Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

Outside the dugout: What's cooking?

Discussion in 'Diamond Gators' started by GatorLurker, Jul 28, 2016.

  1. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl
    We have a pot of white chicken chili simmering on the stove to take on the coolness of the evening. We have always added black beans to our recipe for two reasons. Number one obviously is they really improve the taste to us and number two Ms. Jan says it makes a more presentable meal rather than looking so bland....

    Obviously I go for better taste, if it happens to look better, that’s just fine too.;)

    It’s a lil’warmer this afternoon as it has reached 59* here.

    Ice cold longnecks and chilled wine are available on the back porch as preferred.

    Life is good in Gator Nation!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  2. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    I was looking at a few recipes online today for bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breasts.

    I was thinking maybe just stuffed chicken.....and hold the bacon.

    What are your thoughts on the subject?

    I've purchased stuffed chicken breasts before from a meat shop up in Port Orange and I see them in Publix all the time.

    Wouldn't mind giving it a go but something simple.

    Thanks!

    And yes Bill - warming back up here too. We'll be in the 70's tomorrow! :)
     
  3. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl

    Baz—

    How could you???

    Never, never, ever HOLD THE BACON...........

    Good grief Charlie Brown!

    Bahahaha!
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
    • Best Post Ever Best Post Ever x 1
  4. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    Worse yet......I have a BRAND NEW and still unopened FRESH pack in the fridge!

    :emoji_thinking:
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  5. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl

    You’re killing me Smalls!
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  6. BA69MA72

    BA69MA72 GC Legend

    657
    196
    1,853
    Apr 8, 2007
    We’ve added red chili peppers to boost the heat and add some color
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl

    Sounds good!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

    8,552
    3,601
    2,843
    Apr 8, 2007
    Last night was take-out from our favorite Thai place.

    Tonight will be a chopped salad.

    The next two nights will be pork tenderloin with stir-fried veggies or an ox-tail ragu served over bucatini. Last time I made the ox-tail ragu it was my birthday and they didn't have bucatini at Publix and I used rigatoni instead. Not a bad substitute, but for the first time in forever they had bucatini on the shelf.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  9. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

    8,552
    3,601
    2,843
    Apr 8, 2007
    OK, a new plan.

    Yesterday my younger brother sent me some stuff from Omaha Steaks for Christmas. Included was four bacon wrapped beef tenderloins.

    They are being defrosted.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  10. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    Dang.....my Omaha Steak pack didn't have those......

    Just "regular" tenderloins.

    Guess I will just have to have bacon for breakfast in the morning along with a nice omelet!

    I did however have a chopped salad both last and tonight for dinner. Mine were very simple. Lettuce, cucumber, Feta cheese, and Good Seasons oil and vinegar dressing made with balsamic vinegar....yum!

    I've been using my conventional four-sided grater to chop my lettuce. Very messy but I love the fine texture of the lettuce this way.

    Cheers everyone and Go Gators!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  11. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl
    For this evening I had a fresh boneless chuck roast ground up for hamburger steaks.

    Our sides will be a fresh snapped pot of green beans and new potatoes with fresh bi-color cob corn. Yeast rolls for those that want them.

    We had 40* for our low this morning with a predicted high of 58* with blue skies and white clouds—very pleasant for back porch afternoon and evening col’beers, chilled wine and college football.

    Life is good in Gator Nation!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  12. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    I elected to have French toast with my bacon this morning instead of the omelet. I'm pleased with my executive decision. The French toast was amazing! Important to eat it while it's still piping hot.

    Then a run to Walmart for a new TV to replace my Vizio. I got a Hisense Roku - 50" just like the old Vizio. On sale for only $248. Took me an hour to do the change out. It's always an adventure hanging it on the wall bracket! Really nice picture and just in time for some great games today!

    Go Gators!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl

    Baz—

    Bacon and Syrup.......what a combo!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  14. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    It's "Buttered" syrup as well, Bill. The trifecta! :D
     
    • Winner Winner x 2
  15. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl
    It’s a beautiful day here today—sunshine and blue skies all around. We started with 40* this morning and our high is an expected 62*.

    Tonight I’m going to be grilling the bone-in country cut ribs indirect over cherry wood smoke.

    Our sides will be a fresh pot of pinkeye peas w/snaps, fresh okra, and smashed red potatoes. Yeast rolls will also be on the table for the taking.

    The back porch will be occupied in this pleasant weather with our favorite adult libations.

    Life is good in Gator Nation!
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Winner Winner x 1
  16. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl
    This morning Ms. Jan said she thought she would be catfish hungry by supper time......

    Y’all guessed it, I’m frying catfish tonight. Our sides will be what I’ve always assumed was everyone’s sides with fried catfish—We will have homemade coleslaw, cheese grits, hush puppies, and Ms. Jan’s homemade sweet pickles. (If you need more sides than that I’d say somebody don’t know how to fry good catfish).....:ninja3:

    Again we are blessed with a beautiful day which started out at 48* and our expected high is 58*. With blue skies and white clouds that’s pretty dang tolerable.

    Ice cold longnecks and chilled wine will be on the back porch for everyone with a valid ID...;)

    Life is good in Gator Nation!
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  17. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

    8,552
    3,601
    2,843
    Apr 8, 2007
    Yesterday was a scare. My wife was running a low fever, but it went away. But someone that works at her office is showing several symptoms. Good thing that they practice very safe protocols.

    I made pork tenderloin marinated in Korean BBQ sauce with rice and stir fried broccoli.

    Since there is a lot of pork tenderloin left over I am making pork and escarole soup.

    Tomorrow will be simple: American hard shell tacos with ground meat. I prefer tacos made with carnitas or barbacoa, but that is a lot more work. I "fake" the traditional barbacoa that is slowly cooked buried in a pit by using the KJ. It is OK, but not exactly like the real thing.

    Wednesday will be stir fry (pea pods, baby bok choy, broccoli, red bell pepper, ginger, etc.) with the remaining pork tenderloin and rice.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  18. 74nole

    74nole GC Hall of Fame

    6,503
    3,274
    3,018
    Apr 9, 2007
    Marianna, Fl
    Lurk—

    Wishing y’all the best outcome possible for you and your wife—may she stay healthy and strong.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  19. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    Glad to hear your wife's fever subsided, Lurk. We're living in some scary times right now.

    I was picking up provisions for my Mom at Publix today, including her favourite chicken tenders (only from Publix), and they had some ribs there also and the last time I got a half rack from them - they were truly delectable. So I said to myself today - why not? Fast forward to tonight and as I tore into those ribs it turned out they were not anywhere near as good as the last time. I have half of what I bought left and was thinking of returning them tomorrow for a refund. Which is kind of an odd thing for me to do, because I usually just suck it up on small matters like this. Not worth the effort to return. But then again - sometimes I feel the principle of the thing is also an important factor to consider.

    I spoke by phone to my oldest brother tonight - the one in Virginia that underwent the heart procedures. He sounded pretty good and is looking forward to getting out, naturally. He has a ways to go though, getting his strength back. His daughter had been sending out email updates and finally I decided to directly send him an email letting him know he could reach out in person anytime, so he took me up on it.

    Cold weather came in today - not as cold as you guys, of course. I elected to leave my big Croton specimens outside this time. I think they're up to the task and perhaps this little cold snap will help give them a little hardening. I'm not worried about losing them as much as the leaf drop that plants exhibit sometimes during cold spells.

    We're still in the low 50's right now and the good news is there is a slight breeze keeping the colder air from settling.....
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

    36,010
    13,675
    3,803
    Jan 2, 2009
    New Smyrna Beach
    Well....I elected to consume the rest of the 1/2 rack of ribs. Not worth the effort to return, really. After I warmed them up they actually weren't that bad - just not nearly as good as the ones I had before.

    Just finished watching today's episode of "Gunsmoke" on ME-TV. I enjoy the show so much I try to make it home for lunch each day in time for this 1pm airing. The character actor Anthony Caruso was featured in today's episode. I looked him up on Wiki and this was written about his personal life:

    Caruso was the consummate family man in private life, happily married for 63 years, and enjoying the simple pleasures of gardening and cooking.

    I like that phrase......."the simple pleasures."

    I just hooked up a new hose in the courtyard off my master bedroom which has a garden area and where I have my potted specimen Crotons. It's one of those expandable hoses. The technology has greatly improved on those over the past few years. They last much longer! Also, they offer shorter lengths, which I find more practical. I have been using the 25' length hoses. When they shrink back up they're only about 6' long so take up very little space.

    Just having a hose that works well provides what that author meant by a simple pleasure, for me anyway.

    Looks like it only got down to about 42 degrees here last night - not bad. We start the warmup tomorrow! :)
     
    • Like Like x 1