Summertime.....

and the livin' is easy.......

Heading up to Cape Vincent for most of the summer- not sure if/when I'll internet access @ camp.

Thanks for following my blog thus far- I really enjoy the sharing and I look forward to returning ASAP!

Gulf Concert.....

My daughter just e-mailed me from Biloxi- She scored free tickets for Jimmy Buffett's Gulf Concert.

Here's the press release-

Jimmy Announces Free Gulf Concert

To demonstrate support for the people, businesses and culture of the Gulf Coast, CMT will telecast a free musical celebration live from the beach at Gulf Shores, Ala. CMT Presents Jimmy Buffett & Friends Live from the Gulf Coast will air on CMT on Thursday, July 1, from 8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band will be joined in the concert by his friends Sonny Landreth, Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Jesse Winchester and Allen Toussaint. A special souvenir tee shirt will also be designed for the concert and sold online and at the show. More info coming soon!

Tix sold out in 10 mins. so she's pretty psyched, as I'd be too.

Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band for starters-ought to be a heck of a show.

Toasties.....

My food blogging friend Sasa  (Click Here for Sasa) who hails from Austria  had a post about toasties a few days back. 

No, not Post Toasties. It seems that on the other side of the pond they refer to the American classic Grilled Cheese as Toasties-and damn, her Toasties looked awesome. 

Here's her pics.

Look at that English Cheddar.... I'm seriously done at this point.

Yup, that's Red Onion... 

And the finished Toastie-Yup, I'd inhale that, and maybe, just maybe two or three more.

So anyways, tonight I was inspired by Sasa's post to make some Toasties.

I mean I mowed the lawn, got my hair cut and it was a good night for something simple, like me.

I started out with sourdough bread and a slice of swiss cheese.

And then some tomato...

And added some crispy bacon-yup-bacon.

A slice of American on top....

And the lid-If I'd had butter that would've been butter-but it was Smart Balance (sorry, so sorry!).

After the first flip....

On the griddle.....

Done!

Serious Toasties here kids.

Wait a minute, how'd I get into this post?

Toasties-Try 'Em.

Breadhead....

Yes I am! 

Made some bread for apps at the upcoming wedding this weekend- It's all No-Knead -Baked for two nights straight. 

Got the Olive oil/garlic mix ready, bring it on!

Not bad for an amateur, huh?

Let's Go Eat!

Took the kids to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY today and waddya know?

Their new exhibit is called "Let's Eat! Adirondack Food Traditions" (Click Here for link).

Gotta say I was tickled pink.  

The exhibit is chock full of the history of food and drink in my back yard, the Adirondacks.  

The info on the brochure describes it this way,

"A new exhibit celebrating food, drink, and the pleasures of eating in the Adirondack Park, sharing culinary stories and customs from Native American corn soup to Farmer's Markets."

Lot's of cool stuff to see.

.

Great in the winter months, must have sweltered in the summer.

Nice little camp stove, not much different than the ones Coleman sells today.

I'll make you guess on this one.

Christine Campeau, the Museum's School Program's Manager/Museum Educator did a fabulous job with the kids (and the adults).  She puts in a ton of hours in prep and her energy and enthusiasm are second to none. Thank you very much Christine!

All in all it was a great day. The Adirondack Museum is a must see if you've never been there, and take it from this guy, who goes at least once a year, there's always something new.

And this year it's about food, cooking and dining, doesn't get any better than that!

They'll have a lot of related activities to this exhibit this summer, click on the above link for the schedule.

Park residents get in free until the end of June. Go for it!

Karen's Baked Beans....

My friend Karen gave me this recipe last year for baked beans- they're pretty darn good-may have something to do with the bacon!

Baked Beans Super Sized

From Sue Moeller, via Donna Sloan, sweetened up by Karen Greiner

The original recipe called for less brown sugar and ketchup.

 It had to strong of a molasses flavor for me, so here's my rendition.

This makes a large quantity and can be cut in half.

1 lb. bacon, fried, reserve the grease, save for the top

1 large onion, sautéed in a bit of bacon grease

2 lb. ground beef, brown

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans butter beans                 Drain, wash, strain

2 cans garbonzo beans (chick)

2 cans pork n beans

1 can B & W baked beans                keep the sauce

Mix in separate bowl create the sauce

 2 TBS molasses

3/4 cup ketchup, (or a dash more to your taste)

3/4 cup brown sugar, (or a dash more to your taste)

? cup white sugar

After frying the bacon and keeping it for the top of the beans, take out all the grease. I used a non-stick pan so I only placed a couple of tablespoons back in the pan to sauté the onions. Once onions are translucent, brown the ground beef. Add the sauce to the meat and onions to coat.

Combine all beans and meat mixture together in the pan you are going to bake in.

Top with remaining bacon, I broke it into pieces so everyone could get some.

350 until baked through.

Enjoy!

Waddya gonna do.....

with those rotten bananas?

Gonna make some banana bread!

Yup- we smushed them bananas!

So that's the shot prior to baking

 

Looks pretty gooey, and it was.....

Muffins came out really good.

And the loaf......

is priceless, (well for banana bread).

Want some?

Doc's Sourdough...

My good friend Dr. Fugawe makes some serious bread out in Oregon. 

He's into sourdough and is a light year ahead of me in technique and quality of product.  

I aspire to bake like the Doc.

Here's a pic that made me drool this morning-

Look at the crumb, look at the melting butter.......

Yo Doc- send me some starter!

Click here to go to the Doc' s site

Man vs. Food in the 'Cuse......

 Man vs. Food host Adam Richman was in Syracuse yesterday to tape an episode that will air in September.

If you're not familiar with the show, all I can say is that it's the culinary equivalent of Masterpiece Theatre on PBS.  We're talking quality TV (I know, that's an oxymoron).

He taped at the legendary Dinosaur BBQ and Heid's  in Liverpool.

It seems that it was a top secret taping, so we can only guess, what the challenge will be, but I'd guess there'll be some serious heat involved.

Here's the link-Click Here. 

Memorial Day Weekend....

I've been meaning to post these pics for a few days now, but spending a weekend with my good buddy Chef Steve means serious recovery time. 

The weather was beautiful in Cape Vincent and he cooked up a storm. 

Here's the evidence.

Steve made homemade baked beans in his new bean pot, which he bought at a Chinese food store, hmmmm....

(I've had Lo Mein and Sesame Chicken, but baked beans? )

These took longer than 10 minits!

Salt pork. Makes me want to oink.

National Donut Day....

Tomorrow, the first Friday in June is designated National Donut Day.

Seriously, you can look it up- Click Here .

So I suggest tomorrow we all get our donut on!