Archive for January, 2011
Well the playoffs are in full swing. I’ve got my deep fryer going and I am not real happy about the way the one game that I am watching is going. My own preference…a team that I have been following for years, has made it to the play offs a number of times, only to choke there, and not make it to the Superbowl. I was hoping that this was the year. Oh well, I will have to concentrate on deep frying wings and egg rolls, and move on to the next game.
I have already been planning my Superbowl menu, regardless of who is playing. I love to watch a good game. I hate a blow out, one sided game, no matter who is playing. So, my appetizer menu will have chili cheese dip, cheese, crackers, assorted sliced meat platter, and a relish dish. My entree menu will consist of double dipped deep fried boneless Buffalo chicken strips, white chili, and a Stromboli style Italian hero. I will have my outdoor propane deep fryer and my slow cooker going that day. And cold beer in the cooler.
I a firm believer that Superbowl should be Saturday, played earlier, or that Superbowl Monday should be a national day off! Especially for those of us that are heading up the tailgate, the party, or sports bar owners & workers. Have fun, no matter what you do, and I hope your team makes it to the big show!
The Pro NFL football season is coming to a close but with frenzied tailgaters, bar goers, and couch potatoes every where. It is always hard for me to decide if this time in the season is my favorite or the beginning of the season is.
I love the beginning. All those tailgaters out there have been chomping at the bit. They have gone over their tailgate bins, renewed & replenished any items that may need it. They have checked their outdoor propane deep fryers, their grills, and BBQ smokers. They get new t-shirts and banners. They make sure they are updated on any new procedures and rules that their venue may have. It is always a very exciting time.
By the end of the season, everyone’s tasks are old hat. Everyone knows what they are doing. Much fun has been had, much good food has been eaten, memories have been made, much camaraderie has gone on throughout the season. But…if your team makes it to the play offs…it’s all on…all over again! The same feeling as the beginning of the season returns, with vim & vigor.
Good luck to all of your favorite teams out there! Wishing everyone a good game, and not some long drawn out blow out. Here is to another year in Pro Football!!!
I am waiting for a delivery of counter top deep fryers from UPS. I don’t know if they are a day behind due to the snow, but I am getting tired of waiting. Just because something is coming ground does not mean that it should take forever. Unfortunately, I have had much better luck with the United States Post Office. I have an order that needs to go out and my client has been waiting. I feel quite bad and don’t know what to do anymore. The delivery is in limbo somewhere and I an at wits end.
It never ceases to amaze me how ingenious people can be when it come to outdoor cooking equipment. Tailgaters, competition barbecuers, and just BBQ smokers in general. There are so many different ways that grills, smokers, and outdoor propane deep fryers can be made. Not all of us are capable of welding or fabricating our own cooking equipment. But some people are. You get a good idea or think that a unit that you have is good but could be better and you run with it. You either do it yourself or take it to someone who can. Tailgaters and people that compete in BBQ competitions, are looking for new ways to improve the way they cook, their menus, and their cooking equipment all the time. I get very excited when I see a non-cookie cutter smoker or grill. I love to walk through parking lots and tailgate lots and see different peoples’ set ups. There are so many different ideas out there and so many different ways to do things.It can be very inspiring.
Never stop learning, never stop thinking, never stop trying. It is in our nature. Get out there and cook! Get out there and innovate! Get out there and inspire someone or get inspired!
So, we are as prepared as we can be, getting ready for 2 converging snow storms. At least we will not be having blizzard force winds to accompany the snow like just after Christmas.
Gas tank on 4 X 4 is full, propane tank is full, cell phone charged, food and beverages handy. Bag of rock salt & snow shovel right by the door. Full tank on the snow blower and extra gas in the gas can. Batteries, flashlights and candles at the ready. Firewood stack outside the door.
So if we need to use the Brinkmann grill, or deep fry, or use the BBQ smoker due to power outages, we are good to go. May need to did a path to get to the outdoor cooking equipment, but we are good to go!
Good luck to you all. Happy winter!
With the oncoming threat of 2 converging snow storms, a return visit to emergency preparedness is mandatory. You don’t want to get caught unprepared.
I happened to notice that a friend yesterday on Facebook had mentioned making sure that he was completely prepared way ahead of time, just in case. But what he had described sounded more like he was getting ready for a really good tailgate party. In a sense, everything that you need for a good tailgate party or a good weekend of camping outdoors are some essentials needed for an emergency.
Go over your tailgate bin or camping gear. Check for essentials: hand operated can opener, salt, sugar, pepper, paper plates.
If you do have outdoor cooking equipment, a propane grill, or outdoor propane deep fryer, make sure you always have extra propane on hand. If you only have a charcoal grill or charcoal smoker and you know that a big storm is looming…go out and find some charcoal. It’s not going to go bad. If the storm never happens or you don’t loose power, you’re ahead of the game come spring time. If you have a propane turkey fryer you are doing great. If you loose power you can fill the stock pot with snow and boil it for drinking water, etc. You can steam, boil, stew and deep fry food with a turkey fryer.
One good thing about winter storms, is that if you loose power, you can still keep food fresh by placing it outdoors. You can still leave food in the fridge and freezer, just don’t keep opening and closing doors.
Make sure you have candles.
Flashlights need batteries. Make sure you have updated appropriate sized batteries.
A battery operated radio is a plus.
Make sure you have a full tank of gas in your car or more importantly, your 4 X 4 if you have one.
Keep your snow shovel handy. If you have salt & sand, keep that handy as well.
Make sure your cell phone is charged.
Just in case, fill an old soda bottle or two full of water.
If you have animals, make sure that you have a store of food for them.
One snow storm is enough, but when 2 come together and there is a threat of an ice storm, that can easily spell disaster. Stay home if possible, stay off the roads, and be as prepared as you can. For a few more tips, revisit an old post on emergency preparedness.
Cast iron skillets are great for making breakfasts. You can fry bacon, make sunny side up eggs, or bake biscuits or corn bread all in the same skillet. Cast iron can be used on top of the stove, in the oven, or even over an open fire while camping outdoors. There is nothing like a hearty breakfast before hiking, when camping outdoors. Cast iron is the ideal outdoor cookware!
As long as your cast iron cookware is properly seasoned, it is the original non-stick cookware. This makes clean up easy, and if something does get stuck, fill the pan with water and bring it to a boil. Try not to scrape as this can remove the seasoning. You can always re-season your pan anytime by coating with oil and placing in a heated oven for a period of time.
Some cast iron skillets come with lids. If your cast iron skillet is big enough you can broast a piece of beef, with all the vegetables, all in the same pan together. Dinner in one pan. While the meat is resting you can place the pan on top of the stove and make gravy with the drippings in the pan. Again, all done in the same pan. Dinner clean up is a snap.
You can use cast iron pans for deep frying, sauting, roasting, broasting, stewing, & baking. You can use it stove top, grill top, in the oven, in a bed of coals, or over an open fire. The use of cast iron for cooking has been around for centuries. You can’t say that for many other types of cookware. A modern non-stick skillet when scratched eventually becomes worthless. A cast iron skillet can be reconditioned and last for generations. That is a smart investment.
Never use dish soap on your cast iron if you don’t have to. Make sure it is properly dried before storing. After washing, place on stove top and turn the burner on to dry off any excess water. Rub down with some vegetable oil while the pan is still hot. This will help protect from oxidation.
The NFL & NCAA football seasons are winding down. For some that means the end of tailgating season until fall.
For others a whole new tailgating season is just about to begin. NASCAR and NHRA are due to start their new season almost immediately after the Superbowl in February.
Time for the motor sports fans to dust off their tailgating gear. Time to check over the grill and propane tanks for leaks. Hopefully you used your outdoor propane deep fryer for the holidays so it is up and functioning properly.
Now is the time to check your tailgating bins. Restock, replenish, and get any new equipment that your tailgating gear is lacking in.
For those of you that follow both types of sports, bless you. That means you’re tailgating year round. There is nothing like cooking outdoors, playing games, sharing food and drink with friends and family, while sharing in a common interest.
We’ve had contact with a company that sells tailgating trays. The company name is Freedom Tray.
The Freedom Tray is a collapsible food and drink carrier. They are made and assembled in America using 100% recyclable materials. It is the perfect tailgating tray, stadium tray, camping tray, RVing tray, travel tray, or beach tray.
You can even use this handy item at home for breakfast in bed, watching TV, a back yard barbecue or family reunion.
The trays come with many college and sports logos to show your team spirit. Would make a great addition to your tailgating club equipment.
They clean up and collapse for perfect storage.
So next time you are firing up the Brinkmann grill or deep frying a turkey for friends and family, break out the Freedom Trays for eating ease and pleasure.
A very decadent snack food that is becoming more popular is the deep fried candy bar. It not only sounds decadent, it tastes decadent too. You can use any kind of candy bar you like. You can take lrger bars and cut them into bite sized pieces, you can use fun size bars, or you can go for the total gluttony and do a whole bar.
Typically you can go with your own dough or batter. In a pinch you can use pre-made pizza dough or tubed crescent dough.
One homemade dough mix recipe follows:
Measure 1 cup self-rising flour into a bowl, and whisk in half cup of soda water to make the batter Adding more of the soda water if the consistency is too thick; you want this just thick enough to adhere easily to the candy bar. The best way to check is to turn a candy bar in it; if the batter sticks well enough, it’s fine.
Another batter recipe:
1 cup sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold water
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Mix flour, salt, and water until smooth, cover, and let stand at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes. Stir baking powder into batter. Coat candy bars.
In the mean time, heat the frying oil in your deep fryer. When it comes up to temperature, 350-375 degrees F. place your candy bars in the fryer basket. Fry for about 3 mins. or til golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve.