Today we learn how to make a proper BLT

How to make a Bacon, lettuce, and Tomato sandwich the right way:

Any questions?

-Doc

Quite Possibly the Yummiest thing Ever.

In a match that could only be made in heaven (Or North Carolina where both of these products were originally created) I think I have found what may just be the yummiest thing ever. Cheerwine filled Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Yes even though it may put me into a sugar coma I can never fully recover from I think that I will have to try this new treat in the very near future.

For those of you not familiar with Cheerwine, it is a wonderful sparking cherry-ish soda that was invented in Salisbury, NC where I grew up which is teaming itself up with Winston-Salem based Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I will have to report back once I have had one as to exactly how blissfully excellent it is, but I must apologize to you in advance that unless you live in North or South Carolina you won't be able to try this delicious treat because they are apparently only making it available in just this area.

I found a picture of one of these things and figured I would share with you...

Just another wonderful reason that I live in the best place on earth, North Carolina. Thank you for letting me share with you all.

-Doc

The Gift of Grippo's!!

About a week ago during a conversation on Twitter somehow the subject of potato chips came up. I'm not really even sure how it did but a couple of my friends from the midwest Matt-Man and Mrs. D suggested that I need to trip Grippo's hot BBQ chips. Being a local midwest thing I had no access to them so Matt-Man (and Schmoop) sent me a delivery which I received yesterday. Let me tell you something, these these chips are good... damn good. Maybe GREAT even however they are not for the pansy weak of tastebud though. These things have some kick to them:

The package has landed

Oooh a Twin Pack!

Gratuitous Cute Kid Picture

Yum these things are good
What are these Daddy? Those are heavenly goodness from the Matt-Man!

One handful is not enough

My son likes them but thinks they are "Too Spicy"

He is still stuffing his face though....

Yum... Grippo's!!

Daddy gives them a BBQ-ey Two thumbs up!

I highly suggest if you haven't tried Grippo's you need to !

Thanks again Matt-Man!

-Doc

Deep Fried Hooters Chicken at Home!

So my in laws gave me this awesome turkey fryer for Christmas. They were down to visit this past weekend and I decided to fire it up. No I didn't burn the house down and the results were very yummy. So here I present a short series of pictures documenting how to do a Hooters deep fried chicken at home.

Fill the cooker with about 2.5 gallons of Peanut oil (Yes I am looking sytlish in sweats)

light the burner but be careful- especially in the rain

Prepare the bird by cleaning and then injecting with Hooters wing Sauce

I used Medium sauce and Emeril's Chicken rub

Check the oil temp. It takes awhile to get it up to 325 degrees

Hang the bird on the hook thingy
Rub the bird with the Chicken rub

While you are still waiting for the oil to get to 325 make sure to have a few of these handy

Keep waiting for the oil to get to the proper temp 325 degrees

OK, lower the bird into the oil and cook for 26 minutes

Keep Cooking....

Make sure the temp stays about 325... Very important!

Completed bird ready to cut and serve!

Oh yeah, I made a Green bean casserole too!

The finished product Mmmmm yummy!

OK so there you have it. The Chicken was very juicy and done perfectly... We all ate off it Sunday, last night, and I have the leftovers for lunch today. Not hard at all to do and as I said nothing got burned down.

-Doc

Go Phillies! Free Taco Bell today!

- TMC

Awwww, aren't we the Walton's

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Umm...No.

I've had a very busy and interesting weekend. Let me just start off by saying May is my favorite month. There are many reasons for this...not the least of which is my birthday. But also because the weather is great, (especially in the South), it's time for sundresses and short-shorts, there are tons of stuff to do everywhere, and people are generally in a happy mood to be out of the winter doldrums.

So I secured a babysitter for the Chiles for Fri night and told Hubby that it was his turn to plan (since I've done the last 20 or so dates). I was expecting dinner and a movie (since that's his usual repetoire), which was fine. However, he surprised me by actually doing research (and asking his Admin (who's single and 20 something...nuff said)) about where a good place to go would be. He wanted something with live music and activity. (Hubby is an introvert so this was a shocker!)

So he tells me we're going to an area of Charlotte known as NoDa. This is a very artsy neighborhood and it just happened that there was a Gallery Crawl that night with various live music venues. FUN! After we arrive and find a parking spot, we decided to get supper at Boudreaux's. I am a HUGE fan of Creole/Cajun food so I was excited. The Alligator Bites were good but the Shrimp and Crawfish Etoufee was ASTOUNDING! Hubby and I shared so that we could have dessert too. The Bread Pudding was a little cinnamon-y for my taste but I definately didn't have trouble finishing it off. :)

We then strolled through the neighborhood, checking out the art and local flavor. In stopping to listen to one of the live bands outdoors we were witness to some severe bumping and grinding. It was not even 9pm and this couple was acting like they must have started drinking at 3. Those of us observing were talking about taking up a collection to get them a room somewhere. Now, lest you think I'm a prude (you should know better than that anyway) I have no problem with PDAs. However, I do believe that some things should be done in the private of your own home, hotel room, or at least a back alley. Maybe if the couple were attractive I wouldn't have been as offended. Hell, maybe I was jealous I wasn't that drunk too!

So on we mosied down the street. At The Evening Muse, we caught the tail-end of a father and son guitar duo. After that was a girl named Nicolette Emanuelle who is very folksy-indie ish. She has a fairly decent voice but can sometimes get a little nasal. One song in particular caught my attention. It was entitled "To My Drunk Friends". Now that alone intrigued me but it was the chorus that made me turn to Hubby and say "Did I hear that right?" "Maybe you're coaxial, maybe you're bipolar. Well, I'm bi all the time..." Okay, then. Nothing like broadcasting that to a group of drunk strangers. Now the funny part of this is that Hubby and I had been wondering if SHE was not, or used to be, a HE. Well...that would make you "bi all the time". After that it was time to get back home to rescuepay the sitter.

On to Saturday. The main event of this day was our families first ever camping trip. I have not camped in a good 15-16 years and usually prefer the local Hamption Inn. However, this was a church activity and sounded like fun for 1 evening. When we pulled up to the campsite, the Chiles got out and looked at the bare ground and trees and proclaimed that "this sucks". Now, they love to play outside and collect rocks and leaves and such so this was a bit of a surprise. I asked them to please have an open mind and we would try and have a good time. Let me just say that by Sunday morning as we were breaking camp they thought this was the best thing ever! Cooking over the fire definately appealed to the little pyromaniac. We ended the weekend with a little mini-golf (or putt-putt as they say in the South). All-in-all this was one of the better weekends. We'll see what next week brings!

-As American as Apple Pie

Simple Pleasures

Since last week really seemed to be a downer, I thought I should turn the tables this week and talk about the things in life that give me joy.

1. Running--I know, to some this may seem crazy, but I love the feeling I have after I run. Actually, I even like the feeling when I'm running...once I get in a couple miles. Running allows me to clear my head and pound the stress out. It keeps me grounded. Plus, after running 6 or more miles, I can eat whatever I want!

2. Bonfires--I'm a little bit of a pyromaniac but I love fire. It is so mesmerizing! And the warmth is awesome! There is something so simplistic about staring into the flames that brings a sense of contentment and peace.

3. Coffee--you had to know this was coming! Sometimes the best thing ever is to curl up with a Cup-a-joe and a blankie.

4. Really good food--it doesn't take much to make me happy.

5. Good friends--good friends are hard to come by so when they do, you must never take them for granted, b/c when they're gone, it's heartbreaking.

6. Breathing--as Lulita reminded me last week, BREATHE! It does wonders for calming your soul. Also, one of the best things is when you've had a cold and that first moment you can take a full breath.

7. Music--music has the power to evoke many emotions. Whatever mood I'm in, I'm certain to find a song that suits. I always tell my husband that if I'm even in a coma, all he needs to do to get me out is to play some music. A little AC/CD "Back in Black should do the trick!

8. Napping--kids just don't get how great this is. One of my favorite things is napping...probably b/c I never have the chance.

9. Reading--I love getting lost in a good book. For me, the storyline will actually play out in my head like a movie. So it's like a twofur.

10. Orgasms--I may have passed the PG-13 rating Doc likes to keep on this one but it HAS to go on the list. You really don't appreciate how good they are, and what they can do for you, until you don't have any for a while. THAT is the defintion of Simple Pleasure.

Have a Simple Day!

-As American as Apple Pie

Wonton-gate '08!

Yo this Cat is not happy. I brought into work a whole lot of left over Chinese food from the weekend and someone in my office either ate or threw out my wonton soup! I had big Tupperware filed with wontons. Plus someone took my last fried wonton. Oh but they didn't touch the rest of my Happy Family with mixed Chinese vegetables or Barbecued Beef with rice dishes!! Not that this food was expensive but it is the doggone principle of it! I confronted a few likely culprits but no admissions. Mark my words I will get to the bottom of this.

Hell hath no fury than a Cat who has his food stolen!

- The Mountain Cat!!!