting cadillacs, hiking to pueblos, shopping at vision forum, being touristy, eating ice cream for dinner, watching the fountains at the Billogio dance to the steak song.
I will end this by remembering a good friend. Steve worked with me for several years. He went out to Denver 2 years ago to watch his grandson play football. That night after the game, he had a heart attack in his sleep. We have to live our life as much as we can in the time God gives us. Steve was a great guy. I don't know if he got to do all the things he wanted to get done or not. Donna and I know for sure that you never know when your opportunities will end, so why not go and do them now. We bought our RV after Steve passed with just this kind of trip in mind.
The destinations may have been once in a lifetime, but the journey just keeps on going
My good friend Sharon asked me what was the best thing you did on your vacation. I've had many miles to ponder this question. We've added 13 bumper stickers to the back of the RV from places like the Alamo, Meteor Crater, Grand Canyon, Arches, Wupatki, Mesa Verde, Tobasco, etc... but none of the places we went were as meaningful to me as the journey to get there with my wife and kids.
We are on day 16 spending our lifes in a 31 x 8 foot box on wheels. We have stayed in 14 KOA camps in 7 states and traveled about 4500 miles. I am going to look on this adventure as one of the highlights of my life because I was able to share all of those miles, even the ones where she was gripping her pillow and not trying to look outside, with Donna at my side and Katie, Amy, and Will behind us all the way. The two bad sections of road were in Mesa Verde National Park and the old route 66 to Outman Az., a supposed ghost town that looked a lot like the Disney back lot.
The togetherness, laughter, game playing, grilling, joke telling, and an occasional visit from Dr. Graham kept us having fun, not growing weary of each other, and solidified our family. We had some disappointments like the restaurant we went to in San Antonio where they assulted us and were obnoxious, rude, and filthy, and the 4 corners was closed for repair. Still don't know how you can close a geographical location??? But all of that will be overshadowed by the fun times painting cadillacs, hiking to pueblos, shopping at vision forum, being touristy, eating ice cream for dinner, watching the fountains at the Billogio dance to the steak song.
I will end this by remembering a good friend. Steve worked with me for several years. He went out to Denver 2 years ago to watch his grandson play football. That night after the game, he had a heart attack in his sleep. We have to live our life as much as we can in the time God gives us. Steve was a great guy. I don't know if he got to do all the things he wanted to get done or not. Donna and I know for sure that you never know when your opportunities will end, so why not go and do them now. We bought our RV after Steve passed with just this kind of trip in mind.
The destinations may have been once in a lifetime, but the journey just keeps on going
Friday, April 30, 2010
I Don't Care for Heights
Don't take me wrong, I love the views of the majestic Grand Canyon. However, I do have a healthy respect for gravity. It has always worked in my experience. We made it to the rim of the Grand Canyon. The wind was gusting, it was cold, we were underdressed (not prepared for snow.) It was 85 in Mississippi. We didn't know it was still snowing in the dessert!
Standing on the rim, having to lean to walk in the wind, taking pictures, all I could think of is 1) I am a big man, 2) this is a lot of wind, 3) that is a long way down, and 4) the lowest bidder installed this guardrail. Took the fun right out of it for me. I headed for the watch tower and took pictures in there. Out of the wind and back from the rim.
I messed up yesterday and took OLD 66 to a ghost town called Oatman. It was a 2 lane switch back over the mountains that has not been maintained. It was really a 1-1/2 lane road with no guard rails. The scenery was great, but this will be another once in a life time routes. Not going that way again.
We spent the night in California to be able to put another sticker on our map on the side of the RV. Our next destination is Vegas, the real one this time. Amy has already chosen the chocolate tour she wants to go on. We are camping at Circus Circus tonight. Gonna leave here just as soon as Will gets the sewer unhooked.
Standing on the rim, having to lean to walk in the wind, taking pictures, all I could think of is 1) I am a big man, 2) this is a lot of wind, 3) that is a long way down, and 4) the lowest bidder installed this guardrail. Took the fun right out of it for me. I headed for the watch tower and took pictures in there. Out of the wind and back from the rim.
I messed up yesterday and took OLD 66 to a ghost town called Oatman. It was a 2 lane switch back over the mountains that has not been maintained. It was really a 1-1/2 lane road with no guard rails. The scenery was great, but this will be another once in a life time routes. Not going that way again.
We spent the night in California to be able to put another sticker on our map on the side of the RV. Our next destination is Vegas, the real one this time. Amy has already chosen the chocolate tour she wants to go on. We are camping at Circus Circus tonight. Gonna leave here just as soon as Will gets the sewer unhooked.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Painted Desert Day
God sure does know how to paint. The painted desert and the petrified forest were well worth the day we spent riding and walking around. We hiked around the rim of the first batch of desert with the most color. We also hiked thru the crystal forest and took bunches of pictures of petrified logs.
Our destination tonight is Holman AZ at KOA. We are really liking the KOA kampgrounds. They are clean, well run, and affordable. Tomorrow is the Grand Canyon. We tried to make reservations, but Buddy the RV is too large for their campground so we are going to chance it and find something somewhere tomorrow night.
This is our third night in a row to stay on Route 66 which is kind of neat. It was too windy tonight for the planned hamburger cookout, so my lovely wife came to the rescue and grilled them on the pancake griddle. In the words of the Red Robbin commercial, "Yumm".
The kids are working on their memory travel scrap books putting the brochures and post cards along with highlites of the trip. Buddy is sporting some new bumper stickers as well as two more States filled in on his travel map.
Our destination tonight is Holman AZ at KOA. We are really liking the KOA kampgrounds. They are clean, well run, and affordable. Tomorrow is the Grand Canyon. We tried to make reservations, but Buddy the RV is too large for their campground so we are going to chance it and find something somewhere tomorrow night.
This is our third night in a row to stay on Route 66 which is kind of neat. It was too windy tonight for the planned hamburger cookout, so my lovely wife came to the rescue and grilled them on the pancake griddle. In the words of the Red Robbin commercial, "Yumm".
The kids are working on their memory travel scrap books putting the brochures and post cards along with highlites of the trip. Buddy is sporting some new bumper stickers as well as two more States filled in on his travel map.
Left Turn at Albuquerque
Our adventure continues! We spent Sunday night near Santa Fe. We tried to see the Pecos Indian ruins, but got there too late in the day. On Monday we walked around downtown Santa Fe and did not buy a single piece of turquoise or sand art. We weren't sure what all was there, but we spent an hour looking.
I was running out of gas. We drove from Amarillo to Santa Fe. All the back roads, when we did see a functioning gas station, it was at 3.oo per gallon. That logic made me look favorably on the 2.76 I paid in Santa Fe.
We stopped by the Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque for an educational experience. We learned about Volcanos in New Mexico. The early natives carved graffitti onto the rocks and the National Park Service put some trails together so you could go look at them. They get right upset if you try to add to them. Which is a bit short sighted if you ask me. If they had let Picaso do one, then they would have something.
We stayed Monday night in Gallup. We are on Highway 66 again. I was really tired tonight and went to sleep before game time. This park is located behind a La Quinta Hotel (which is spanish for "behind Denny's") The park and hotel are owned together, so the kids got to go swimming in the indoor pool. It was still too cold for any average human, but Amy states "The pool was nice feeling". Donna and I planned our next day while they played.
We have a short driving day today. We are riding the painted desert and the petrified forest and staying there tonight. I've got to stop blogging now. Katie and Amy are cooking pancakes for breakfast, and they smell really good.
I was running out of gas. We drove from Amarillo to Santa Fe. All the back roads, when we did see a functioning gas station, it was at 3.oo per gallon. That logic made me look favorably on the 2.76 I paid in Santa Fe.
We stopped by the Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque for an educational experience. We learned about Volcanos in New Mexico. The early natives carved graffitti onto the rocks and the National Park Service put some trails together so you could go look at them. They get right upset if you try to add to them. Which is a bit short sighted if you ask me. If they had let Picaso do one, then they would have something.
We stayed Monday night in Gallup. We are on Highway 66 again. I was really tired tonight and went to sleep before game time. This park is located behind a La Quinta Hotel (which is spanish for "behind Denny's") The park and hotel are owned together, so the kids got to go swimming in the indoor pool. It was still too cold for any average human, but Amy states "The pool was nice feeling". Donna and I planned our next day while they played.
We have a short driving day today. We are riding the painted desert and the petrified forest and staying there tonight. I've got to stop blogging now. Katie and Amy are cooking pancakes for breakfast, and they smell really good.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Bunch of Driving Done
We made it to Santa Fe at a Koa Kampground. I took a side tour thru Las Vegas. But as you know I can't tell you anything about it except we did shoot the loop at the Plaza. Everything else stays in Vegas.
We started the day in Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. We spent the night at a campground at the bottom of the canyon. Saw some wildlife, a huge turkey with his spread on for his chick. He chased her a bit, then she started chasing him back.
We made our way from there to Route 66. We ate some ugly crust pie at the Midway Cafe and got some souviners. Antoher bucket list item taken care of. After lunch we took off thru the middle of nowhere. I've been to Carroll County Mississippi. I thought I had seen vast expanse of nothingness. Not so! From Amarillo we took a back road to Las Vegas. We passed a total of 6 other cars in 114 miles. I told Donna I could go outside and take a shower and nobody would care about it but her.
The views were amazing. We could see for miles in any direction and not see another human. We climbed the base of the Rockies. It is call the Canadian Escarpment, 6300 feet above sea level. When we got to the top we could see the snow capped peaks of Taos in the distance. It was really a beautiful trip. Also once in a life time, cause I aint never going that way again.
Amarillo by Morning
So much to blog about. Where do we start?
Bucket List Items
John F. Kennedy assassination Site – I got my picture taken on the grassy knoll.
And as a bonus, Donna took my picture standing on the x in the middle of the street. Upon learning this, Granny told me to quit playing in the street which is a change for her.
Cowboy Stadium – Donna wanted to see the stadium. Unfortunately it was imploded and in a pile of debris, but Hey, she wanted to see it, she got to see it.
Texas Motor Speedway – Got pictures of race cares in a pond out front.
Oil Well – Saw one, not too close though.
Texas Long Horns – Donna rode all most all the way across Texas before she saw some long horns. We saw buffalo, camels, and llamas before we saw a long horn.
Isn’t it interesting that almost every time you talk about driving across Texas, you hear “Dang it is a long way across Texas.” We made it to Dallas last night, went to Daly Plaza and got on the road to Amarillo. We found Palo Duro State Park, the second biggest canyon in the country. We are camping in the bottom of it. I am waiting now on the sun to go down so I can get some sunset pictures on the canyon walls (maybe).
Our gas mileage went way down. There were 40 to 50 mph headwinds most of the way today. The driving was tough. I am worn out. The rain kept us up last night. The wind tossed us about all day. I am going to sleep in a rocking rv tonight.
And finally, in order to beat the others to it. I learned today how close you can pull the rv up to the payment shack. Not That Close! Buddy the RV has a boo boo on his front. I put a big ouch sticker on it along with some 200 mile per hour duct tape. “The boys back at the shop worked real hard this week to give us a good chance with the Numer 17 Dutchman Ford. Daryl got underneath us and took some of the air off the rear. Got us wicked loose. I took the corner a bit too tight and had my mind on getting out my wallet and smashed her up against the wall. Messed up our aerodynamics for a bit till Bubba got some of that 200 mph tape and a sledge hammer and fixed her right up. We’re gonna take her back to the shop this week, tweak the motor and get her ready for Daytona.”
Bucket List Items
John F. Kennedy assassination Site – I got my picture taken on the grassy knoll.
And as a bonus, Donna took my picture standing on the x in the middle of the street. Upon learning this, Granny told me to quit playing in the street which is a change for her.
Cowboy Stadium – Donna wanted to see the stadium. Unfortunately it was imploded and in a pile of debris, but Hey, she wanted to see it, she got to see it.
Texas Motor Speedway – Got pictures of race cares in a pond out front.
Oil Well – Saw one, not too close though.
Texas Long Horns – Donna rode all most all the way across Texas before she saw some long horns. We saw buffalo, camels, and llamas before we saw a long horn.
Isn’t it interesting that almost every time you talk about driving across Texas, you hear “Dang it is a long way across Texas.” We made it to Dallas last night, went to Daly Plaza and got on the road to Amarillo. We found Palo Duro State Park, the second biggest canyon in the country. We are camping in the bottom of it. I am waiting now on the sun to go down so I can get some sunset pictures on the canyon walls (maybe).
Our gas mileage went way down. There were 40 to 50 mph headwinds most of the way today. The driving was tough. I am worn out. The rain kept us up last night. The wind tossed us about all day. I am going to sleep in a rocking rv tonight.
And finally, in order to beat the others to it. I learned today how close you can pull the rv up to the payment shack. Not That Close! Buddy the RV has a boo boo on his front. I put a big ouch sticker on it along with some 200 mile per hour duct tape. “The boys back at the shop worked real hard this week to give us a good chance with the Numer 17 Dutchman Ford. Daryl got underneath us and took some of the air off the rear. Got us wicked loose. I took the corner a bit too tight and had my mind on getting out my wallet and smashed her up against the wall. Messed up our aerodynamics for a bit till Bubba got some of that 200 mph tape and a sledge hammer and fixed her right up. We’re gonna take her back to the shop this week, tweak the motor and get her ready for Daytona.”
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wow! That was a storm
We got parked in time for the big one. It hit about 1:00. The RV was rockin and I was up and praying that we would be ok. I was considering the best place to go if the tornado sirens went off. Thank the Lord, we didn't have to find out.
It looks like more bad weather for Memphis and Atlanta today. Maybe Jackson will be spared this second round.
We are up early with the birds and looking for some worms. Our goals today are some sight seeing in Dallas and heading for Amarillo.
It looks like more bad weather for Memphis and Atlanta today. Maybe Jackson will be spared this second round.
We are up early with the birds and looking for some worms. Our goals today are some sight seeing in Dallas and heading for Amarillo.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Day before the Day we were suppose to leave
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! He answered our prayers for safety thru the storms and amazing gas mileage.
Reports of bad weather in Jackson got us on the road early. We left before the storms hit and dodged them all the way (almost) to Dallas. We are on the outskirts of Dallas hunkered down for the night. We had a 5 minute hail storm while we were gassing up in Brandon on the way out of town and no more bad weather or wind.
I put a budget together for the trip for fuel and for stuff. I figured 6 miles to the gallon for the gas. Our first leg we got a whopping 9.36 mpg. Sounds bad, but when you budget for 6, it is all good.
I am coming up with algebra problems for the kids as we travel. One to help figure out the mileage and stuff, and the other to keep them sharp on math.
We did not see anything or do anything today, just rode. We are about 20% of the way there. Tomorrow I am going knoll hunting with my camera!
Reports of bad weather in Jackson got us on the road early. We left before the storms hit and dodged them all the way (almost) to Dallas. We are on the outskirts of Dallas hunkered down for the night. We had a 5 minute hail storm while we were gassing up in Brandon on the way out of town and no more bad weather or wind.
I put a budget together for the trip for fuel and for stuff. I figured 6 miles to the gallon for the gas. Our first leg we got a whopping 9.36 mpg. Sounds bad, but when you budget for 6, it is all good.
I am coming up with algebra problems for the kids as we travel. One to help figure out the mileage and stuff, and the other to keep them sharp on math.
We did not see anything or do anything today, just rode. We are about 20% of the way there. Tomorrow I am going knoll hunting with my camera!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Grand Canyon or Bust!
Tiki Travelers is gearing up for the "Grisswald Family Vacation." Starting this Saturday we are climbing in Buddy the RV and heading out west. The ultimate destination is the Grand Canyon. But we are going to see as many other parks, sites, tourist traps, great restaurants, etc. that we can before we return.
We scheduled a whopping 2 weeks for this adventure. We are going to be working on some of our "bucket list" items. Donna's never seen the GC. I've never seen Vegas. I have never ordered a 72oz steak and tried to eat it in one hour. We've never ridden in a helicopter or on a mule. Don't know if we will get the last one or not.
For trip preparation we went on AAA website and planned the route, picking out the various places to see on the way out. We worked on Buddy the RV last weekend getting all the little fix-it things taken care of. We caulked the shower, tried out the water heater, added a bunch of hooks and hangers to take advantage of unused space, and made several minor repairs. Amy and Will worked on dirty spots in the carpet and got Buddy all spic and span. (whatever that means)
Our first destination is Dallas and the Texas Book Depository. I am going to get my picture taken on the grassy knoll. (Why is this called a knoll, why not a hill or spot or exit ramp??? we don't call anything else a knoll that I am aware of ~ just something to ponder).
We scheduled a whopping 2 weeks for this adventure. We are going to be working on some of our "bucket list" items. Donna's never seen the GC. I've never seen Vegas. I have never ordered a 72oz steak and tried to eat it in one hour. We've never ridden in a helicopter or on a mule. Don't know if we will get the last one or not.
For trip preparation we went on AAA website and planned the route, picking out the various places to see on the way out. We worked on Buddy the RV last weekend getting all the little fix-it things taken care of. We caulked the shower, tried out the water heater, added a bunch of hooks and hangers to take advantage of unused space, and made several minor repairs. Amy and Will worked on dirty spots in the carpet and got Buddy all spic and span. (whatever that means)
Our first destination is Dallas and the Texas Book Depository. I am going to get my picture taken on the grassy knoll. (Why is this called a knoll, why not a hill or spot or exit ramp??? we don't call anything else a knoll that I am aware of ~ just something to ponder).
Friday, April 9, 2010
NEW CAR (TRUCK) FEVER!
I admit it. I have it. I have a case of new truck fever. Ever since Andy drove off in MY truck, I've NEEDED to get a new one. Not just any old new one. I want a Ford F-150 King Ranch Crew Cab. If you are going to pray for a new vehicle, it aught to be a good one. (That could go on a T-shirt.)
So what to do? How am I going to get over this new truck fever? Thankfully I have the self control not to raid the kids college fund or our retirement fund to go get one. I haven't had a car note since I finished paying for the truck Andy stole from (got) me. I don't want to borrow money, and I don't have enough laying around. I did check under the sofa, no luck there.
I came across a cure. At least it seems to be working for me. I found this on livecheap.com. They recommend making a list of everything that is currently wrong with your car. Stuff that you have been living with cause it was worrysome, but not enough of a burden to fix. Make that list, and start spending on ALL of those repairs. Fix every single thing you can think of that is wrong.
I have two cars to deal with. One is my Harley (convertible). The other is my truck (small SUV). On the car my list includes: brake job; trunk lift supports; new radio with jack for ipod; new ipod; fix the window control; fog light busted; heater is not working; dead battery cell; very dirty finish; windshield wipers.
I put a new battery in it last week. Allen washed it this week. I am buying trunk lift supports on the way home from work today.
When you think about it, we really do some goofy stuff in order to get buy instead of going ahead and fixing stuff that is broken. I have been driving around for 2 years with a large paint stick in my trunk to hold open the trunk lid instead of going to autozone and buying the part that I need to fix it.
When I get done with the car, I am going to start on the SUV. It has major repairs like a new A/C and electrical issues with the transmission and seat controls. But that is another list for later.
I can honestly say that this cure is working. I am over my truck fever. I have good goals to study on car repairs. I am still fervently praying for my King Ranch F-150. And tonight I will have a used paint stirring stick to put on ebay.
So what to do? How am I going to get over this new truck fever? Thankfully I have the self control not to raid the kids college fund or our retirement fund to go get one. I haven't had a car note since I finished paying for the truck Andy stole from (got) me. I don't want to borrow money, and I don't have enough laying around. I did check under the sofa, no luck there.
I came across a cure. At least it seems to be working for me. I found this on livecheap.com. They recommend making a list of everything that is currently wrong with your car. Stuff that you have been living with cause it was worrysome, but not enough of a burden to fix. Make that list, and start spending on ALL of those repairs. Fix every single thing you can think of that is wrong.
I have two cars to deal with. One is my Harley (convertible). The other is my truck (small SUV). On the car my list includes: brake job; trunk lift supports; new radio with jack for ipod; new ipod; fix the window control; fog light busted; heater is not working; dead battery cell; very dirty finish; windshield wipers.
I put a new battery in it last week. Allen washed it this week. I am buying trunk lift supports on the way home from work today.
When you think about it, we really do some goofy stuff in order to get buy instead of going ahead and fixing stuff that is broken. I have been driving around for 2 years with a large paint stick in my trunk to hold open the trunk lid instead of going to autozone and buying the part that I need to fix it.
When I get done with the car, I am going to start on the SUV. It has major repairs like a new A/C and electrical issues with the transmission and seat controls. But that is another list for later.
I can honestly say that this cure is working. I am over my truck fever. I have good goals to study on car repairs. I am still fervently praying for my King Ranch F-150. And tonight I will have a used paint stirring stick to put on ebay.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Dip Makin and Dry Rub Creation
We found some new spices this week at Rainbow Grocery. Rainbow is where all the hip people in Jackson go to get their groceries, incense, and tofu burgers. They let the rest of us shop there too.
I found some organic adobo spice. I thought it was going to be like the adobo sauce that the chipotole peppers are stored in. Turns out it is pepper, salt, oregano, garlic, onion, and turmeric. I have to be honest, I used it as the only spice this weekend on our steaks. It wasn't right. The steaks were just ok. They needed salt. So, my views on adobo seasoning is, "Ah, it's ok, just remember to use some salt too."
I found roasted garlic granules. These are wonderful. All the flavor of roasted garlic, and none of the work or squishy finger mess. These puppies are very powerful. I mixed them one to one with my other find, chipotole powder to make a spice for chip dip.
The dip was 1 cup of sour cream with 1 tea spoon of garlic granules and 1 tea spoon of chipotole powder. It was way to garlic. I added 1/2 a tea spoon of Cayenne pepper and balanced it out. This dip was good. It grabs the back of your throat on the way down with that good pepper feeling.
My dry rub consist of turbindeno sugar 1/2 cup(I know I misspelled that), cayenne pepper 1 TBs, chipotole pepper 1 TBs, salt 1/2 cup, black pepper 1/2 cup, dry mustard 3 TBs, and paprika 1/2 cup. I chopped it all in a spice grinder to blend. Going to try it on the next batch of ribs.
I found some organic adobo spice. I thought it was going to be like the adobo sauce that the chipotole peppers are stored in. Turns out it is pepper, salt, oregano, garlic, onion, and turmeric. I have to be honest, I used it as the only spice this weekend on our steaks. It wasn't right. The steaks were just ok. They needed salt. So, my views on adobo seasoning is, "Ah, it's ok, just remember to use some salt too."
I found roasted garlic granules. These are wonderful. All the flavor of roasted garlic, and none of the work or squishy finger mess. These puppies are very powerful. I mixed them one to one with my other find, chipotole powder to make a spice for chip dip.
The dip was 1 cup of sour cream with 1 tea spoon of garlic granules and 1 tea spoon of chipotole powder. It was way to garlic. I added 1/2 a tea spoon of Cayenne pepper and balanced it out. This dip was good. It grabs the back of your throat on the way down with that good pepper feeling.
My dry rub consist of turbindeno sugar 1/2 cup(I know I misspelled that), cayenne pepper 1 TBs, chipotole pepper 1 TBs, salt 1/2 cup, black pepper 1/2 cup, dry mustard 3 TBs, and paprika 1/2 cup. I chopped it all in a spice grinder to blend. Going to try it on the next batch of ribs.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Snow Update
Yes, I believe it now. Most snow in Mississippi in February since 1960. We had 5 inches on the patio table.
The funny thing that happened today was when Mack went outside to take care of business, he stole the nose off the kids snowman and ate it.
"Funny, that guys nose tasted like a carrot!"
The funny thing that happened today was when Mack went outside to take care of business, he stole the nose off the kids snowman and ate it.
"Funny, that guys nose tasted like a carrot!"
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Grilling in the snow
Yes, it is one of those wonderful times of the decade when Mississippi gets a real snowfall. It was suppose to be here by 5:00 p.m. and it hasn't started yet 6 hours later. So when we wake up, we should have a white cover of 5 to 8 inches of snow.
I've been in Mississippi 19 years. I'll believe it when I see it.
That sets the stage for my blog. My lovely best friend chimed in when I got home that we needed to grill pork chops tonight. I reminded her that it was cold outside, suppose to snow, etc.. She grinned, and said, we need to grill pork chops tonight. They are already thawed and we need to grill them. Grin Grin.
So it wasn't snowing just yet, I made my way out to the new grill, uncovered it and cranked her up. 15 minutes later we were sitting down to some of the best pork chops ever. Yes, it was that quick. I put some mesquite grill rub on them and put them on a 600 degree grill. Flipped them at 5 minutes and waited for the finish. Then took them off close to 10 minutes.
Here is the trick. Eddie and Sabrina gave us "the coolest gift ever" for Christmas this year. It is a temperature probe with a timer and a remote beeper. When the meat gets to the temperature you want it at in the middle, the unit goes off and makes the remote go off in your pocket if you happen to be inside washing dishes or refilling your favorite adult beverage. So no more burned dried out meat from the grill because you were up to your elbows in Joy suds.
While it is true that I "technically" didn't grill in the snow today, my lovely best friend informed me that we have a shoulder thawing in the fridge, and it has a date with destiny on Saturday ~ in the snow!
I've been in Mississippi 19 years. I'll believe it when I see it.
That sets the stage for my blog. My lovely best friend chimed in when I got home that we needed to grill pork chops tonight. I reminded her that it was cold outside, suppose to snow, etc.. She grinned, and said, we need to grill pork chops tonight. They are already thawed and we need to grill them. Grin Grin.
So it wasn't snowing just yet, I made my way out to the new grill, uncovered it and cranked her up. 15 minutes later we were sitting down to some of the best pork chops ever. Yes, it was that quick. I put some mesquite grill rub on them and put them on a 600 degree grill. Flipped them at 5 minutes and waited for the finish. Then took them off close to 10 minutes.
Here is the trick. Eddie and Sabrina gave us "the coolest gift ever" for Christmas this year. It is a temperature probe with a timer and a remote beeper. When the meat gets to the temperature you want it at in the middle, the unit goes off and makes the remote go off in your pocket if you happen to be inside washing dishes or refilling your favorite adult beverage. So no more burned dried out meat from the grill because you were up to your elbows in Joy suds.
While it is true that I "technically" didn't grill in the snow today, my lovely best friend informed me that we have a shoulder thawing in the fridge, and it has a date with destiny on Saturday ~ in the snow!
Monday, February 1, 2010
BBQ Chicken Speghetti
On the first night in Honduras we fixed speghetti. And as always, we fixed too much. We had a fridge this year and we were able to save two gallons of the mix. It was routine speghetti using Ragu and browned ground beef along with noodles.
As a side note, we fixed 7.5 lbs of meat with 2 large cans and 3 small cans of sause and 6 pounds of dry noodles to feed 50 people. With that, we had two gallons left over.
Back to the story.
Someone suggested we make BBQ Chicken Speghetti. We said, "great idea". Not knowing how to do it, we just winged it. (pun intended). We purchased two chickens that had been roasted and pulled the meat off of them. And for those that know me, yes I did pull the meat off of the birds, amazing! We cut the big chunks of breast meat into bite sizes and mixed the chicken meat in with the speghetti along with a bottle and a half of BBQ sause. We used a local Honduran BBQ sause that was a vinegar based sause like you would find in North Carolina. We stirred it all up and put it in the oven to warm.
As a side note, we fixed 7.5 lbs of meat with 2 large cans and 3 small cans of sause and 6 pounds of dry noodles to feed 50 people. With that, we had two gallons left over.
Back to the story.
Someone suggested we make BBQ Chicken Speghetti. We said, "great idea". Not knowing how to do it, we just winged it. (pun intended). We purchased two chickens that had been roasted and pulled the meat off of them. And for those that know me, yes I did pull the meat off of the birds, amazing! We cut the big chunks of breast meat into bite sizes and mixed the chicken meat in with the speghetti along with a bottle and a half of BBQ sause. We used a local Honduran BBQ sause that was a vinegar based sause like you would find in North Carolina. We stirred it all up and put it in the oven to warm.
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