I Miss Jamaica Hotdog

With my return to BBQ Brethren's throwdowns, it's given me more ideas of food to do. This week's throwdown is "Tubesteak & Sausagefest", and immediately I knew what I was making.

On our honeymoon, one of the restaurants had a pork rib hot dog with pulled pork and cheese on top. In case you've forgotten, or weren't around then (shame on you), lets take a stroll down memory lane to nearly 2 years ago ...

We'll get back to the dog in a minute, but lets start with the sides. Since this is kind of a honeymoon recreation, I let the wifey decide what went with the dogs.

First, I started off by cooking 4 stripes of thick cut bacon while she diced the onions, peppers, and tomato.

Once the bacon was done, we took it out and cooked the onion and pepper in the bacon grease for about 8 minutes (until they weren't crunchy).

Once those were cooked, we added the drained and rinsed beans, chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, and crumbled bacon pieces and let it cook on medium-high for 20 minutes.

While the beans were cooking away, it was time for the star. I got some beer pork bratwursts from Whole Foods (because we wanted to go fancy).

Dawn stopped by the store on the way home and even picked up some fresh bakery hotdog buns.

Rhett isn't the biggest fan of cook time because that means he's not getting any love and attention.

For those that aren't from the South. I'd like to present to you, a Carolina Moon. You know, just cause.

Topped the beer pork brat with some pulled pork with sweet and spicy sauce and finished with sharp Vermont cheddar cheese.

The air conditioning wasn't the same as the open air Jamaican restaurant, and although the dog was delicious, I still haven't been able to master the greatest hotdog in the world. However, one thing is just as good as it was in Jamaica (actually better) ... I had my wife of nearly 2 years right beside me.

America Loves Bacon Tour

The America Loves Bacon Tour stopped by Columbia, SC on March 28th. The Yardcocks (nickname for the South Carolina Gamecocks Baseball team) also had a game that day, so we decided to ride down, check out the festival and then catch the game.

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot you could smell the yummy bacon goodness in the air.

Bacon wrapped shrimp

Chocolate covered bacon, bacon doughnut

Bacon models. Those Carl Jr/Hardees models ain't got nothing on us.

Of course I had to take a picture of the grill.

The greatest thing at the whole festival ... bacon wrapped tater tots.

Bacon/pork sliders and hot dog ...

... with cheese.

It's bacon ... on a steeeeeeeck.

Who doesn't need a bacon cupcake?

The women's bacon eating contest. The chick on the far right won, although the lady in the blue might have actually taken it.

The over to one of the most beautiful sites in the world, Carolina Stadium.

The festival was a little smaller than we were expecting, but we still had a great time. If nothing else, it was great people watching. We couldn't figure out why some vendors accepted the tickets and others expected cash. Usually it's one or the other.

Although my team didn't win, we still had a great day. Hopefully the festival will return to SC next year, because ... well ... I LOVE BACON!!!!!

Fried Green Tomato and Bacon Biscuits with BBQ Sauced Shrimp and Grits

So I've realized that it's been far too long since I've done some cooking for this (originally) food blog, so what better way to get some creative ideas for new cooks? The BBQ Brethren Throwdowns.

This week's Throwdown title is "Appetizer and Entree Duo." I decided to dig through some cookbooks for ideas, and found these. For the appetizers, I chose to make fried green tomato and bacon biscuits.

First, I took the green tomatoes and sliced them into 1/3" to 1/4" slices.

Dipped them into flour, egg and buttermilk, and then into self-rising cornmeal, flour, and smoked salt and pepper mixture.

Them fried them in a pan of canola oil.

While the tomatoes were cooling, I threw some buttermilk biscuits on the grill. Yes, the grill, since a majority of the cook has to be grilled or smoked per the throwdown rules.

At the same time, I threw some bacon on the side burner.

Once the appetizers were completed, we started working on the entree. Dawn started on the grits and shredded extra sharp Vermont white cheddar cheese.

While she worked her masterpiece, I grilled the shrimp.

Used the left over bacon to add it to the mixture ...

and drizzled on some spicy BBQ sauce.

The appetizer and entree may not win the throwdown, but they were both extremely good ... 

until I noticed the disaster left over in the kitchen afterwards (my wife is making me footnote that the dishwasher was full prior to beginning supper).

If Popeye Ate Chicken

This morning on the radio they said that today was some anniversary for Popeye. I thought, how cool, I'm posting a Popeye named post today (was titled that before I heard it). I search to see which year it was to make this cool interesting post about how I'm making this fancy post on Popeye's anniversary, and all I can find is that it's actually January 17th that Popeye first appeared. So with that being said, I have no clue if this is an important Popeye day or not, but here's my first cooking post in what seems like forever.

So my mom sent this recipe to Dawn, and knowing that it's 2 things that I am not fond of, she thought it'd be perfect to try.

The recipe makes 8 chicken breasts, so we just kind of winged the portions a bit. All you need is chicken breasts, spinach leaves, ham, (fat free) cream cheese and (reduced fat) feta.

The first steps is pretty easy, get some chicken breasts and trim off all the globs of fat. As you can tell, like my butts, I like big breasts too.

Cut a pocket on one side and as deep as you can (the bigger the pocket, the more filling you can get inside). I usually place my opposite hand flat on top side of the meat while I'm cutting, so I can feel the angle of the blade inside and it helps keep me from cutting through one side and gives me a more even cut.

We used deli ham slices for the ham, then chopped the spinach leaves (throwing out the steams), and mixed the cream cheese and feta.

I laid 2 slices of ham flat, and on one half added the spinach and on the other, the cheese mix.

Folded it together ... just cause.

Slide in the little mixture sandwich and added some EVOO and smoked salt and pepper on top.

Close them up with toothpicks.

Baked in the oven at 350 for 40 minutes (recipe called for 45, but we thought that'd be way too long). Added some asparagus on a separate tray underneath.

We should have taken the foil off halfway through to give the chicken a little color.

Probably could have pulled the chicken a minute or 2 earlier. It wasn't dry, but as you can see, just tore a little while cutting through it.

I'm not a big spinach fan, and I hate cream cheese with a passion ... but this is GOOD! If you're tryign to find something delicious and healthy, here you go.