Ahhh, The Life

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by TXKajun, Mar 29, 2016.


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  1. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    After struggling with the dishwasher debacle and getting it resolved to my satisfaction, I checked my schedule at work and my leave time and realized I would be running up against the dreaded "use or lose" ceiling in about 2.5 months. My schedule starts getting really busy next week and it doesn't lighten up until late September (at least the way it is now, could be busier Sept-Dec). I called my boss yesterday when I was returning the dishwasher and asked for the rest of the week off and he said no problem. WOOHOOO!

    So,, I'm just kicking back, relaxing, doing lots of nothing. Been doing that since 7:45 this morning. I'm now bored! OK, I got bored about 9 AM. LOL So I looked around for stuff to do.

    So far, harvested the fresh basil and parsley from the Aerogarden and 6 small tiny tomatoes. Those are on perforated pizza tins to dry. I've wandered around the house quite a few times. And thanks to tacmotusn, I now have 5 lbs of fresh Italian sausage ready to go into the freezer. His recipe is originally for venison/pork, but I use all pork...either butt or boneless roast. It's delicious! :

    Hot Italian Sausage Ingredients


      • 2 lbs ground venison
      • 2 lbs ground pork
      • 3 1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced
      • 4 1/2 teaspoons salt
      • 7 teaspoons fennel seeds
      • 1 1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
      • 3 1/4 teaspoons red pepper flakes
      • 7 teaspoons ground black pepper
      • 1/4 cup cold water
    Homemade Spicy Italian Sausage Instructions

      • Hand-trim fat from the outside of meat to your desired fat preference.
      • Grind the meat with a fine grinding plate.
      • After grinding, add the sausage seasonings to the meat and blend by hand or use a meat mixer. Be sure to mix thoroughly to ensure the ingredients are spread evenly throughout the meat.
      • Stuff by hand or by using a sausage stuffer or sausage stuffing attachment for an electric meat-grinder. (Note: do NOT use the blade in meat-grinder when stuffing and it is best to use a stuffing (bean) plate). If you wish, You can also form patties without casings (this is what I do, vacuum seal and then freeze in 12 oz packages).

      I know from many prior experiences That it'll take me about 1 1/2 days to wind down. Tomorrow my EcoQue comes in so I'll be busy fiddling with that for a few days.

      Anywho, ya'll have a great day and week. :)

      Kajun

     
  2. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    Kinda light on the garlic and peppers, don't ya think? ;)

    Sounds good (both the sausage and the elusive "time off")
     
    Witch Doctor 01 likes this.
  3. Altoidfishfins

    Altoidfishfins Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I was off work last year recovering from surgery. Now I have so precious few days off. Boredom is never an issue even if I had tons of time off.
    Hopefully I'll "pull the retirement trigger" here in the next year or so. Then the really interesting work begins, setting up my remote retirement property as permanent residence.
     
    T. Riley and GOG like this.
  4. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    St
    Day TWO, make a pot of Coffee, super strength, have a cup and go take a nap.
     
    Brokor likes this.
  5. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    My Aerogarden just popped a bulb! Fortunately, I have a spare right here, so I guess I'll have to go to work and change it. :)

    Also got a little pork belly going yesterday, makin' bacon.

    Ecoque should arrive this afternoon. WOOHOO! Guess I better get some meat thawed out and seasoned!

    Maybe drink a little JW Red this aternoon. Lovin' life. I could get used to this!! LOL

    Kajun
     
  6. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    I got the EcoQue set up yesterday and seasoned the griddle and the regular cooking surface. I found out pretty quickly that putting the briquets on the upper holder led to 700+ degrees in the cooking area! YIKES! Of course, that'll be great for Neopolitan pizzas in the near future. :)

    I got the briquets on the bottom holder and fired a few up, then set some more in between them. This cooked all the food below.
    [​IMG]

    Got the cooking grate on, let it warm up then got started. Burgers and sausage, chicken breast, ribeye steak and zucchini and eggplant.
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG][​IMG]
    I
    I was very pleased with the results. So was Sweetie. :p I got the 15" starter pack and am very happy with the purchase. When I went to set up the grill, I realized I forgot something. Our outdoor tables are plastic on one and glass on the second. I realized I needed a place to put the top when I took it off that wouldn't melt. Then I realized this thing weights 15 lbs and needs a very sturdy table. Drat! But a trip to wally world solved that and now I have a really nice, sturdy, metal slat bbq station/table.

    I haven't used the griddle yet. Today is cold and rainy, so I'll let it rest.

    Oh yeah, I drank a little JW Black yesterday while bbq'ing. :p

    Kajun

    PS
    I am in no way, shape or form affiliated with the EcoQue folks. This is a personal, private purchase and I receive nothing from them for this write-up.
     
  7. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    I also started making some Canadian bacon yesterday using an online recipe and a boneless half pork loin. It should be ready to smoke on Sunday, like my regular bacon that's doing it's thing in the fridge.

    A local grocery store had the boneless pork loin on sale for $1.29/lb, so I picked up several of them for future bacon attempts, including buckboard bacon from the recipe here at squirrel's.

    Kajun
     
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  8. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    When is dinner? 6pm? Ill be right over! Looks yummy @TXKajun
     
  9. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    Thanks, Ganado. The food turned out very tasty. I found one little downside to the EcoQue....it's a bit difficult to clean. The pack came with some foil liners for the bottom fire/meat holder which ought to help. A bit of heavy duty tin foil on the top piece should help that, too. Tin foil is our friend! LOL And a good bbq scrub brush. Definitely a scrub brush. :)

    Kajun
     
    Ganado likes this.
  10. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    A large brass rotary brush on a cordless drill makes outdoor cooking cleanup a breeze. Works just fine for grill cleanup, and should help.
     
    Ganado likes this.
  11. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    kellory, you are a genius! Love the idea.

    Another tough day at the homestead, though. I spent a couple of hours turning the leftovers from the EcoQue cook into Indian tacos and fajitas. Sweetie loves her Indian tacos, so I made a small batch of those (eat your heart out, @Hanzo! LOL), I like fresh corn tortillas so I made a batch of those. A pan of spanish rice, some refried beans made from canned pinto beans I had hanging around, some guacamole, sliced lettuce, tomatoes and onions, a bit of fajita seasoning on the sliced up meat as well as bell peppers and onions heated over a high fire and next thing you know, we are feasting. I ate myself into a coma! OK, not a glutton thing, but one open faced fajita with all the trimmings on a fresh corn tortilla really was good!

    Still haven't gotten around to making more soap (prolly just some melt and pour this weekend), but I've got the supplies out and fragrances/additives ready. This is about the last project for my little staycation. :)

    Kajun
     
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  12. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    #sigh.....LONG sigh*

    Today was the last day of freedom from work. Wow, I can't believe it's been9 days already. How time flies.

    Today's activities were soap making and smoking my bacon and canadian bacon. A pic of each:

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    All in all, a darn good week. But once again, I have reminded myself that I don't do "nothing" worth a damn!! LOLOL

    Back to work tomorrow. *sigh*

    Kajun
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2016
    Ganado likes this.
  13. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    I pulled the trigger last October and haven't regretted it. She did also which made it all the better. I have Medicare A&B and a plan to pick up anything they don't pay. She has Cobra; pricey; however, better than 0bamacare and costs less.

    Today, we got up, I cleaned the pollen off the Corvette and we took a nice cruise. Tomorrow, I'll wash the pollen off her Edge.

    Thursday we have friends coming to visit. Friday, her brother and wife are coming.

    Then, it is off to our campsite:
    [​IMG]
     
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  14. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Love the view, but you might want to trim that photo.
     
  15. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    Congrats, Tikka, to you and the missus! Your littl e campsite sure looks inviting. You got any fishing near? Looks like ya'll got the hunting and fishing covered.

    Kajun
     
    Ganado likes this.
  16. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++


    I'd rather eat your food, Kajun.
     
  17. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Appreciate the recipe.
     
  18. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    @Hanzo, next trip to the mainland, make a swing down to El Paso and we'll pick ya up and feed ya for a few days and return ya to da airport. :)

    Sweetie and I tried the smoked Canadian bacon tonight. It was about halfway between regular bacon, ham, and store bought Canadian bacon. Very tender, very lean and very tasty. Next batch, I'm going to try only brine/cure for about 10-12 days. I can always put the smoke to it after we try it.

    Worked on sprinklers this afternoon and no time to harvest the soap. :)

    Kajun
     
    Hanzo and Ganado like this.
  19. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Heck, you wanna pick me up homes?
     
  20. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++


    Be sure to look you up, next time I am your way. Mahalo Kajun!
     
    HK_User likes this.
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