BilletHead

Stuffed Cubanelle peppers, Ben well over a year since I did these last. The peppers were not doing so good before vacation but when getting back we had a goodly amount. i wanted to make something with what I had on hand here at the house. I went to digging and found two four packs of garlic sausage in links vacuum sealed we had made. So ingredient one. Then I checked and we had a block of Asigo cheese in the fridge number two. Got peppers makes three. Then I picked the few little tomatoes still in the garden making another part number four. I knew we had the herbs and spices too. I took the tomatoes and chunked them up. Tossed into blender and pureed them. Added to a pan and heated it up to thicken. To this I added dehydrated Basil, oregano some Salt and some sage. Herbs were also grown in our garden. So next I stripped the garlic sausage from the links and began to fry in cast iron. About the time is was done added some fennel seed and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Continued to brown sausage. Picked peppers, brought in and split and gutted. Placed in cake pan. Took the thick reduced tomato sauce and added to sausage. Mixed and filled peppers, Grated asigo cheese and gave a nice thick layer on stuffed peppers, placed into the 200 degree smoker. When cheese had turned a golden brown from smoke and melted time to pull, Plate up and eat. Gt your meat, veggies and dairy. What more do we need? Mrs. is on her way home. She will come in and say "What smells so good"? BilletHead

City boy, Pfffft. Not I :), BilletHead

Part 6 the "Hunt For Tigers", Leaving Arizona we headed North towards Utah and the High Uintas where we had fished last year at this time. We really loved that trip and wanted to revisit the place where we had caught our first tiger trout. It was to be a long drive so we overnighted in a commercial campground in Tuba City Arizona. Up early the next morning, you guessed it 4AM. North we go crossing the Dam at Lake Powell, A display at the Dam visitor center outside, Finally going up through Utah we drove up from Provo to Heber city following the Provo river . Here we secured our Utah Fishing license, Ice, grocery items including a ribeye and fueled up the truck. We planed on three nights in the Uinta National Forest and wilderness. Up at Kamas we took 150 highway. Once you get into the forest they get you for a use pass. Daily or weekly. Cheaper for the week pass we paid and displayed it in our window. Onward and upward we went until we hit the choice of two campgrounds. Washington and Trail. We have stayed at both but Trial was closest to where we wanted to go. Paid for our nights and set up, We had a view of Trial lake, nothing like last year it had been drawn way down. Last year it was Washington lake that had been drawn way down. We asked and know one seemed to know exactly way. One guessed that they needed water for all the fires. I have a better guess. Both of these lakes feed the upper Provo River a main source for recreation, and water for the city plus irrigation. We seen kayaks, canoes and float tubes out there and folks fishing from them. it was time to wind down from the first week of the sprint, now the trip became a marathon. An evening fire and the marshmallow roast Mrs. BilletHead had been waiting for. Most everywhere else had fire restrictions and here we did not, Tomorrow the Tiger hunt begins, BilletHead

So he can go to the Sand Dunes to fish for Rio Grande cutthroats and do what a stock 4WD pickup did with a camper on the back , BilletHead

Just humped up in the net. Pat is holding the same fish in the photo besides. I think her smile was a cross of happiness and relief we found one. BilletHead

I am thinking the same thing buddy. I hope to revisit them again someday and if we get to it will be an early, early excursion. Go as far as our flatlander mobility will take us and then start fishing. The reservation has good fishing we heard but that consists of a trespass and another fishing permit. That leads to more cost to catch them. I think we could go far up there without much trouble. Easy walking, BilletHead

Part 5 the Apache. Arizona's state fish, So we had decided after the Gila to drive into Arizona on the East side and work North towards Utah and revisit a couple of places from last year and do a tiger hunt. So as we drove through Arizona we skirted The Apache National Forest. As we closed in on the towns Springerville and Eagar to fuel up I told Pat there is another native trout here in this state. When we got cell service she googled the up the Apache trout. It said could be found in the Apache National Forest So at the gas stop she went in for a mega drink as I fueled up and asked the lady behind the counter as she was paying if she knew of this fish. The response was instantaneous. Yes and I have caught some! She then proceeds to tell Pat where we could go. So a trip to the Hardware / sporting goods store. We so to the back counter to a young man in front of the gun display. Ask for licensees and info. He knows nothing about this fish, nadda but he could tell us where to catch rainbows. Another fellow in line says you can catch them and I will tell you right where to go. Gives us the same location as the gas store lady. licensees in pocket we check the maps and head once again into the higher elevations. We are again in the Apache National Forest not far from the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation. The destination was the headwaters of the little Colorado river. Soon we made it to a trailhead and hiking trail which ran along the stream. A bit more water than we had been fishing for our other fish. Deeper in places. looking good. Three spin fishermen were gearing up in the parking lot and heading upstream. We decided to drop in and head downstream. There were well worn trails in and out of the tangles of willows. Water looked nice. Lots of plunge pools with logs that had been placed for habitat. So as we fished in and out of the places we could access. There was not a fish to be seen. Never turned one, had a look or refusal, nothing. I was puzzled but not disheartened. There had to be fish in here, had to be. I would guess we covered close to a mile. Then the Monsoon clouds began to form. A little thunder then a sprinkle. We got cover under a spruce, When it quit we hit a straight higher trail away from the creek and headed back towards the truck. Pat says look at all the yellow flowers up there, When close enough she says in a loud voice columbines! Big and yellow!, I was even impressed. Bright yellow and as big or bigger than a silver dollar. Back at the truck I stayed down at the creek while Pat got rain jackets . We would now work the stream and trail upstream and fish until the storm ran us off the water. The again darkening clouds let us know the imminent rain would be hitting soon. We again worked the stream. Leap frogging each other from likely place to another. There is no Fish hogging when we work a stream together. Looking ahead we actually pick spots for one another. Fish this spot, I can't get a cast in there but bet you can, drop over that bank or root wad it looks good, look at that plunge pool but there is one in that spot. So on and so forth, We found beaver dams and ponds with deep dark tannic looking colored waters in those deep holes. We fished every place with again nothing. Did we finally get jinxed? Were we chasing a ghost? The stream and all the potential is should have was perplexing us. So again I figure we were know we had again done another mile upstream we continued to work when the thunder began to roll in the distance. Dang. We came upon a deep cut bank with overhanging thick grass. I watched as Pat dropped over the edge. Then it happened a splash we could not see, Pat smoothly swept the rod upward and the hook set I slipped into the water and netted her prize. A well earned one at that she had her Apache! , Pictures no justice to this fish we were in a rush to get it back into the water. They are protected, we went barbless and wanted to get it revived for someone else to catch. So in it went and the Mrs. Got a big hug. With the thunder even closer I began to work another likely place, another cut bank. Now groups hikers on the trail were going down in a hurry. This is where I set the hook and netted my prize, little but I will take second place to my Bride anytime. All that time fishing and within ten minutes of Pat's fish we had another, Not only did we have thunder but flashes of lightning it was time to join and get in line behind the hikers to safety. Finally back at the truck we got out of wet shoes and pants just in time for the deluge to hit. We now had another Native bonus in our resume. The best looking waters made the hardest fish to find and catch, go figure?, BilletHead

Thanks Daryk, And for your concern for Sadie. Yes she is Ok but 13 years young now and slowing down. Trouble getting up and down steps. Hard of hearing and showing her age. This and last year stays with a sitter while we are gone. She just doesn't act comfortable doing some things now. Used to be when I got the keys to the four wheeler she would about knock me down to get a ride. Now she just looks at me like go ahead I will just stay here. There is no more chasing squirrels in the yard. Let her out and one goes to running she just watches it go. If i grab the air rifle and go out she is waiting at the door. Goes out and checks the kill and follows me to the shop where I clean it and watches. Trips like this are not the same without her, BilletHead

Did not pickle but did eat some . That part of the trip will be later! The best part of being an invasive brookie in the West is being dead and on your plate , BilletHead

Have you caught one on a fork? I have had turtle on a fork and it is very good just a major pain in the rear to clean. To this day driving down the road Mrs. BilletHead will see a snapper crossing the road. Catch him and I will cook him. I then said it is too small. Once and a while we see a big one. She says it is big enough. I say you going to clean him too? , BilletHead

We did catch some mini trout. The size you find in a double stack can of sardines. A pickled herring would dwarf some of our catches . Let them grow up so that folly guy can catch them in the future. BilletHead

The original Ned, one color only, BilletHead

Don't know if I should like you, thank you, laugh at you or be mad at you. I changed the above statement for correction. In this creek seen nothing else. Randy is the best. From us liking to explore parts less traveled this is for sure! Yes seen other little fishes and some were chubs. There was a task at hand and I left the micros for the micro fishermen (You), BilletHead

Part 4 the Gila Trout, I feel some of you may be getting bored? So we continued to travel South until we came upon this, I had done some research and since we were so far south we figured we would try for another fish. The Gila trout. Not a Cutthroat but a native and one to catch or try to catch. Very limited range and a true little gem. I had printed off a little map of four little creeks in the Gila National forest and in the middle of that was the Gila Wilderness. Which stream would be the best? Which stream would have the best access for flatlanders? So many questions and where to start? As we traveled South West we hit a couple of big towns Santa Fe and Albuquerque.. The Mrs. Googled Fish and game office in Santa Fe. We followed the path on the phone to the office. In we went to the front desk. Greeted by one of the ladies she said. How may I help you? We gave her the scoop, she looked puzzled and said I don't know anything about that fish but I can sell you a license. Another guy heard the conversation. Said you guys are in luck we have the Gila trout biologist in the office today and i will get him. Our eyes lit up and we bought our license. Soon a young man named Ryder came out and we had a good visit. He had the same little printed map we had. Out of the streams he suggested two. One had poor access and the other good access and pretty easy to get to plus a couple of campgrounds. He said the fish will be small on the small stream but we may be surprised with a nicer one. With the big Gazetteer we had he showed us the forest roads to get there. Before we left he gave us his full name, phone number and state e-mail address. He wanted a report of what we found, fish caught and experience. That I will do today! We continued South and did an overnight in a commercial campground doing laundry and showers. 4AM wake up we still were going South until We hit Socorro. Here we would get off the interstate. We gassed up, drained water out of ice chests and re iced. There were two stations across from each other. We picked the cheapest. It was still dark thirty but lit up well. We gassed up drained the chests and I walked in for ice. Locked up, closed and would not open for an hour. I walked across the street to other store and got ice. Came back to find Pat slightly peering out of the camper a slight look of fright in her face. Relieved to see me she pointed to a couple creepy guys in a sedan in the dark part of the station staring at us. Pat said she slipped her side arm in her pocket when I left. We finished our business and got back on track on a two lane highway. We drove along and started seeing radar stations pointing to the heavens, In my wandering mind the first thing that came to me was the X-Files. Soon we got to the town of Apache Creek and our turn off. FR 94 Cox Canyon Road. Approx 60 miles of dirt forest service road. Low land pretty straight and as we went up some turn backs, up and down. We seen where there had been some big flooding with recent work to repair the road. Some rough parts but we had been in worse. passed back and track hoes doing road work. Then a slight road block, Pat was laughing her rear off as I said "Thank goodness for the SVEN-SAW. This little break down saw is the real deal and cuts wood like butter. Found it a couple years ago in the bargain Cave at Cabelas for half price brand new. Now you say why did I not just drag it out of the road? No rope, chain or sling and the tree was long and we could not move it. We went on and up seeing elk, deer nd other critters. Only met one other truck on rest of road and he was woodcutting for firewood. After the high point of the road we dropped into a small canyon to a couple of campgrounds. Both empty. We picked the upper one our destination. Ben Lily on Willow creek. We set up and built rods. Fish were waiting for us. Small, very small and thin water, The little jewels began to come to hands, many missed that were really small. 4 to 6 inch average. A 12 incher would be big. The state record coming from a lake was 5 lbs. plus. I had a nice one hooked from a cut bank hole. Got him to the top and he rolled and was off. I tried that place after rest two more times with nothing. I am sure he said fool me once but not twice, Several fish were landed. They looked like carbon copies of each other. Some like the right golden bellies. I read like the Arizona sunset. We snacked on Wild red raspberries along the creek, We walked in until we ran into a young couple walking along the road. We asked what was ahead and were told private ground and a few cabins, locked gate and no trespassing. Where we were already the creek was dwindling to very little water we decided to walk back to camp and eat. Grilled Mallard breast, mashed taters and salad was on the menu, We came, we caught, enjoyed a fire and slept like a rock. Up again next morning 4AM. We were ready for next place. The shortest way out was West. Map showed 159 and a color change on this road. We thought a better road. NOT first thing we seen on a sign, no trailers. Next thing we seen, grass and weeds growing in middle of road between the two wheel ruts. I mean bad, steep, blind switchbacks, rutted. part of this road I put truck in 4WD low range and let the transmission do the work. 5 to 10 MPH average. It took us almost three hours to go thirty miles. We will not take that road again, never ,ever. As we dropped even lower driving slow the light began to show flora we had not seen before growing out of rocky slopes, We flattened out and I stopped the truck. looking out I cried Blackberries! must be coming to civilization. Out of the truck to forage on the sweet treats by headlights, Soon we started seeing a few abandoned homesteads and no trespassing signs. At a small valley we hit a narrow still one lane blacktop road. Then the town of Mogollon. The town was again in a narrow steep valley and buildings seemed to be coming out of the rock banks on the sides of this valley. Road and houses, buildings too so tightly packed. Fruit trees and I picked an apple out of the truck window. I made a note and googled the town up when home, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-mogollon/2/ https://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2016/06/historic-mogollon-new-mexico/ Wish the town was awake and I could of talked to the meager few residents. A bit farther another old building right on the road. The crappy blacktop butting next to it, We peered inside, A Christmas tree! A cool cactus, At the bottom the forest had became high desert. We continued Westerly and noticed on the map we were not far from old Mexico and another country. More to come. Another State, another fish, BilletHead

hahahahhaha You started it! Dang!

I forgot you run the pay for pound trout pond. Did they supply worms? We seen one in Estes Park on way in first time and out the second time. did you get your GreenBack there too? hahahahahaha Bet it was cheaper for you than us back in the day. Was it 4WD and not AWD? You know that is what they said we needed, BilletHead

Oh you men the easy place where the not so hard headed fisher people go? . BilletHead

We will finish this part of the story up, Up at 4AM. Got to moving and doing morning ritual then cranking the top down. On the road through the sand in the dark. Two reasons. One so as to not meet anybody and two we wanted to watch the morning sun hit the sand dunes. We did the trip in reverse than inward and up not stopping yesterday. This time we stopped where the warning signs were as we traveled going up, No other numbskulls out early like the BilletHead's. We drove to one of the dunes parking lot. Coffee still hot from the ride down we had a bowl of cereal on the observation deck. We had a big wind the night we were up the creek and was hoping it had cleared all the tracks and ours would be the first on the flats before the dunes. Not so there was four rigs in the lot and people crossing the flats and heading to the top. Through binoculars we could see tracks behind the climbers. Telephoto lens on the better camera did not justice because of low light. I know Flysmallie I could of used the tripod and adjusted the aperture, baby steps buddy I need to study. As we gazed some things came to mind. Lawrence of Arabia on horseback riding across the dunes, a line of camels taking trade goods to remote places. The best of all were the people already on the dunes. All you could make out was forms. I thought of some of the creatures in Star Wars, the sand people on the dunes with the sand craft speeding along the flats. I really had no idea this place existed. We watched one young lady solo start at her jeep. She put on her water hydration pack and hiking boots. She then told us she was going to the summit. We watched her do it. up and over dune after dune. She would disappear and pop back out all the way to the top. Just thought of something else. The movie Dune with the singer Sting. A panoramic view of sorts, I assure there are people on those dunes! We went on down to the visitor center but it was closed. What's wrong with these people Early to rise your burning daylight! Leaving we passed the gate and I wondered if the lady the day before thought we may never make it out . We worked our way farther South to Alamosa and were greeted by some of the town's residents. Actually we almost hit one. They should look both ways before crossing the road, This concludes the Rio Grande. I will prepare the next part of the trip. We are still on the Sprint part if the run. Tired yes but pumped up all the same. We again visited with our friend Randy. He said he had no idea we would complete the three native cutthroats in three days. We may be flatlanders but we are go getters, BilletHead I will attach four more taken from the lot at breakfast with the telephoto. First the young lady heading up. Then towards the mountains we had just spent the night in, A couple of the imaginary sand people, Neat place. i think it was 1.5 miles to the top of the farthest dune in the picture and it goes way beyond that. With the binoculars you could see the walkers slide and fall down. As we left there were two kids carrying plastic sleds getting ready to head up. Now that would be a hoot going back down!

Thanks Tho1mas, Actually garden was till going pretty well. I had taken out some tomatoes before we went. The ones left gave instructions to the lady watching the house. She watered, picked and had our dear friend Annette pick. We came home to ripe Black Krim's and some rainbows. peppers too! Randy was the goat of which I spoke of. Up ahead of us. if I would of took the time to get the camera out of my pocket he would of been out of site before I could snap the photo. To be young again! . Do it while you can boys!, BilletHead

Part 3 the Rio Grande, Leaving the North part of the state it was now time to head South and finding the Rio Grande cut. We had told Randy the plans to find these fish and to our surprise he had been doing research for us behind the scenes . A text came in from him. Hey I found a place you might want to try. I have never been there but what I found said it has a great survey result. He passed on the name of the creek and the area. So as the Mrs. was driving I got the map and found it. The creek was in the Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range. Access through the great sand dunes National Park and Reserve. I had no idea what we were in for and how dicey it was going to be. On the way down we stopped in Salida in three places for info. Place one a welcome center chamber of commerce type of place. We needed some water in our supply tank and here we got it. In the building we went to see a couple in charge. They asked what we had been doing and where we were going. We gave them the scoop and what we had done and our next quest. The gentleman responded. "You cant be fishing for those fish it is illegal" " There is nothing like those around here" I pointed to a picture of the three native cutthroat of Colorado on a wall poster and enlightened him. Really he said I had no idea. I asked if there was a fish and game and or a forest service office for more info. They gave us addresses and we headed for those places. Place two the forest service office. So in for more maps and info. The lady asked just like the others our business and what we needed. I explained and her response. " We don't have any fish like that around here" " There was a big fire years back and they went in and took them out before the ash run off killed them out" "You know those fish are rare and endangered" I explained on deaf ears and we ducked out. Not their specialty I thought maybe the Department of fish and game can help. Stop three and the circus continues. So we waltz in the front door to three sitting behind the counter. A lady, and two men one pretty young. So again I give them the plan. The young man proceeds to tell me there is no such thing as a genetically pure Rio Grande Cutthroat. They are all crossed up with rainbow trout. I told him we had seen the paper on the creek we were going to that Randy had sent us via text. Showed it to him. See right here the fisheries biologist says Rio Grande 100% pure 30 fin clips. Again he wanted to tell me I was wrong and the fisheries biologist too. We slipped out of there also. I get it not everyone can be specialists in one category but in this world of technology don't you think they should do some self enlightening? I mean even I took pictures of plants and trees I have never seen before, made notes and will be looking them up for my self enlightening. So to google up one more phone number and make a call. The Great Sand dunes. I get a number and call. Lady answers and I ask about the process of driving through the dune road into the national forest. There was a pause on the other end then she asked what I was driving. Told her a 3/4 ton 4WD pickup with a small fold down camper in the back. Another pause, Sir do you know you will be travelling through a primitive deep sand road? Well yes I had seen that. Another pause Are you sure you know what you are doing? This time I paused good truck, new tires, small camper I think so. No pause she asks what were we going to do up there? I explained and she lightened up saying she was a fly fisherman and conversation got better from there on. I thanked her and on South we traveled to the Great Sand Dunes. As we traveled in what I would call high desert in the distance we could see large buildings. Seemed out of place in the area. As we got closer we could see tall fences and razor wire on top of the fence? Then it hit me growing operations for the new cash crop in Colorado! These buildings were all over in all sizes and shapes. There were also many that had not succeeded and abandoned. No doubt they had smoked the product to be sold and gone broke. So we finally hit the gate of the Great Sand Dunes . Late in the afternoon. Man and Woman in the booth one facing each side. We got the lady. First thing she said after looking at the truck and camper. Do you know our campground is full and it is booked yearly in advance? I said yes mam We seen the sign. What are your plans she said? I explained we are going to drive through the primitive road into the national forest. The response was borderline epic, "IN THAT?" Yes then the interrogation started. Is it 4WD ad not AWD? Yes. "Do you know what you are doing?" I think so . "How heavy is that camper on the back of the truck?" Not too bad. She cocked her head and said just a minute. She grabbed the other guy in the booth. I could hear her. Do you think that and they could do the road up into the forest. He stuck his head out and looked over out rig and said I think so . Whoo Hoo that is all we needed and off we went into the national park. Soon the blacktop ended at the base of the park campground. At that place there was a RV dump and right next to that was a big industrial air compressor and a sign air here. I thought that was odd, never seen one of those in places like this. That answer would soon come to light. The road became less and less until we arrived at a turn around. Flashing signs, hard signs, warning signs. Soft sand, point of no return, lower tire pressure for traction etc. Now we passed those signs and kept on a trucking. The pucker factor went out the roof as the Mrs. and I gave each other a look of fright. The road became a two wheel slot for your tires. The hump in the middle where undercarriage and differentials had been dragging. There were high bank turn outs on slopes along the way where passing may be done. You could see where tire digging had been done on these banks.... The pucker became even tighter. Yes in 4WD high it had the feeling of driving in deep snow spinning and drifting feeling. Not a feeling we actually were. Met three vehicles coming towards us in places. Fancy jeeps and other tricked out giant tired rigs. Oh Heck I thought. Have we bit off too much this time? There was eight miles of this road in the National park signs along the way no parking, no camping etc. We finally could see trees in the distance and soon we were upon them road not much better we made it to the national forest. Besides the sand we now had to thread the trees on both sided of the road. I am puckering just typing this. We soon started seeing pull outs and picnic tables, bear boxes too. We pulled into one still spinning we backed into one. leveled the camper. Then took a break. Up from the camper was a ridge and over that ridge and down the slope the creek was supposed to be. We walked up and looked down to see a small creek. Slid down the sand bank to see Rio Grande trout darting off from seeing us! My goodness we found it! Back to set up the camper fully and quickly build and string up our rods. Rig and view from site, Now to the fun part. Within 30 minutes we had both landed our first Rio Grande Cutthroat 100 % pure Natives I might add , Again small creek, tight fishing and passed up many places you could not fish at all. We ran into a couple hikers, a man and his son. We asked if they would take a picture for us? They did as we stood in the little creek, This is where we turned around and took the trail back to the truck but there was one more cast I wanted to try to make. Right above where we stood was a pool. in front of the pool there were two logs above the water above the water the willows enclosed the top. one small hole to send a fly through. I set up and made the cast. The hopper shot through like I knew what I was doing. Pat said you lucky turd, The spot but the cast was back from where I stood. The hopper floated maybe two foot and up came the cutty and it was one last fish on. I fought him and landed him under the double logs. Pat just shook her head, We got back to the camper, broke down the rods. Got inside and at the same time. We did it, all three Colorado natives. Dinner and a nights sleep. A bit restless though as we were both pondered about getting out of here. So later it will be the ride out and the Dunes. The fishing is not done and more surprises lay ahead, BilletHead

Thanks Pat my friend, means a lot to us to share and more important that you all are enjoying it! BilletHead

Oh I can see it now. Why Don't you get her whole kindergarten class signed up and logged in. A class project. That ought to keep Ness and the Nesslings busy . Wait! A better idea would be get them to sand and refinish the deck first , BilletHead

Came home after two weeks to all of my apples stripped off of the trees. They were small because of the dry weather. The coons and squirrels are to blame. I will deal with the coons in time but got to take out one of the other culprits this morning. I got her undressed and cleaned. A tough old gal but lots of meat. Pitched her in the fridge to ponder. To freeze or eat right away? After thinking a bit more I grabbed one of my vintage Wagner Ware skillets. A little 1055C which measures 7.5 inches at the rim and 6.5 inside at the bottom. So I put in a dollop of goose fat and while that was heating mixed some flour, S&P and a shot of dust from hell, not enough to burn you but get that smoky bite. in a zip lock i shook that and the meat up. From there the meat went into the hot little skillet to brown. When browned I pulled the meat and as the skillet cooled a bit I crushed six juniper berries. Grabbed the rosemary too. So I added some cheap White zinfandel to the skillet and heated up again, threw in the crushed juniper berries and a pinch of our garden dehydrated rosemary then took a little spatula and deglazed the pan. when I got this to start to bubble I put the meat back in, nestled it down and reduced to a simmer, The smell was great. I then covered and walked away letting it braise. Couldn't stand it and took a peek 30minutes later, it was making a beautiful gravy with the drippings. Gave it another 30 minutes until forked tender. Time to plate up, The gravy drippings had thickened up and reduced. I poured it over the meat pieces and went to eating, all of it, I felt somewhat guilty about not saving Pat a leg for when she got home from work. BUT I have a few in the freezer and will cook her and i a big skillet full this weekend. May even have some vegetables with it . Since no one else will I am going to give myself some stars for execution, not so many for plating but a bunch for taste. Then take them all away for eating it all . Story from a foodie hack over, BilletHead

I remember you doing the kraut last year and posting the process but not the follow up. Now I know why. In one of our seed catalogs I seen the type of crock you had for sale. I thought about getting one. In my need for information I ran upon a recipe for kimchi. Probably shouldn't start there , BilletHead