Let's Talk

Quoting Maynard:

<<The Superbowl is a microcosm of the American way. Two teams duking it out on the field, while the rest of us watch in rapt attention. To sustain ourselves in this endeavor, we must eat, and drink in copious quantities. The goal is to have as much fun as possible between noon and 800pm and finish victorious, having consumed everything in sight. Those who go out too fast, will be a game plan failed. The answer Marlene, is to pace yourself for an eight hour struggle, against long odds. Good Luck!>>

To Maynard and All My Post Superbowl Fans:

I failed miserably at pacing myself yesterday and should have taken Maynards suggestion above. Our friends (9 to be exact) arrived promptly at 3pm, just in time to take their unassigned positions around the 2 TV's and the kitchen island (two guests in walkers). I knew right away we were in trouble. There was WAY too much food, period. There were 10 of us and we had enough food for an entire football team! At kick-off here's what was on the table (AKA Island):

Original Homemade Chex Mix
Guacamole (two versions) and Scoops
Mild Salsa and Tortilla Chips
Portabello Salsa
Smoked Salmon Spread
THREE versions of Chicken Wings
Ranch Cheese Ball and Crackers
Pickled Jalapenos
Little Smokies in the Crockpots (two versions)
Beer Batter Bread and Softened Butter
Raspberry Lemonade--Cranberry Juice Punch with Lime (virgin)
Champagne
White Wine
Beer
Gin and Tonic
Rum

Now that you see the picture, you're thinking... well that's a pretty typical Superbowl grazing table. But here's the kick:

The day before I made the Pulled Pork for the Sliders. We bought two 6-pound Boston Butts -- both bone in. Friday night we did a dry rub on both. Saturday morning we put one of the butts in the crock pot and followed Momlid's Pulled Pork recipe with the cola. The other butt went into our MasterBuilt smoker and we smoked for 8 hours in apple/alder chips, mopping each hour when we added chips. Both butts reached 190 about the same time. I removed Momlid's pulled pork from the crockpot and followed instructions to shred and mix with the BBQ sauce. The smoked pulled pork I also shredded and added no sauce. Both went into separated containers and put in the ice box.

At half time we moved all the grazing food off the kitchen island and brought forth the Pulled Pork Sliders. Momlid's Pulled Pork was served with a squeeze bottle of Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. The smoked Pulled Pork was served with a Western North Carolina Sauce, also in a Squeeze bottle. We set out 2 dozen Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and everyone had at it, placing the pulled pork on the bottom half of the bun, topped with the slaw and other half of the roll. We had so much fun tasting the two different Pulled Porks and sauces! However, it was total overkill. All guests were warned to not pig out TOO much because the main guest of honor would be the Pulled Pork Sliders. It was not an easy task trying to moderate the game of Super Bowl pacing.

I think next year I"ll just do one recipe and it will be Momlid's Crockpot Version. In the end, it was so totally easy compared to smoking and mopping required of the smoked Pulled Pork. And also, next year I will attempt to pace myself more..... As the Saints began to shine in the second half... I knew my Colts were going to lose the game.... so I just went for more and more good eats and drinks. And this morning, I am wondering how crazy I was to not take this Monday off work, LOL.

Hope you all had a Great Game Day! Thanks again for all the wonderful suggestions. I hope you all have a chance to try Momlid's Pulled Pork... it was soooo good and so easy and everyone asked for the recipe.

Marlene

Wow, Marlene...it sounds like a deliciously fun time! That was quite a game; I literally flew out of my seat when Porter made that interception. I really had no preference who won this time, but it was pretty cool to see the underdogs come through.

Our son-in-law grilled tri-tip and ribs...really really good!

Champagne,

Sounds like your family had a great Game Day too! I miss tri-tip so much -- it's just not the same here in the Northwest as in California, when you can even find it.

The Saints did play the BEST ball yesterday -- gotta give them credit for a very exciting Super Bowl. Some years that game is lopsided or too low scoring, etc..... and yesterday was great fun so I"m happy for the Saints and their fans! This will carry right over into one BIG Mardi Gras Celebration~!!~

I wanted to mention that in MomLid's Pulled Pork recipe... my crockpot runs high even on low, so it didn't take the 10 hours but more like 7 hours. I had my thermometer set to 190 and then I took the pork butt out of the oven and covered it tightly in foil for about 1 hour before shredding and tossing with the BBQ sauce. Darn newer crockpots today run so high!

Now onward to Valentine's Day and those chocolate recipes

Marlene

Everything about yesterday was magical. The commercials, the halftime show, and the game itself, I really didn't have a dog in the race, but Mark Brunnel came out of St Joseph High School in Santa Maria, Reggie Bush out of USC, and Drew Brees had been traded from the Chargers. So I pulled for New Orleans. They played dramatically, and they played to win. The favored Colts, played not to lose. That was a huge difference.

Marlene; your efforts rivaled that of the Saints. What a spread! You obviously understand the significance of Super Bowl Sunday. An American tradition, which has developed in my lifetime, and only gets bigger each year. As George Patton said about war: "God I love it so".

We had tamales, chilli, 4 kinds of dip, two types of chips, potato salad, sliced jalapenos, olives, salsa, bloody marys, and white wine. We finished standing; not comatose in my recliner. But dinner was out of the question. In a society that rewards conspicuous excess, we held up our end of the log.

Next year I shall try Momlids pulled pork. Is there any concensus out there, for the best BBQ sauce to use?

I used KC Masterpiece Original. It has a nice depth of flavor and is not overly tomatoey.

Linda went to Costco on Saturday with my debit card. Always a $100. mistake. They were serving up samples of this and that to entice the Superbowl crowd. She brought home Kirkland canned chuncked chicken breast, Bistro Potato Salad, new Orowheat thin whole wheat buns. She served it up for lunch today, very tasty. She dumped the chicken breast in a skillet, added KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce, and a little water. Heated and served on the buns, with potato salad. I swear it tasted like a pulled pork sandwich.
Now, what do I do with a box of Wheathins the size of a breadbox?

They go good with soup. My MIL used to take things like that and melt cheese on them. She's turn them into bite sized pizzas.

Maynard, I used Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce.. the original. KC Masterpiece would be good, too... actually whatever BBQ sauce you like best -- as long as it isn't Asian style... or something like "teriyaki raspberry chipotle", LOL.

Lenny, I like the Orowheat "thin buns" too. They are a good source of fiber. I like to put them in the toaster, then slather with a combo of Meyernberg goat butter and almond butter. YUM.

I have to rewatch the Super Bowl commercials online when I get home tonight as I missed parts of nearly every single one. I love watching them online the day after. Every year they get better and more pricier per second, LOL.

<~~~ can't wait to get home tonight and eat leftover Pulled Pork Sliders! Momlid is correct -- her recipe makes a lot, especially because you don't really use all that much per slider.

Ah.... Monday work day is nearly over.

Marlene

Well, as luck would have it. Our daughter, husband, and three grandkids are descending upon us next week. Lucky me. I bought a 4 lb pork butt, and will do it tonight in cola.
The other grandkids will undoubtedly be drawn to this event, and I will have a whole passel of screaming children here. Perhaps if I stuff the little darlings with pulled pork, they will be too gorked out, to think of flushing a toothbrush down my toilet this time.

Marlene, that is one of my favorite bottled BBQ sauces. Trader Joe's Kansas City Style is also pretty good. If I buy BBQ sauce I always seem to add a little this-or-that to it. I like your idea of toasting the Oroweat thin sandwich buns. I've used them but not toasted...sounds good!

Maynard, you are just too funny!

Maynard,

I hope it wasn't an electric toothbrush..........


Marlene

Wow Myrtle - I wish I was at your place for Super Bowl! Our "party" was a party of 2, so nothing grand this time. I'm so glad you enjoyed the pulled pork recipe! You mentioned BBQ smokies in the crockpot-how did you do them?

I make the little smokies either with BBQ sauce or a one to one mixture of BBQ sauce and grape jelly.

Momlid, yes we LOVED your pulled pork recipe.

Ya know, I loved having a neat group of friends over for Super Bowl, but there's a real trade off. Since there were just the two of you, you actually got to watch the game, LOL.

Two guests brought Little Smokies in crockpots. One was done in a BBQ sauce and the other was the Red Currant Jelly and Heinz Cocktail sauce version. Both also made the large bag of Little Smokies ---- I have never seen so many Little Smokies in my entire life.

Marlene