Quarterly BBQ Lunch - Pulled Pork - Turkey Breast - Sausage

I do a quarterly lunch at my work. Using a smoker that we pull behind the truck, I'll sleep in my office and cook the meat all night long at about 250 deg F. Started about 11:30 pm and pull the meat off at about 11 am. The beans and sausage go on about 8am. I check the fire about every two hours to make sure it is still going. I use charcoal for the main heat source and then hickory for the smoke flavor. I then pull the pork and cut up the turkey and sausage. Then set everything out. Menu: Pulled Pork Smoked Turkey Breast Sausage Baked Beans Green Beans Coconut Cake - Thanks, Judy! Cookies - Thanks, Lisa! Sweet Tea and Lemonade - Thanks, Gary! Thanks to Mike, Gil, Ryan, and Hunt for helping me get everything in from the smoker! And thanks to my dad for letting me borrow the smoker and teaching me everything I know about cooking BBQ!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jC74zZU2yQ&hl=en

Soul Food Recipes - Top 3 Cakes Eaters Love

Soul food desserts follow the best southern recipes to top off the best meals. The one layer cakes have the reputation as tasty, satisfying and light. I polled a sample of my readers on their favorite cakes. Many were eaters and others were cooks who prided themselves on baking these cakes. Of course those were the one's with the interesting stories and memory.

The memories of family gatherings accompanied by their cake creations filled their thoughts. Most of the cakes that finished at the top of the favorites list were the one layer or the sheet cake variety. But others that received votes but finished lower on the list mentioned the multi-layer cakes. These received fewer votes perhaps because they had more elaborate baking techniques than the 3 that finished at the top of our voters list. For example, the 3 layer chocolate and coconut cakes.

Here's a list of the top 3 soul food cakes voted by readers.

1. Sock-it-to-me Cake - This cake started out as an excellent cake eaten for the holidays. But it has grown in popularity and now many people enjoy it all year. The pecans, cinnamon and nutmeg gives it a tasty and crunchy texture. An excellent coffee cake if you drink coffee. Also an excellent light snack also.

2. 7-Up Cake - This light cake has grown into a popular soul food cake. As the name implies, 7up is added to the cake mix instead of water. This helps to make the cake light and airy. The texture is similar to pound cake. It's shaped and baked in a bunt pan and topped with a glaze or white frosting.

3. Lemon Jell-O Cake - This is another favorite with readers who love the hint of tang plus the lightness of the cake. This sheet cake is topped with a clear lemon glaze that gives it just the right look and taste. People love this cake because it's super simple to make and taste good. It's especially good right out of the oven and topped with glaze.

Cake is an all time favorite when it comes to soul food recipes. These desserts represent celebration and good times to those who consume them. Their simplicity encourages more people to try their hand at baking them and many have. These are beginners cakes. Some creative types even add their own imagination to give the cakes their own unique touch or signature.

You Want to Be Happy? Get Inspired by Little Katie's Story

Little Katie offered to help her mum to prepare a cake for her sixth birthday party. "Well thank you Katie! That's great! We'll make a special chocolate cake this year, with custard and roasted almonds, and coconut flakes..." said mum, wanting to make the event really exciting for Katie.

And so, the preparations for Katie's special cake started.

First, there was the whisking of eggs. Little Katie did it brilliantly but just as she was passing the bowl to her mum the egg mix fell on the kitchen floor. Mum didn't realize until she saw Katie sliding right and left in a puddle of egg mix, giggling and shouting: "Look mummy, I can dance like Justin Timberlake now! Look!"

Mum looking horrified, quickly proceeded to clean up the mess so they could start the cake all over again.

After the sponge base was taken out of the oven and had cooled down, it was time to squirt the custard onto the first layer of the cake. Katie thought she'd spice it all a bit more by emptying the whole jar of strawberry jam onto it too, and flatten it using her hands.

"Look mum, bloooooood! Aaaargh! Are you afraid mum?!"

Mum told her to stop messing and to wash her hands well with soap. "OK" said Katie " but can we keep the jam in my cake please mum? I like jam...Three hours later, the kitchen looked like a battle site and Katie's chocolate cake was almost finished.

Mum had melted dark chocolate buttons and had covered the cake fully with the melted chocolate, and the coconut flakes were ready to be sprinkled onto the top. Katie was busy licking the remaining melted chocolate straight from the bowl. Her red lips and rosy cheeks were covered in dark brown chocolate and her new pink t-shirt was now a little abstract work of art.

"Katie! What are you doing? Don't you want to wait until we finish your special cake?" to which Katie, wearing the biggest smile on her little cute face, replied: "No mummy, thank you, I'm happy now".

Just thinking of little Katie puts a smile on my face...

Kids can often teach us adults valuable lessons. And no one knows how to be happy the way kids do. Playfully, even nonchalantly, fully immersing yourself in the moment, with no other expectations but to just be there and enjoy whatever it is you are doing to the maximum.

Being happy " just because" is something we, as adults, tend to forget along the way. When you allow yourself to remember all the simple, "silly" things you used to do when you were a kid that made you so happy so easily, you can realize that you can choose to be happy right now too. Just think of something that puts a smile on your face and notice how much happier you feel!

Follow Dr. Richard bandler's Recipe for Happiness: Be in a good mood for as long as you can!

Mediterranean Grilled Lamb, Feta Cheese and Kalamata Olive Salad

Because the Mediterranean contains many cultures in close proximity, national cuisines have influenced each other over the centuries. In common they share a love for healthy colorful ingredients, a wide use of seafood, grilled lamb, cheeses, olive oil, olives, and flavorful breads.

The Mediterranean diet is healthy, and equally as beneficial for well-being is the custom of long family meals taken together and enjoyed with good wine.

Traditionally, lamb has been served at Easter, Passover, and in general in spring in many cultures around the world. This grilled lamb salad is a substantial meal in itself. An easy to prepare light desert, and suggested wine pairing follows:

Ingredients:

1 lb. cubed lamb sirloin
9 T. good quality olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. dried oregano
1 T. dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste

4 cups baby spinach
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 small basket ripe cherry tomatoes
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced
2 T capers
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
2 T red wine vinegar
2 T finely chopped mint

Instructions:

Place the cubed lamb, one-third of the oil, oregano, basil, garlic, salt and pepper into a bowl. Mix well to coat the lamb with the spices and oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

-Preheat grill. Arrange lamb on skewers and grill, turning occasionally, until medium. Set aside on a plate.

-For the dressing whisk together 6 tablespoons of oil, vinegar, mint, salt and pepper.

-On four plates arrange the spinach, feta, tomatoes, cucumbers, capers and olives, top with the cooked lamb, and drizzle the dressing over each salad. Serve with crusty warm rolls or scalloped potatoes. And lemon bars for desert.

Lemon Bars:

Crust:

1 cup butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour

Filling:

4 beaten eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions:

For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat the butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Add the salt and flour and mix well. Press into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake 20 minutes.

While the crust is baking, mix the filling ingredients together, then pour onto hot crust and bake an additional 20-minutes until set. Remove from the oven and cool.

Mix the powdered sugar and lemon juice glaze ingredients together until smooth and drizzle over top of lemon bars. When set, cut into 15 squares.

Wine pairing suggestion: Syrah 2005 Sonoma County from Tamayo Family Vineyards: http://tamayofamilyvineyards.com

This delectable Syrah won the Double Gold Best of Class winner at the 2008 North of the Gate Wine Competition. 91 points from Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide August 2008. Gold Medal from Best of Appellation Awards. Silver Medal from San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2008. Silver Medal from the World Wine Championships 2008.

Authentic Thai Chicken Stir Fry

Want to cook Thai stir fry just like the restaurant? Surprise your family and friends with this authentic Thai recipe.

The key of having that authentic Thai stir fry taste lies in the coconut milk, every other ingredient has to maintain the same ratio with how much coconut milk you put in.

Basic ingredients:

1 quart water
3/4 cup coconut milk
2 cups uncooked jasmine rice
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh ginger root, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 medium onion, sliced
5 green onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2 inch strips

Ingredients adjustment (base on personal taste):
Spicy - Add more red pepper flakes and chile oil.
Blend - Less vinegar and more mushrooms.

Directions:
1. Boil rice and water in a pot.
2. Cover pot, reduce heat to low for 20 minutes.
3. Mix the following in a bowl:

- coconut milk
- soy sauce
- rice wine vinegar
- fish sauce
- red pepper flakes.

4. Heat oil with skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Stir in ginger, onion and garlic.
6. Cook until lightly browned.
7. Add chicken strips, cook for 3 minutes (or until browned).
8. Stir in the sauce from the bowl.
9. Cooking until sauce is reduced to 1/3.
10. Mix in green onions, basil and mushrooms.
11. Cook until everything is heated through.
12. Serve over the cooked rice.

Sandra Lee - No-Bake Love Cake

Originally aired as part of the "Wedding Bells" episode (Episode SH1104H) on the Food Network, May 3rd, 2008. Ingredients: • 1 bakery-bought half-sheet cake, frosted white • 1 bakery-bought 10-inch layer cake, frosted white • 1 bakery-bought 8-inch layer cake, frosted white • 12 to 15 wedding theme decorated cookies • Silver dragees Directions: Place 10-inch layer cake in the center of sheet cake. Place the 8-inch layer cake on the top of the 10-inch layer cake. Decorate the top and sides of the cake with the cookies by gently pressing them into frosting. Finish decorating with dragees.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOSAgsfeppU&hl=en

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE? + COCONUT CARROT CELERY CUCUMBER JUICE RECIPE can you dig it? :D

JUICING RECIPE is HERE! CLICK(more info)⬆ life-regenerator.com *JUICERS http *VEGGIE WASH VEGGIE-WASH.life-regenerator.com *JARS of JUICE http *SHOP SHOP.life-regenerator.com *AMAZON http *DONATIONS DONATE.life-regenerator.com *FACEBOOK http ❤ COCONUT CARROT CELERY &CUCUMBER JUICING RECIPE ❤ YIELD: ¾ qt. = 24 oz = 710 ml = 0.71 l * I ngredients * — Always SCRUB & WASH PRODUCE before juicing OR eating! I use VEGGIE WASH! VEGGIE-WASH.life-regenerator.com — 1 Thai Young Coconut (only the young coconut water is needed−you can use the young coconut meat for a different recipe) — 2 Carrots (peeled or unpeeled...your choice, depending on how 'clean' they look and if they are organic or not) — 1 head Celery — 1 Cucumber * P rep * — 1) Open Thai Young Coconut to get coconut water out−watch this vid if you need help: bit.ly — 2) Run all other ingredients through your Breville juicer, or whatever the best juicer is for you. JUICERS.life-regenerator.com — 3) Combine the resulting juice together with the coconut water. — 4) For the portion of juice you're drinking right now, just add ice if desired & enjoy! — 5) Immediately pour any remaining juice into GLASS mason jars, sealed shut w PLASTIC lids (metal lids rust). GLASS MASON JARS + PLASTIC CAPS for your JUICE can be found here: JARS.life-regenerator.com Then just keep your jars of juice in a fridge or cooler until you're ready to drink some more! Your juice can stay very fresh this way for 2 days, 3 at the absolute most ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q83ny5Gs0bM&hl=en