ness

Family traditions are great. Gets a little tougher to pull them off when the grandparents age and the kids get older though. We did Roaring River each fall for 12 years in a row, and those trips are some of our fondest memories. (Kids talk about those trips more than Disney World, which was juuust a tad more expensive ) Even had aunts and nephews up from Florida for a few of those years. I hope it will pick back up at some point -- I'll be the one leading the charge, just like before. Need some grandbabies!

Home late, eating solo, one pan stir fry. Quick marinated chicken. Then mushrooms, red and yellow peppers, onion, celery, garlic, water chestnuts and red pepper flakes. Then soy sauce, rice vinegar, sherry, sugar, and cornstarch. A lot spicier than I would have made for two. Minimal fat, no rice and just a little sugar for low carbs too. One baggie, one pan, one knife, one cutting board, one plate.

They're not called the Easy DZ's for nuthin!

Cleaning the freezer — so Scallops Newberg. Scallops sautéed in butter, set aside. Add sherry and reduce. Add cream and cayenne and bring to temp. Add egg yolks off heat and stir to combine and cook. Add scallops back and heat through. Serve over decapitated toasted slider buns with butter. (Did I mention we were cleaning out the freezer?)

Wait -- I'm not sure you deserve credit for that bass. You caught a bluegill, but the bluegill caught the bass

Thank you, kind sir, but it's been a group effort.

We like fish (or chicken breast) and zucchini as a low-carb/low-cal meal too. Eat it about once a week. In freezer clean out mode this week. Chicken, scallops, pizza on the meal plan for the week.

It's kinda funny to look at the satellite view of my yard. For nearly 20 years I've been an oasis in a desert of dead lawns on my section of the street.

Here’s a couple recent meals. A zucchini, onion, chicken and corn skillet. Gotta admit I didn’t have high hopes for this but the combination was pretty good. 1 skillet is a plus. Pork tenderloin with roasted potatoes and bright green pearls of flavor. Tenderloin with a bunch of my BBQ rub, started on the cook top and finished in the oven. Picked up some prosciutto at Costco. Much better than the stuff at our local store, and cheaper too. Finally getting some good melons, so

So, we’re cleaning things today, including the fridge. Got home tonight determined to clear out the leftovers. Chicken, pork, corn tortillas, rice, cheese, shredded cabbage, etc. Things were looking a little dry, so I grabbed the Pam and gave the chicken and corn tortillas a shot before the microwave. Everything’s going good and I came to the rice. Grabbed the aerosol can and gave it a shot too. Then, the scent of lemon filled my nostrils. Oops—wrong aerosol can. I kid you not—I sprayed the rice with Pledge. Note the similarity in the containers. New rule here: no cleaning products in the food prep area 😄 Well, that was the only casualty. The leftover leftovers were ok. Oh, and I got some taco holder things a few days ago that I want to show off 😄

The main thing is the freakin’ fish are tiny!! ^ha

That was 2006. I imagine you've only gotten better since then!

Summer doesn't suck in CO. Go west young man!!!

I think your technique is fine:

I did GSMNP a few years back. A couple night’s stay on our way to the coast. Was dealt heavy rains one day and high water the next. Managed a few rainbows but never got a brookie. And Michael Jackson died.

There you go...the seed has been planted. Good going dad! Now nurture that... keeping in mind your idea of a good time may differ from his at some point. It’s coming. Adapt!!

8,500 posts in this here thread. Dang!

No turtles are climbing up the side of my raised beds, and hoisting themselves up the cages and munching on tomatoes. Haven’t seen a possum here in a coons age. My dogs run off squirrels daily. Don’t think feeding them corn is a solid idea. And copper fungicide has been applied. Do you grow maters? You sure sound like an expert 😄

I’ve seen the little bastids sniffing around, that’s how I know. No turtles are climbing up in there and possums are few and far between here. What makes you think it can’t be a squirrel and must be something else, you contrary SOB?😄

I said when I get it "out" it's pasty or like from a can. That was easy to miss, or maybe I could have said it better. Our local supermarket has great fried chicken and mashed potatoes but their white gravy is like paste. Also have a diner close to home (next door to Knub's Pub :D) that can't do white gravy right.

Haven’t seen a rabbit in a few weeks. But the dang squirrels are jacking with me now!! Dang it!

Yep. 50-50 flour and fat cooked together, add milk, keep it moving and get it to a boil to thicken. For sausage gravy I'll add just salt and pepper to the crumbled sausage. Chicken gravy will likely get a dose of chicken base, pepper and some herbs.

Arguably the greatest single achievement of mankind so far. Yet it was 50 years ago. We couldn’t do it today for 10 times the cost. I wonder what’s changed?

I like it when you hold ‘em horizontal. Less nips. 😄

Agree on the KFC taters and gravy. Just had some yesterday. There’s a local chain called Go Chicken Go that has a yellowish translucent gravy that’s really good too but kinda weird looking. I love homemade white gravy, but it seems like almost every time I get it out it’s too thick and pasty. And like it came from a can.