This is topic Happy Holidays !!!!!!! in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 21, 2017, 07:43 AM:
Hanukkah is in full swing, today the Sun enters it's winter home (Solstice), Xmas is coming and the New Year is on it's way.
Plus............
God's in Heaven,
Trump's in the White House,
and the Democrats are in tears.
Good times !!!!!! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 21, 2017, 10:27 AM:
OMG! And I have so much left to do before the Solstice Party, caught me completely unprepared!
My big deal is I am actually hosting a Christmas dinner, solo. Never attempted such a thing before. My big concern is the gravy, that should be interesting?
I made my initial trip to Costco for supplies, last night. I'm sure I need several more but this time it will have to be Stater Bros. Life is too short to endure too many Costco parking lots and checkout lines in one week.
I need to study the instructions on stuffing or "dressing" packages. I have no clue? This deal could be success or a complete disaster followed by a trip to Hometown Buffet.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on December 21, 2017, 10:37 AM:
You Tube is your friend.
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on December 21, 2017, 10:48 AM:
I just put HUGE amounts of butter in EVERYTHING. No lie, I used almost 3 lbs of butter making Thanksgiving dinner. I cooked the bacon in butter. Always being asked for my recipes...
Sometimes they wonder why I offer a blindfold and a cigarette when I serve it up though ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
.
- DAA
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on December 21, 2017, 11:14 AM:
LB,
Buy McCormick gravy mix...Poultry gravy is pretty good. Brown gravy is even better. Comes in powder form in a 16 oz. container, I think.
Cavemen can do it, so can you! Just add water, stir until boiling and it will thicken...makes damn good gravy!
Stuffing...I cheat and use the StoveTop brand...easier and faster. Done in 5 minutes after the water boils.
I don't add as much butter as Dave, but I use twice as much as what StoveTop calls for...makes it moister.
I add whipping cream, butter and cream cheese to my mashed potatoes...makes them much smoother!
If you can't tell, since I can't hunt this year, I have been doing the majority of the cooking around our casa...
[ December 21, 2017, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: booger ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 21, 2017, 12:17 PM:
I think Dave is only a small step removed from the Le French school of culinary art? Pretty soon he will be sautéing his chicken livers submerged in drawn butter. Or, just about any disgusting organ meat. Yum!
Gotta hand it to Trump; fried apple pies, Big Macs....and the (Pulp Fiction famous) "Royale w/cheese". Why? Because they are on the Metric System so it can't be called a Quarter Pounder, with cheese.
The Internet, eh? YouTube, eh? McCormick gravy mix, eh? Stovetop, eh? WOW! I got it dicked!
Good hunting. El Bee
PS I think butter was the secret to my sister's Pineapple Upside-down cake. By far the best I ever tasted. Unfortunately, the secret died with her.
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on December 21, 2017, 12:43 PM:
Cream cheese in the smashed taters is genius! Especially for the one of my kids that loves mashed potatoes but claims to hate cream cheese.
Going in the next batch...
- DAA
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 21, 2017, 03:09 PM:
Sour cream in the 'taters works pretty well, too.
Gravy ???
The only one to make is Pioneer Country Gravy Mix.
By far the best !!
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on December 21, 2017, 03:23 PM:
Good luck LB.
I'm not good with dinners for more than 2.
Watched my mom for years and she made it look so easy and simple.
Everyone else have a good Christmas with your family.
Posted by knockemdown (Member # 3588) on December 22, 2017, 05:26 AM:
Man, you fellas got all the tricks down pat!
Heck yeah, sour cream in the mashed taters. And try whipping some into your next batch of scrambled eggs...
Butta makes it betta!
Leonard, when I make homemade stuffing, I start with cubing up breakfast sausage into tidbits and browning them in butter...
Then, cube up an onion and some celery, and add more butter...
Then, add a handful of raisins to the butter.
Couple sprigs of fresh thyme & chopped sage & a bit of resemary, plus salt & peppa to taste. They package the herbs you need as 'poultry seasoning' in the produce section. Oh yeah, add some more butter...
Once you've got that slushy mess nicely sweated out, add your stuffing of choice. Could be pre-packed, or fresh cubed. Whichever, fold the bread into the buttery mess, and add chicken broth, as needed, to get the proper moistness dialed in. There's prolly two sticks of butter in this batch...
Finally, stuff bird & put leftover stuffing in a baking dish to finish out in the oven with whatever else is in there...
As for the bird, I do up a mirepoix (chopped celery, carrots & onions) to bed the bird over.
I like to saute the mirepoix in butter just a bit to get the vegies sweatin'. Then, that goes in the bottom of the pan, and your stuffed bird sits right on top. That bed is a moisture barrier & keeps the bird from drying out. And some more fresh 'poultry seasoning' herbs in there, too...
While its baking, keep an eye on the 'juice' level! You'll likely have to suck out a lot of 'juice' from the baking pan as the bird & vegies cook.
SAVE THIS JUICE! You can strain it, and add a pack of gravy mix to thicken it up. Or, cook the 'juice' down, and puree up some of the mirepoix vegies to help thicken it up. Some flour dusted in will help get the gravy consistency dialed in. Add white wine if ya get too thick. This makes a real kick azz gravy! Season with salt & pepper if it needs any more...
I rub olive oil and fresh herbs on the skin & cook the bird tented with foil for the first few hours @ 325°F Then, remove foil, kick er up to 350° & baste every half hour or so to get a nice golden brown skin. YOu can kick it up higher if the natives are gettin' restless...
Watch your thermometer! Stuffing needs to be 165°F, and that should insure a moist bird...
Shit, now I'm hungry!
Merry Christmas, all!!!
[ December 22, 2017, 05:36 AM: Message edited by: knockemdown ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 22, 2017, 07:41 AM:
Damn! Thanks, Fred!
Sounds great, but I just know I won't be able to do your method, I have to be a little more simple on my first attempt.
I might pick and choose a few of your Redline details, if I have the time? Wish I did?
My practical side says I need to be more concerned with providing clean sheets, towels and toilet paper. Then, if I have the time, get tricky.
But, you take the cake, as always.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 22, 2017, 07:49 AM:
Knock-en -down
Try adding a bag or two of dried cranberries to that stuffing. Makes an awesome finishing touch.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 22, 2017, 09:23 AM:
I fill the bird with apples and onions for flavor and moisture (toss after cooking) just before I put it in the smoker I never bake them any more I used to make one traditional and one smoked soon realized there were never leftovers of the smoked bird. Always make scratch gravy butter and sour cream in the taters. Cant really eat it anymore but love to cook for others ! Dave uses butter like I do. Will be leaving my little piece of heaven and go south to the big city to visit kids and grandkids and one great grand kid !
I Hate the city even a little town like Prescott bothers me.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 22, 2017, 09:27 AM:
Oh forgot Merry Christmas and a happy , heathy and prosperous New Year! Fuck happy holiday's it's Christmas the birth of my lord and savior Jesus Christ . Not ashamed to say it !
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on December 22, 2017, 10:33 AM:
quote:
Oh forgot Merry Christmas and a happy , heathy and prosperous New Year! Fuck happy holiday's it's Christmas the birth of my lord and savior Jesus Christ . Not ashamed to say it !
Woohoo! Paul for President, 2024!
Posted by DanS (Member # 316) on December 22, 2017, 12:19 PM:
Merry Christmas everyone, may God bless all of you.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 22, 2017, 12:24 PM:
Thanks Booger Just speaking for myself !
Not selling anything......
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 22, 2017, 07:46 PM:
Actually, I say Happy Holidays not to be politicly correct but because I have friends who are Christian, Jewish, Druid and Heathen. This is "That most wonderful time of the year" and I don't wish to exclude anybody unless they're wearing a bomb vest.
And no, I am not one of those who are threatened by and make issue with a Manger Scene on the lawn at City Hall.
Happy Holidays to a bunch of blood-thirsty manly men who are exchanging cooking recepies on a coyote board.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 23, 2017, 09:38 AM:
You know, just south of me, down Euclid Blvd is the City of Ontario. Upland, a hundred years ago used to be north Ontario, or "upland" for short.
Anyway, if you drive south on Euclid, like I do on my way to the Kaiser hospital, the entire downtown center median of Ontario has religious themed displays like "Mangers" and wisemen, and things like that. I didn't count them, but there could have been more than a dozen, maybe a lot more stretching for blocks through the heart of town on the main drag. Big elaborate Christmas depictions.
Both Ontario and Upland have a huge center median running the length of Euclid Blvd for about (guess?) 5 or 6 miles and it's a jogging path through Upland that is maybe fifty feet, something like that with thousands of trees, Camfur and Pepper trees outside, inside and both sides of the median in rows, old trees.
When you get to Ontario, it's more of a park along the center of the street, still just as wide but mowed grass and a few trees until you get to the downtown area which is where all the stage displays of Biblical Christmas are set up.
So, my question is; where's the backlash? How is a city of around 200,000 avoiding the inevitable complaints; we must separate religion and government!
I haven't heard a word about it, it just suddenly was set up around Thanksgiving. I have no problem with it, but I assume there are a few Bob Cratchets out there that would impose their values on everyone.
A win for normal people: exchanging recipes!
Good hunting. El Bee
PS Druids? Heathen? You forgot Wiccan?
[ December 23, 2017, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Eddie (Member # 4324) on December 23, 2017, 11:03 AM:
Merry Christmas to all and your family's!!!
From Oklahoma
Can't help on the cooking, not much of a cook but good luck on the meal.
Posted by Grizz (Member # 4626) on December 23, 2017, 12:25 PM:
Damn Fred that bird and the rest look real good.
I likes butter, butter with bacon even better. Was going to hunt for a couple of days but I'm sicker than fuck just right now in time for Christmas. Good thing I'm off for four days. Prolly be well enough just in time to return to work on Wed, SUCKS! Merry Christmas to all even you Leonard. Rick
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on December 23, 2017, 05:16 PM:
LB, I'm glad to hear that about Ontario. I'm not a religious guy, I do praise the Lord daily. He put's up with my swearing & countless other things
On the other hand I just got back from my Ontario, picked up a pizza & a few other things.
Pretty dead, the liquor store was packed though !!
Ok, I stopped there & picked up a little something for tomorrow night. Quit making me feel guilty ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
[ December 23, 2017, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 24, 2017, 09:26 AM:
I am really sweating the dinner tomorrow. I don't know ow females do this? I'm just thinking about potatoes, getting them ready and in a bowl. Then, I bought another ham yesterday, and the instructions call for 115* how am I going to do that with the turkey in the oven at 325*? And, got candied yams with mandarins, pineapple and marshmallows; where does that go?
Also, granddaughter volunteered to do green bean casserole with french fried onions. How could we have a Christmas dinner without a green bean salad? <sarcasm> Again where does that go, stove top along with the Stovetop? I remembered raisins.
I'm debating putting the bird in an oven bag, I know it works good for pot roast. I'm in a dither about gravy. On the one hand, the suggestion is to put mushroom soup in the bag with flour? But, I bought a bag of McCormicks brown gravy mix and turkey gravy mix, to hedge my bets.
Success or disaster, hangs in the balance!
This is like planning an invasion, Normandy comes to mind?
Posted by Lonny (Member # 19) on December 24, 2017, 01:59 PM:
Merry Christmas all!
I don't eat much candy or cookies during the year. Oh, maybe an occasional homemade cookie here and there...
But I'm a sucker for Christmas candy and such.
My MIL makes peanut brittle, almond roca, and caramel corn to die for. My wife really doesn't bake much, but she makes some dandy frosted sugar cookies, which she makes once a year. (yesterday)
Anyway, I can't pass through our kitchen or front office at work for the past week or two without grabbing some sugar-laced thing to eat.
Good thing that stuff is only around for a couple weeks a year or I might turn into butcher hog.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 25, 2017, 02:56 AM:
"Happy Birthday Sweet Jesus".
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on December 25, 2017, 11:38 AM:
Merry Christmas all.
Mark
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 25, 2017, 01:01 PM:
Everybody went on a drive to Hollyweird, no shit.
So, I have the house to myself to prepare everything. I'm just taking a breather for a couple minutes.
Still up in the air, but I'm making progress.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by MI VHNTR (Member # 3370) on December 25, 2017, 06:45 PM:
A Very Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year to all from the frozen UP of Michigan.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 28, 2017, 04:59 AM:
Well how did the dinner turn out Chef Leo !
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 28, 2017, 07:23 AM:
Thanks for asking!
Dinner was a success, believe it or not? The turkey was very good except that I somehow overlooked the giblets when I stuffed the bird? I managed everything, even the yams were appreciated. However, I had opened two cans of cranberries and stored them in the refrigerator, but forgot to put them on the table. Nobody mentioned the oversight. I have a hell of a lot of ham left over which was just insurance if we ran out of turkey. But, we didn't. Didn't even have to resort to dark meat, which I don't mind anyway.
What this event did was leave me with a healthy respect for the females who are usually tasked with providing and fixing the grub we all consume on these holidays. It's a lot of work, and in my case, stressful!
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on December 28, 2017, 04:02 PM:
Good going LB!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 29, 2017, 08:50 AM:
Thank you!
My son is an enthusiastic cook. Me, not so much but there are a few things I tackle, like my spaghetti, which is superior. Including my meatballs. They can't just be rolled up hamburger, I blend them with egg and cracker crumbs and spices. Then, I fry them first, to brown them before submerging them in the sauce for hours. I fry the sausages also, just to brown them, and then simmer all of it for several hours. For me, spaghetti really should have meatballs, but ribs, chicken and even pork chops is ok, once in a while. To me, just about any meat is enhanced by simmering in spaghetti sauce. I'm not too big on mushrooms and go light on chile, my spaghetti isn't very hot.
I do a pretty good corned beef dinner, too. That's a lot of work. I'm a busy cook, don't leave it unattended for very long. You also need to taste it for evaluation; comprende?
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on December 29, 2017, 02:28 PM:
The door is open. Come north and bring the meatballs!
Sounds very good.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on December 29, 2017, 07:06 PM:
I've delved into cooking somewhat, my wife bless her just ain't into it. She does OK mind you, but 'eh
We make lots of meat & eggs around here, pretty simple stuff. I'm working on chicken, I love me some fried yard bird-yum !!
Speaking of which I was in Vale Oregon today, about 20 miles away, stopped @ the market there & got some yard bird. Dang pretty good stuff !!
(edit)
What a hick town, ya gotta' love it. Women in dresses & cowboy boots, another gal wearing a Stormy Kromer. Good times & friendly folks.
[ December 29, 2017, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 30, 2017, 09:41 AM:
Wife not into it? In my opinion, her mother's fault. Too pampered growing up.
Firstly, my wife couldn't hardly boil water when we were first married. Guess what? Her mom not only didn't care about cooking and feeding her four children and husband, but never asked her daughter to jump in and help out. I guess some of these females expect to eat in restaurants their whole life, which is good, I guess if you are married to Donald Trump, for instance.
In the case of my daughter, she helped her mom after her mom learned a few basic things but it was a little strained until she did. Right now, my daughter is almost kidded on the net because all she does with her FaceBook page is photos of stuff she cooked. Not really, but there are a lot of dinners and recipes.
In defense of my wife, she turned out pretty competent, so like I say, I blame a mother that doesn't teach a girl child the facts of life in the kitchen. I mean, even if I could, I wouldn't want to eat every meal in a restaurant. I do understand a lack of enthusiasm, can't help that. But, isn't it like washing clothes? Not everybody has laundry service.
Besides, with prepared, canned and frozen foods available, it's not difficult to serve half way decent meals. I live alone and couldn't begin to eat every meal from scratch. Truthfully, cooks these days have got it made.
Good hunting. El Bee
edit: last woman I saw wearing a dress and cowboy boots was four or five years ago, in west Texas. I'm still waiting to see the first female in a Stormy Kormer.
[ December 30, 2017, 09:45 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on December 30, 2017, 08:32 PM:
Yup you nailed it Leonard. Wife's mom dumped her dad about 40 years ago. Went on to two other failed marriages. Mom felt guilty & babied the daughters.
Good girls, one is mine, just no kitchen skills.
I see women every once in awhile with Kromers, functional dress for a ranch wife.
Something about a woman & a Kromer driving a flat bed with a gooseneck stock trailer. Kinda gets a guy fired up !!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 30, 2017, 09:16 PM:
Yeah Dave. That's the way I feel when I see a woman in a hunting or shooting situation. It actually turns me on. My failure, I never pushed my wife or daughter. If they didn't want to, that's all I had to hear....just as long as she didn't keep me from what I liked to do. The only complaint I heard was that I might be away, and she didn't like to be alone. Also understandable, so I tried to make up for it in other ways. Jewelry seemed to work. lol
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 31, 2017, 04:23 AM:
edit: last woman I saw wearing a dress and cowboy boots was four or five years ago, in west Texas. I'm still waiting to see the first female in a Stormy Kormer.
You need to come to Ash Fork !LOL !
[ December 31, 2017, 04:25 AM: Message edited by: Paul Melching ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 31, 2017, 07:43 AM:
So, I think you are bragging on Ash Fork as a great little Hick Town? I can guarantee you that I have wandered into that place before you ever heard of it? Late 60's, when it was still just one leg along route 66, and long before the freeway came to town.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on December 31, 2017, 01:08 PM:
Good grief! You guys live a sheltered life.
You'd absolutely like me. Usually basball caps, camo cloths, boots and so forth. Yeah and I can cook!
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 31, 2017, 03:19 PM:
Sheltered ???
Not me........... I'm from Safford !!!!
We even got women that wear make-up !!!!!!
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on December 31, 2017, 04:48 PM:
Oddly ? my wife's mom is a hell of a cook. In my opinion, I don't ask much not real picky as long as most veggies ain't involved. Yuck !!
She's retired late 60's. Wife has talked about moving her in. Well, I'm unsure about that right now, cookin' would be good though.
I have a cow that keeps getting out, better go check. Made more fence improvements today. He's sounding better & better all the time, on the dinner table of course.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 31, 2017, 07:06 PM:
How come you never mentioned your wife's mom before? You could set me up when I'm in town. Umm? Unless it's Alaska.
Good hunting, and Happy New Years!
El Bee
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