MUSHY'S COOKINGS

CHRISTMAS RUM CAKE

2011-11-26T17:11:00.001-05:00

I thought this would motivate everyone to start on their Christmas baking sooner than later! Enjoy!

Once again this year, I've had requests for my Christmas Rum Cake recipe so here goes:

(Please keep in your files for use in years to come!)

1 cup Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 cup Water
1 tsp. Salt
1 cup Brown Sugar and Lemon Juice
4 Large Eggs
Nuts (the kind you like)
1 Bottle Rum (Sample the Rum to check quality.)
2 cups Dried Fruit

Take a large bowl; check the Rum again to be sure it is of the highest quality. Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.

At this point, it is best to make sure the Rum is still OK. Try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck iin the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Rum to test for tonsisticity.

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the Rum.

Now shift the lemon ice strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 s and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Rum and wipe the counter with the cat.

Cherry Mristmas

A LITTLE JAMBALAYA SOUP

2011-11-17T18:03:00.001-05:00

I made a little quick mix jambalaya soup this evening for Judy. She's not feeling her best, so supper was up to me. I don't mind, 'cause it gives me an excuse to sample a little of my giant bottle of Glenmorangie!

I bought the soup mix at the Fresh Market in Knoxville, and immediately thought, "this would be perfect for kielbasa"...forget the shrimp!

The mix is intended to be a delicious take on the traditional southern dish! With the addition of shrimp (substituted kielbasa) this jambalaya soup mix makes a tantalizing meal.

Cooking Time:

30 minutes

Jambalaya Soup Mix Ingredients:

Saffron, basmati rice, carrots, red and green peppers, onions, freeze-dried black olives, scallions, rosemary, cayenne pepper and turmeric. No added salt, preservatives or MSG.

Recipe Additions:

6 cups chicken broth (or part clam juice)
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes (with garlic if available) or Rotel canned tomatoes (I added red pepper instead of the Rotel heat! However, I learned after the first bite that's the mix includes the HEAT!)

Optional: 1 cup cubed ham, 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and de-veined (or crab, clams, scallops or crayfish)

Jambalaya Recipe Directions:

Bring broth to a boil and add jambalaya soup mix. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes including juice and ham, if desired. Bring back to a simmer and add shrimp, if desired. Cook 5 minutes longer and serve.

Inventive Recipe Variations:

I added a can of shoe-peg corn, and one of diced potatoes!

Jambalaya Recipe:

For a jambalaya rice dish instead of soup, do the following:

Prepare as above but use only 4 cups chicken broth. Leave out the shrimp and serve as a side dish to grilled fish.

SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION!

2011-10-24T19:27:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I'm promoting another of my websites here...PAUL MASHBURN - FINE ART, but if I don't who will?!

I have been accumulating photos for years, and have finally got to the place in my life where I have the time to spend outside at different times of the day and night to capture the images I see in my mind's eye, and the money for the kind of equipment one needs to do the job right.

Photography has always been a passion of mine, or at least from the time, back in 1964, when a friend, Frank Boyce, gave me an old "Mamiya rangefinder" 35mm. I used that little wonder all through the Air Force, including documenting my tour in Vietnam, and up until the time I started working for the Roane County NEWS as advertising manager.

Man, did I have fun working in advertising. Naturally, it involved great accounts with the boutiques in our little county, and pretty high school girls (who weren't that much younger than me then), and beautiful clothes! What more could a creative mind and a love for photography ask for?!

Of course, I spent my time on the sidelines, nearly getting creamed by running backs, just to get that one great shot for the sports page! I think the anticipation of the darkroom experience after the game was almost as exciting as the game itself. I loved the smell and feel of the darkroom, but most of all what you could do with a negative. All the while, looking forward to surprising my owner/editor with a great shot!

Today my darkroom consist or software called Photoshop! No smell, no feel, just greater control. However, I miss the isolation and the yellow light glowing up in the dusty corner of a musty little curtained off room.

Another chance meeting that spurred my interest and knowledge in photography was working with Bill Hall, who was a renowned, yet mischievous, photographer, and the paper's chief camera man. He used a Hasselblad, a "Hackeyblad" as he called it, which in my mind elevated him to great photographic stature! I was almost ashamed to stand by him with my little Minolta 35mm!

I learned a lot about the art of photography, and the darkroom from Bill. I owe him for pushing me on to be the best I could be with what I had.

In this old newspaper clipping (above), you can see that I did all the work (a day teaching), while Bill flirted with the college gals and got the photo credit at the bottom.

However, I soon began getting my own "credit line", as the clipping above shows. I was just Paul then...the "J" came later!

I even spent my time sweating, literally, over a 39, plus 1 double exposure, wedding shoot so I could thrill some newly wed with a cheap (cost wise) wedding album. Thirty-nine 8X10 photos in a tufted and monogrammed album all for $200! No one could beat it...except maybe with a little more quality that multiple lights offered, but hey, I couldn't afford all the extras at the time. I was just trying to supplement my $150 a week income, and possibly save enough for a better camera, or another Mustang!

I ended up with a 2 1/4X2 3/4 format camera called a Rapid Omega 200. It was really nice and gave me some of the finest color negatives I ever got from a film camera. I still have it...if anyone's interested!

So, back to today...I decided to offer my best photos (solely judged by me) for sale. I get request all the time from my Flickr site from people wanting this or that, but never had a way of really selling to the public. After getting request for my night shot from Buzzard's Bluff recently, I started researching in earnest.

I found Fine Art America while Googling and comparing companies, and I think I like what they offer. There is no commission to be paid...I just list base price I want out of a sale, and they add on shipping, handling, tax, framing, and take credit card payment from the buyers. I simply get a check for what they've sold for me every two weeks.

Well, don't get excited, I haven't made any money yet, and I probably will never get rich, but at least when someone asks how they can get a copy of a photo of mine I have somewhere to send them, and I just stay out of the negotiation. They can take it or leave it...I just want to take pictures!

Oh, did I ever give you the website? JUST CLICK HERE, and check it out!

RELAXING AT THE PEI WEI ASIAN DINER

2011-08-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

My wife had a doctor's appointment in Knoxville today, so we took off early this morning. I had left my truck at Jerry Duncan Ford last evening so the oil could be changed and a set of new shoes could be put on today while we were gone.

After the appointment, Judy and I did some shopping at a couple of different stores, but ended up doing most of the buying at Khol's. I always warn her that if I have to go shopping I'm going to buy something! So, true to my word, I bought a new pair of jeans and walking shorts...both in size 38 I may add! Yes, I'm bragging...it feels good to be able to wear decent size clothes again.

I also went into Blue Ridge Sports and bought a Timex sport watch...with a big digital face on it. I'm getting tired of not being about to read the time on my old expensive analog watch! This one I can even wear in the shower, if I want, or never even take it off again! Best part...it was only $19.95!

We went from there to the Pei Wei Asian Diner, a place I had never been. The first thing I notice is that there is no bar, but they do have beer and they simply display a single bottle of each type they have, and on the wall behind the cash register are single bottle displays of the wine you can order. Different from what I expected, but at least they have a decent bottle selection!

Judy didn't want to be disturbed!

We ordered a single dinner, as we are in the habit of doing these days since we seem to fill up faster in our old age, and two pork rolls.

The Mandarin Kung Pao (spicy) comes with chile seared soy sauce, scallions, garlic, snap peas, carrots, peanuts, and was plenty for the two of us.

Their hot sauce is wonderful too. It is already mixed, unlike P. F. Chang's, and is a delightful mix of hot and sweet, but really adds plenty of punch, so go easy until you taste it.

This is just half the order!

The pork rolls were crunchy, yet tender, and made a good "pusher" for the chicken and brown rice we ordered.

I brought along two packages of Crystal Light Lemonade to turn our water into a delicious beverage for our meal. No, I didn't get a beer, and that too is becoming more and more common for me these days.

Had I gotten one though, it would have been a Kirin Ichiban!

We left, more than satisfied, and all I can say is...I'll be back! I love the cool dark ambiance of the place, which makes a quick food place seem more expensive than it really is. I also like serving myself my drinks, napkins, condiments, and while yet eating on "real" plates, with "real" knives and forks! 'Course you can eat with chopsticks if you like, but I can't get the food in my mouth fast enough like that! I'm a true westerner!

Finally, we get back to Harriman and I pick up my truck with her new shoes! I'm $1K poorer (including the oil change and alignment), but she sure looks nice in those Michelin's!

My only compliant is that they did not wash my truck after spending that kind of money! If my old buddy Carl had been there, he would have!

So, I went down the street and had it washed, asking them to pay particular attention to my new tires!

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOUR CUPBOARD IS BARE

2011-07-30T18:39:00.001-04:00

Haven't posted much lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been eating! Both of us, my wife and I, have been out lots of times and have fixed some great things to eat at home, but tonight was a little scary.

Yep, we thought we didn't have anything good in the house to eat, but, man, were we surprised!

Judy had put some pintos in a pot last night to soak overnight, but she wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do with them...chili or just with cornbread? Since we didn't have any ground beef, chili was out, so cornbread was a definite!

However, after she picked around in the freeze she found that we had some chicken tenders, so that with some BBQ sauce seemed to be calling her name...and mine!

I mixed up the cornbread while the chicken cooked in BBQ sauce in the oven, and I occasionally stirred the beans that had been cooking most of the day Saturday.

Judy discovered some potatoes in a plastic bag beneath a banana, an apple, and a couple of onions in a wooden bowl we keep on the counter next to the coffee pot.

Eureka! We had the makings of quite a supper!

She pealed and sliced up the small potatoes and fried them to a golden brown, while I cut up the onion, and finished the cornbread mixture by adding an egg and some milk. Some where a long the way, might have been after I poured some scotch over ice...I don't know, I added some shredded cheddar cheese and some diced jalapenos!

I poured the bread into a hot iron skillet just after the cooking oil began to smoke and, walla, we were off!

Judy finished the potatoes and reheating the pintos just as the timer signaled the bread was ready.

Man, I'm tellin' ya...this all came together wonderfully, and I'd much rather have been at my table tonight than in any restaurant in the country! It was delicious and I hated it when my plate was clean...so good I can still taste it!

So, the morel of this story is...keep looking, there's more in your cupboard than you might think!

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE WEEKS WHEN YOU GET TO EAT OUT MORE THAN ONCE?!

2011-04-17T11:52:00.002-04:00

Ever since I got my appetite back, sometime in February, I have looked forward to going out to eat. I'm not content to cook up something like I used to, although I love anything Judy does. I guess it's a matter of whether I had to cook it or not!

Anyway, this has been one of those weeks, and it ain't over yet, that I've gotten to eat out 4 times! Strangely though, every time I weigh at the doctor's office I still come in at 217 fully dressed. That's 30 pounds less than this time last year! I'm sure if this appetite keeps up that it will change, but thus far I've maintained that weight for about 4 or 5 months.

Judy and made a run to Knoxville Wednesday, after her dental appointment, and ate at my favorite place; P. F. Chang's! I love that place and their KUNG PAO SHRIMP OR SCALLOPS (I get both) which has peanuts, chili peppers and scallions. Judy tried their new SESAME CHICKEN lunch bowl which is stir-fried with broccoli, red peppers, onions and ginger in a sesame sauce.

Of course I always have to have a draft of KIRIN ICHIBAN!

After filling our bellies, she wanted to stop by Markman's Jewelry, supposed just to look, but naturally she ended up trading up on her wedding bands! I should have known better!

Thursday evening, I went downtown to the kick off rally for Chris Mason's second run at the Harriman mayor's job, and ate free BBQ. It was really good, and I need to find out who catered that affair, 'cause I want some more soon!

Friday evening we were invited to meet Jerry and Gene Eblen at RedBone's in Kingston for supper. They are good company for dinner and kept us laughing. I had eaten almost half of my half of the GULF SHRIMP AND GRITS we ordered before I thought of taking a photo. Besides, the tables are relatively close in there, so I didn't want to blind someone next to us and cause them to miss their mouth and put out an eye! However, trust me, the dish was good...along with the fried green tomatoes on the side!

I'll have to say, the margaritas were a touch shy on the hard stuff!

Then there was tonight, Saturday, and we met the other Dragons and Knights at Carrabba's.

Everyone was in rare form, but Neena and Ron seemed anxious to leave on their western trip in their camper. However, they sat still long enough to enjoy their meal.

I had a hankering for their brick-oven pizza, and ordered one with pepperoni, onions, and olives. Man was it tasty!

I've found that beer really fills me up quickly, so I ordered my next favorite - scotch/rocks! It was good, but man the markup is almost as painful as gas these days!

Then there's tomorrow...wonder what I can sink my teeth into before Monday!?

OKAY, SO I'M BRAGGING!

2011-04-06T23:09:00.000-04:00

I know, this will sound like I'm bragging, but damn, do I have the most beautiful backyard this time of year, or what!?

Judy and I made our monthly pilgrimage to Walley World today, mostly for toiletries, but ended up buying $300 worth of crap! Most of the cost was in vitamins, which will probably do us not good at all, but into the cart they went!

'Course we did buy some good tasting stuff, like the hamburger steak and salad we had tonight. Add to that was some canned green beans my sister-in-law gave us last week. Man, it sure was tasty, and really made that scotch I had while grilling the steaks taste mighty yummy! Uh oh, did I say that out loud?!

As I cooked, and imbibed, I noticed how blessed I was to live where we live. Now you can say I'm bragging, but just look at this scene out across my deck. Is that not "spring" to the twelfth power!?

Pay no attention to that little UT highball glass...it's just water in case there is a flame up!

Judy was in side cooking up the beans, adding garlic and crushed red pepper to the mix, while I'm outside tending the propane fire! It was in the seventies, windy, with fresh young green growth everywhere. What a day!

Judy had dropped off her watch, and my mom's, at the jeweler in town, so we stopped by on the way home from Walley's. It turned out that they had t-shirts from this Saturday's "Cruisin' in Harriman", so I bought one to wear. The front has tree great cars on it, two of which I photographed, and the back has a photo of the Princess Theatre, which I took back in '09. I'm so excited that Jim Thornton honored me by using my photos in his design for this year's shirt!

So, I suppose I'll be walking Roane Street this weekend during the "Cruisin' in Harriman". I sure wish you could be there with me! There's nothing like a street party in "small town USA"!

A SPRING RITUAL

2011-03-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

This isn't a special recipe, or some unknown way of cooking something, it's just something I do annually when the weather warms up enough.

I clean the ol' grill, and prepare the first grill cooked meal of the season!

It was a beautiful Sunday, with temperatures in the 70s, and I pulled the bulky cover off the grill and did a little Brass-o job on last year's grease spots! I also sprayed the rack with olive oil and scrubbed them into shape!

It was evident, right off, that the electric starter needed replacing, but a match brought the grill to life!

With the rib-eye and fillet, coated in salt, pepper, garlic powder, and sprayed with olive oil to marinate for about 15 minutes, Judy got the potatoes in the oven to bake for an hour at 400, and was prepared to cook the corn-on-the-cob in the microwave for about 8 minutes. I poured a Glenmorangie Scotch, on the rocks, and got into grilling mode!

I'll have to be honest, my steak was not very tender, but thankfully Judy's fillet was! That's more important to me, especially since she rarely wants a steak. I had preferred shopping for beef at Kroger, but she had insisted on Food City, so she lucked out. I, on the other hand, now wish we had gone out for a steak dinner!

All in all, the private supper with the two of us was enjoyable, and the large portion leftover will be great with biscuit and eggs on another morning soon!

NOTHING LIKE PASTA ON A SNOWY DAY!

2011-01-06T11:21:00.002-05:00

Got home late today, just ahead of another snow, but we needed to eat something, and eat something comforting and warm!

Previously I had frozen some chicken meat, and I found the big pasta noodles I wanted to try, along with a jar of Mezzetta pasta sauce, and some sun dried tomatoes. Well, it looked to me like all this would go together pretty well together, and well it did!

I cooked the huge pasta noodles for about 12 minutes, while I chopped up the chicken into bite size pieces, and cut the dried tomatoes down to thin strips.

On a back burner I heated the Home Style Marinara. On the larger front burner I began cooking the chicken in olive oil and garlic. I also put the dried tomatoes into the hot skillet and cooked them with the meat. I used sea salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to season the chicken meat.

Once the chicken was thoroughly cooked (which means the tomatoes had plumped up and cooked) I added it to the marinara and then poured it all over the noodles!

Man, watching the heavy flakes of snow come down while eating hot pasta is the end to a perfect day!

SAVING MY BRISKET!

2010-09-12T19:43:00.003-04:00

I bought a beef brisket, sealed in plastic at the store and decided to slow cook it in the oven. I applied a store-bought dry rub to both sides of the meat put it on a pan that allowed the grease to drip through. This could have been my mistake, but when you see folks doing a brisket on a grill, the drippings fall straight through.

Anyway, I put the oven on 225 and let it cook for 90 minutes. When the timer went off, I hit it for another 90. After the initial 3 hours, I turned the meat over with the fat side down. I let it cook another 90 minutes and then upped the temperature to 250. After this time around I basted the meat on both sides with my homemade BBQ sauce, which amounted to what was left of 2 different kinds I had in the fridge, added a few drops of liquid smoke, some red wine vinegar, and a generous helping of Ring of Fire hot sauce.

I cooked the brisket another 90 minutes, for a total of 6 hours cooking time.

My wife cooked some canned green beans her sister gave us with a few pieces of thick bacon in them. She boiled and mashed some potatoes, cooked a pone of Southern cornbread, and we were ready for a great BBQ brisket meal!

Unfortunately, the four slices of brisket I cut off the hunk was tough. I was heart broken!

I guess this is what I get for watching BBQ Pitmasters on TLC! Those guys and gals make it look so simple and the meat just makes my mouth water! I was so ready for good tender BBQ meat. I was so ready to brag on it too!

So, yesterday I did a little research on "how to save a tough brisket", and came up with the idea to slice the rest of the meat, against the grain, put it in a baking dish, added some beef stock, and cooked it covered for another hour at 300 degrees. I then let it cool, put it back in the fridge to be reheated the next day.

Well, I popped it into the oven today at 300 degrees for 30 more minutes, while Judy reheated the beans, and potatoes.

When the timer went off, I lathered some Miracle Whip on one side of a whole wheat bun, and layered on 5 or 6 slices of the brisket. On the other side of the bun I put a slice of American Cheese. Before closing the bun over the meat, I squirted on a generous helping of the BBQ sauce I made originally.

Wow! The brisket was tender and delicious! I saved my brisket!

ANOTHER VERSION OF MY BREAKFAST PIZZA

2010-08-30T22:05:00.000-04:00

It seems I've been talking about pizza a lot lately, but, hey, it has all the food groups!

Judy and I love a breakfast pizza, almost as much as left over pizza and scrambled eggs. However, it is a little more trouble to make, but worth it all, and, if I can do it, you can do it!

Start with you pizza pan, spray it lightly with your favorite cooking oil and then spread out the dough. I use Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. There seems to be just enough triangles to fill the center of the pan. Then take a small rolling pin, or glass, or anything that will flatten the dough out evenly. Be sure to close the gaps between the strips of dough, and to push the dough all the way up to the edge of the pan. I even create a little lip up the sides to ensure the beaten eggs do not get under the dough.

It takes at least 4 eggs to fill the top of the pizza, so in a bowl crack 4 eggs, add salt and pepper, and sprinkle in a some diced jalapeno peppers. It depends on your taste as to how much, but I love the taste it gives my coffee!

Next I put pepperoni all around the pizza in two rings. Between the pepperonis I layered on fresh spinach leaves, washed with the stems broken off, and some sliced tomatoes. I then sprinkled on bacon I had fried and crushed earlier. I made sure some bacon bits got on top of the spinach leaves and tomato slices to ensure the juice helped cook them.

Finally I generously spread shredded cheese over the entire pizza. I put the pie in a oven according to the cooking directions on the crescent roll package.

When if came out...BAM...it was looking might good and the taste, with my coffee, was terrific!

This usually makes 8 to 9 slices, which is enough for us to enjoy two mornings! Reheat what's left the next morning on a cookie sheet for about 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

LEFT-OVER BREAKFAST PIZZA

2010-08-26T18:40:00.000-04:00

I can't remember if I've ever mentioned this on this blog or not, but I tell my family and friends that they must save some pizza for their next morning's breakfast! It is simply wonderful with scrambled eggs!

Last evening, my family had a "goodbye" gathering for our granddaughter Katie Bug. Today is moving in day at Tennessee Tech and we are going to sorely miss her!

Anyway, we saved half our Big Ed's Pizza for this morning's breakfast.

I sprinkled the pizza with jalapeno chips and put the pie on a cookie sheet and placed it in the oven for 10 minutes on 350 degrees. That seem to be the right amount of time to crisp up the crust and get everything just hot enough.

I also had coffee ready and then scramble us two eggs for the side.

It's wonderful how jalapeno taste blends with the coffee, giving a fantastic taste combination that becomes addictive! I usually have two cups!

So, the completed breakfast includes the pizza, eggs, and coffee. Just the right start for the day!

I'm sorry to say that breakfast reminded me that Katie on her way to the "real world"! I'm sure going to miss her.

JAZZED UP DiGIORNO

2010-08-16T12:43:00.000-04:00

We love pizza about once every two weeks at home, but we like more vegetables and "stuff" on it than you usually can get on a "store bought"! We especially like fresh, unfrozen, ingredients and a little more "kick"!

I take one "cheese stuffed crust" DiGiorno and layer on extra pepperonis, and sprinkle on some hot pepper flakes and chopped jalapenos.

Then I chop up some red, yellow, or orange bell peppers (maybe some of all of them), some onion, a slice or two of tomato, and then hold it all together by sprinkling on extra cheese!

You have to imaginative and fearless, 'cause you really can't hurt a pizza. Anything that will add more flavor and texture is free game! Maybe some bacon, or fresh cooked sausage! Just try it...it's delicious!

NOTHING LIKE A FRESH GARDEN SOUTHERN FRIED MEAL

2010-06-30T20:42:00.005-04:00

Every year I get a Southern hankering for some fresh garden vegetables all fried up in cornmeal! Yum, so delicious, regardless of how bad it may be for you. Hey, we used vegetable oil!

You can go back to THIS POST and see a similar meal prepared for me by my mother in 2008. It was ‘bout time for “fried fix”!

As Judy and I walked through the grocery today, intending to only “buy a few things”, I spotted the fresh squash, okra, and green tomatoes in the produce section. Immediately we got the same idea...let’s fry something!

I cut up the vegetables, including some golden Idaho potatoes for “mashed taters”!

Judy rolled the squash, okra, and ‘maters in egg, and then shook them up in a plastic bag containing cornmeal, salt, and black pepper. With everything well coated, she begin to slowly fry.

By the time everything was ready, the meat loaf was coming out of the oven, along with her special cornbread! My mouth was watering and I could hardly wait!

It was worth the wait, so now maybe I can resist until next season...or not!

Oh, by the way, that's a dollop of mayo in my potatoes! I love the taste it adds. Hey, it's like eating pot-salad to me!

OUR MEMORIAL DAY 'LOW COUNTRY BOIL'

2010-06-05T11:32:00.006-04:00

(POSTED FROM MUSHY'S MOOCHINGS)

Three times before, my family has planned and had "low country boils". Each of them, from what I heard, was a great success and delicious. Once I even got to sample some leftover shrimp, but I had never been to one.

Each time one was planned I got sick on that day and had to send Judy on without me.

I've written before about "one less set of feet" being under the table and about what it would be like after one of us had passed on. It's not a happy thought, but there are things that remind you, once in a while, about that inevitability - things like when someone gets sick and has to pass on a family gathering.

My wife has four sisters and a brother (he lives in Atlanta and is not always able to come) and we are always together on holidays - it's tradition! Judy and I will be married 30 years this coming June 12th, and family gatherings have been a given on holidays from the beginning. Actually, it started long before I came along, but for me it's been 30 years of pure enjoyment and something I anticipate like Christmas itself!

We get together more often than on holidays too. Sometimes we just can't wait and someone schedules an evening out, or a weekend or vacation retreat together. It just makes life more enjoyable when you can share it with family. Friends are okay, but family is just special!

The times I've missed, and I've missed more than anyone, was an event I sulked over for days afterward. So, you can imagine how thankful and how wonderful it felt when I realized I was not going to miss this Memorial Day's "low country boil"!

The family loves being together, even though the boys and girls always segregate themselves, each finding their own corner. It has to be that way, especially for us guys, if we intend to communicate with each other. You see, we can hardly hear each other over the voices and laughter of the women folk! If you want a sample, just scroll down my sidebar (on Mushy's Moochings) until you see "Dragons Cackling"...click if you dare. This is not an unusual clip...it's typical...believe me!

So, I broke the jinx, finally, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I even drank more than one beer and had two cigars! First cigars in almost a year!

There are specific and timed steps to a "low country boil", as you know if you've ever had the pleasure, so there was a lot of yelling, "Is it boiling yet?!" Then there is the long awaited, "Start the timer!" Each question is followed by multiple people shouting an echo and more laughter!

It seems after each of the 7 steps (see large numbered photo) there is a 15-minute length of time before proceeding to the next step. So, after a couple of drinks, the yelling gets louder, and the comments get funnier! I could see exactly what I'd missed by being puny on the previous occasions.

Once I almost rolled in the yard when Gary, who's basically retired, told us about a day he had relaxed with one too many Miller Lites and went to the dog lot (he trains Labs) to pick up the day's dog business! He didn't think it too strange he didn't find any droppings until he got back to the house and looked down at the mess on his shoes! You had to be there to hear Gary tell it!

Let me tell you...the food was super great, but the company was beyond compare, as it always is. I was very glad all our shoes were still under the table once again.

PORK TENDERLOIN AND PINTO BEANS!

2010-04-16T13:38:00.002-04:00

Mmmm, makes your mouth water just saying those words!

My wife decided it was time to cook up some pinto beans, so I was smelling that all day as they cooked. Then she asked me what I wanted with them, besides the obvious - cornbread, so I started digging in the freezer and came out with a brick hard pork tenderloin.

I let it lay around all day while the beans cooked, and finally, just in the nick of time, it thawed enough for me to slice it into 1/2" pieces.

I decided to put the slices in a bowl, dump in some minced garlic, liberally sprinkled it with salt and pepper, and just touch of cayenne, and then threw in some self-rising flour to hold all of the ingredients together.

About 10 minutes before the timer went off, signaling the cornbread was done, I dropped the coated slices into some hot olive oil. I fried them to a golden brown and the let them drain on paper towel.

We chopped up the cornbread and poured the beans and juice over it, laid about 6 slices of tenderloin on the plated, and I just happened to have a jar of pickled okra in the fridge. Man, it was sure tasty!

You should try it...if you have some slaw...that would be yummy too!

MY BEST ITALIAN SUB

2010-03-11T19:15:00.004-05:00

Judy and I took Lily to the Gondolier Italian Restaurant, in Midtown, TN, last Monday for lunch. She had a great time dipping her fresh baked roll in the delicious marinara sauce. I think it was her first time at trying that trick, and I think it caught on.

I say all this because, while Lily had children's pizza, Judy and I shared one of the best Italian Subs we've had in some time. It was seasoned with Italian dressing and just hit the spot.

So, after a little driving tour of the surrounding country side Wednesday, we had to make a stop at the grocery for staples. While there Judy asked me what I wanted for supper, and I still had that sub in my mind, and probably a little taste in my mouth as well!

She was ecstatic when I told her what was on my mind, and she pressed me to put one together just as good.

I bought a fresh loaf of sourdough Italian bread, some honey baked ham and turkey, a red onion, an orange bell pepper, some provolone cheese, an Italian green long pepper, a tomato, and a bottle of Italian dressing. I knew I had some pepperoni in the fridge, so I was set!

At home I prepared the vegetables by slicing them thinly, and opened the luncheon meat and salad dressing.

I then split the loaf in half, sprinkled it with olive oil, and toasted it. I then removed the bread and put the provolone on one side and the cold pepperoni on the other side. I put it all back into the oven until the cheese melted and pepperoni bubbled!

I pulled the bread from the oven and liberally spread on the onions, peppers, and meat. I then sprinkled the salad dressing over everything and closed the bread. I cut the bread, on an angle, into 4 generous pieces.

It was better than we had on Monday and we had the left over pieces you see in the photo today! It was still delicious after a light microwave touch and more dressing!

Of course, the Fat Tire I had created a wonderful battle of taste sensations in my mouth.

Darn...now I'm hungry again!

FAJITA CHICKEN WRAPS

2010-01-17T20:21:00.003-05:00

Supper is over and Judy is watching the Golden Globes, so I decided I'd rather be posting something on Mushy's Cookings for you to enjoy!

We've been trying to hold down the calories, like everyone else this time of year, but it has to have great taste or I won't like it.

Tonight I chopped up a red and yellow bell pepper, a large onion, and put them aside.

In a large skillet I sprinkled some olive oil and turned the heat on medium. I then placed 6 or 7 frozen chicken tenderloins. As the oil heated it began to thaw, so I flipped them over and seasoned them with salt and pepper. I then turned them again and seasoned the other thawed side.

I continued to flip the pieces to ensure they were not burning, and when the meat was about half cooked I sprinkled on some fajita seasoning, and added some minced garlic. I then flipped the pieces again and seasoned the opposite side.

When the meat was cooked to a nice brown color, I removed them and allowed them to drain on a paper towel.

I then dumped the peppers and onions into the same skillet, sprinkled just a little more olive oil and added the remained of my fajita seasoning packet. I continued to stir the vegetables until they became limp and added back in the meat and cut off the heat.

I placed a whole-wheat fajita wrap on to two plates, squirted a few lines of sour cream, and grated on a little cheese. I then placed one chicken tenderloin on top of the sour cream and then spread a generous portion of the vegetables on top.

The mixture was easy enclosed in the wrap and made a wonder hardy and nutritious meal. There was plenty left for lunch tomorrow!

MY VERSION OF CROCK-POT BEEF BURGUNDY

2010-01-06T22:46:00.007-05:00

Got my second allergy shot of the week today and did a little stop and go photography on the way back home.

If you're local, you will be familiar with the Little Emery boat ramp. Well, I took a few shots out across the ice on the bay there and had flash backs of when I too threw rocks out onto ice and marveled at them sitting there on top. I wondered if anyone would be around when they finally sank beneath the surface.

As I stood there, I was also reminded of how ice will sing to you. Yes, if you've never heard it, it's a weird, almost wire in the wind, kind of sound. Eerily, the sound begins way down up stream, and you can hear it coming down the valley and then stops loudly right in front of you! It's the neatest, spookiest, thing to stand there and listen to it coming toward you. Seriously...you should get out more, especially on 20 degree days with a bright blue sky above.

Anyway, by the time I got home I was ready to cook something good for supper...something substantial and hot!

You're supposed to chop up carrots, onions, and garlic, but I am lazy, so I bought a bag of tiny carrots the other day to use. With them in a large skillet, I dumped in a carton of fresh mushrooms (any kind you like), diced onion, and about 2 cups of red wine. Whatever you have on hand, but the better it is the better your dish will be.

I cooked the carrots and onions until the wine had cooked away and then poured the mixture into the bottom of the crock-pot.

Back in the same skillet, I dumped two packages of extra lean stew meat that had been tenderized. I salted and peppered the meat while it cooked on one side, and then sprinkled crushed red peppers over the top. I lightly browned the meat on both sides...I probably should have browned it more, but it came out just fine. Note: If you don't brown the meat, at least add in soy sauce the get the same flavor.

I put the browned meat into the crock-pot, poured in a full box of chicken stock (yes, chicken), sprinkled a line or two of olive oil over the top, and then drizzled some Worcestershire sauce. I again added salt.

I then dumped in a small sack of red-skinned potatoes and half a large sweet onion cut into large pieces.

I cooked the meal for about 5 or 6 hours on high, then turned it to low for almost another hour.

It was absolutely delicious and very warming on a freezing day in Tennessee.

There is a distinctive hint of the wine in the taste, so if you don't like that particular taste, just use lots of soy and Worcestershire with beef stock.

Turkey Kielbasa On A Cold Winter's Evening

2010-01-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

Judy and I were out and about most of the day, she had a dental appointment and I was staying with my mom whose heat had conked out! After mom was settled, Judy and I headed for the grocery. We were tired and cold by the time we made it back, so food, and something good was foremost on our minds.We had a double package of turkey kielbasa in the refrigerator that needed to be eaten or frozen, so that was chosen as the meat for our meal. I also noticed a green, yellow, and red bell pepper that would be too old in a few more days. The meal was complete!

I chopped up the bell peppers, into half circles, and a whole sweet onion, and set them aside. I then cut the kielbasa off in think rings.

In a large skillet, I sprinkled a few lines of olive oil and dumped in the meat on medium heat. I took out the scraps and some old fruit salad, left over from Christmas, while the skillet came up to heat. It was all sizzling nicely when I returned. I added about a table spoon full of minced garlic, and lightly sprinkled in some cayenne pepper. I began stirring the meat, not letting it stick, until each piece began showing a nice brown color around the edges.

At that point, I dumped in the vegetables and again drizzled a few lines of olive oil over the entire mixture, sprinkled on some salt and pepper, and a good amount of crushed red pepper. In the end, I almost got things a touch too hot, but the spices made everything taste wonderful. I may be cutting back in portions, but I don't like to cut back on taste or heat!

We each got a small portion, about saucer size, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with only water. There was plenty left over for tomorrow!

The warmth came back to our bones and we were once again very happy to be home.

OUR TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN NEW YEAR'S DAY MEAL

2010-01-01T19:19:00.016-05:00

For as long as I remember, my family has eaten black-eyed peas, hog jowl, and either cabbage or plain ol' spinach on New Year's Day. The question always asked when meeting a family member or friend was, "Did you have some black-eyed peas today?"

One difference in us and the tradition, was that the peas symbolized money to us instead of the greens, but we had both anyway.

Why do we eat these things? Simply put, eating beans and greens, typically a poor man's food, on New Year's Day means you'll eat rich the rest of the new year!

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day was always thought to bring prosperity to our Southern home. The peas are typically cooked with a pork product for flavoring (such as bacon, ham bones, fatback, or hog jowl), diced onion, and served with hot sauce.

Judy soaked hers over night in clear water, then picked out the pea hulls, added some pork pieces from the hog-jowl, and cooked them for about 1 hour. They cook much faster than pintos. She added salt to taste, and that's it!

The traditional meal also features cooked cabbage, collard, turnip, or mustard greens, and ham. The peas, since they swell when cooked, symbolize prosperity; the greens symbolize money; the pork, because pigs root forward when foraging, represents positive motion. Some say the peas are coins and the greens dollars, and some even add sweet potatoes to represent gold! Cornbread always accompanies this meal.

I cut up the cabbage and onions and then sliced the hog-jowl. I slice across the thick skin in the opposite direct of my horizontal slices so that the pieces don't curl up while cooking. The real trick is to start them in a cold skillet, but the second and third additions to the hot grease will curl some, but not nearly as much as uncut slices! Click the meat shots to enlarge them enough to see the cross cuts.

Judy puts the cabbage in a little of the pork grease, adds about 2 cups of water, and then adds the cabbage. She salts and sprinkles on Ms. Dash's Hot and Spicy seasoning. When the cabbage cooks down some, she adds in a measure of sugar...do this to taste.

After my cutting and garbage duties were completed, I was back in front of the Capitol One and Rose Bowls!

These "good luck" traditions* supposedly date back to the American Civil War. Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General William Tecumseh Sherman, typically stripped the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock, and destroyed whatever they couldn't carry away. At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" or "cow peas" and field corn suitable only for animal fodder, and didn't steal or destroy these humble foods.

The origin of the New Year's meal is not really known, but of course I like this one best, being a Southern man. The truth is, there is a large contingent of Scottish folks living in the south (a third of my genes as well), and their influence brought us things like our "good luck" meal, the "St. Andrew's Cross" in the Confederate Battle Flag (which is square and not the true Confederacy Flag - Stars and Bars), and even "Auld Lang Syne"!

"Auld Lang Syne" is an old Scottish song that was first published by the poet Robert Burns in the 1796 edition of the book, Scots Musical Museum. Burns transcribed it (and made some refinements to the lyrics) after he heard it sung by an old man from the Ayrshire area of Scotland, Burns' homeland.

It is often remarked that "Auld Lang Syne" is one of the most popular songs that nobody knows the lyrics to. "Auld Lang Syne" literally translates as "old long since" and means "times gone by."

I suppose you can say the South never forgets - its family traditions and heritage anyway! A true educated Southerner knows the war was not about slavery, but about "States Rights", heavy, unfair taxation, and the right to secede. Slavery wasn't an issue in 1861, where 95% of the south was too poor to own anybody! That came along after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Anyway, Happy New Year everybody...ain't it grand that we have all that bad history behind us!

Last but least, I wanted to mention the cherry liqueur I attempted for the Holidays. I bought fresh cherries, removed the seeds, and put them in a quart fruit jar (Mason Jar). I then added one cup of sugar and poured in a full fifth of 90 proof vodka! I shook the mixture for a couple of days until all the sugar disappeared. On retrospect, I should have made that one and half cups to 2 whole cups. It wasn't sweet enough for Judy's taste.

Anyway, I put the liquid away in a dark cook place for about 5 weeks. The cherries slowly sank to the bottom of the jar, and I shook the jar about 3 times during that time...mostly to get more cherries to sink.

So, I bought a cheap decanter and added the liquid first, and the spooned in the cherries. It was quite tasty to me, but the cherries weren't very sweet to the taste. More sugar may have done the trick. However, I do love to sip it slowly while cooking...it's very soothing to the throat, and could be mistaken for cough syrup!

*Other legends hold that the "good luck" meal has its roots in Hebrew traditions. Instructions found in Babylonian, compiled around the year 500, tells Hebrews to include gourds, black-eyed peas, leeks, dates, and either beets or spinach in their new year meals for good luck. 'Course these Hebrews weren't eating any pork and that's just a shame!

LET IT SNOW…I HAVE JUDY’S CHILI!

2009-12-04T19:00:00.008-05:00

Yep, weatherman is predicting our first snow of the 2009 season, and a possibility of our weather patterns returning to what they were 12 to 15 years ago. That means we could get 2 or 3 6 to 8 inch snows this winter! Yahoo, maybe I’ll get to dust the snow off my old sled in the basement and sand off the rust on the runners.

Anyway, the store was full of people with overloaded buggies today, and the road crews have already sprayed down the streets, so something is in the area. Could only be the smell of high expectations, but that’s okay with me too. It’s cold and damp, and getting colder and my pantry is full!

Judy cooked pinto beans a few days ago, soaked them over night, and then simmered them all day. By the time the cornbread was pulled from the oven, I could have eaten an oven mitt! They were good too, complimenting the cooked cabbage, homey, and meatloaf she had prepared.

So, today, after being out most of the early afternoon, she put together her world famous chili using the leftover beans, and adding the hamburger meat we bought at the crowded store.

I’m telling you, that chili, poured over a big hunk of leftover cornbread was unbelievably great! I asked her for the recipe for this post, but she is one of those good cook’s, who learned at the apron strings of her mother, that never uses a recipe – it’s all in her head.

I told her, “This chili is too good not to pass on the recipe for posterity!”

So, she gave me a little pad where she had scribbled down the ingredients, but the first thing I noticed is…NO measurements!

Well, anyway, here is a good photo of the chili, and what she gave me, and, of course, my word that this was the best she’s ever made for me. She what you can do with these sparse instructions:

In a big pot put…

- Any kind of beans you like…we usually like a mix of pintos, kidney, and navy beans. The number of cans depend on the number joining you, or the number of days you want to eat chili again, and the amount of meat you use.

- If you are using canned beans, you can use the liquid from the beans, but drain the kidney bean juice off. Otherwise, there should be plenty of cooking liquid in the pot from cooking, and some extra water may need to be added. It’s your call, but remember how “juicy” you want your chili to be!

- With the beans still simmering, add in a small can of tomato sauce, and a can of fine-cut canned tomatoes.

In a skillet…

- Brown hamburger meat (you can use white canned chicken in a pinch, but it tastes significantly different, but good)

- When meat is almost browned, maybe just a little pink, with some grease still left in the bottom, add in a “heaping” tablespoon of minced garlic, 4 to 6 tablespoons (or to taste) of Extra Spicy Mrs. Dash. A package of Chili-O Seasoning, and several shakes of Worchester sauce.

Finally, when the meat is fully cooked and the ingredients are thoroughly mixed throughout, dump the contents of the skillet into the pot of beans! Stir and mix up thoroughly, and then simmer for about an hour, stirring often to prevent sticking and scorching.

Further suggestions to enhance the taste of your individual bowl of chili, use cornbread mixed into the chili, or use peanut butter on crackers on the side, or a small handful of peanuts directly into the bowl. Either way, or just plain, if done properly, this will be the best chili you’ve ever tasted.

Come on snow!

FINALLY, A KNOXVILLE KIND OF PLACE TO EAT IN ROANE COUNTY

2009-08-14T15:24:00.006-04:00

I went to lunch today with my wife and daughter, and it was our first time at Redbones on the River in Kingston, Tennessee. The luncheon turned into the day’s big meal!

The old home, situated across from the Kingston City Park on Watts Bar Lake, has been turned into a very nice looking restaurant, with beautiful shiny wood floors, dark wood tables and chairs, with just the right amount of light coming in from outside. You can also sit outside, on one of two decks (upper and lower), if you prefer the summer heat to refreshing air conditioning! Not us, we appreciate old fashioned AC!

There are sitting areas all over the place, including upstairs near the tastefully decorated bar, which features a good selection of pulls, including my favorite – Fat Tire? After the wonderful meal, I sneaked up the stairs to get a “bar shot” for my bar collection on Flickr.

We ordered the fried green-tomatoes as an appetizer and, wow, they were fantastic! They were those droopy, soggy kinds you get some places, these were crunch fried with a horseradish dip. They were simply a wonderful way to prepare your palate for your entrée.

Judy and I ordered half-rack of Baby-back Ribs, baked potato, and Spinach Maria, while Tracy wanted the Chicken Alfredo with broccoli.

We had thought about a club sandwich, a burger, or a salad for lunch, but after seeing all the steak, seafood, pasta dishes, we decided that lunch would be our dinner meal as well. There was no forcing us to only eat one meal today either. After finishing the generous meal, we were too stuffed for dessert, even though the Chocolate Bar Cake kept calling our names!

So, the next time you are looking for a classy place to eat, or just have drinks with friends, but don’t want to drive the 40 miles to Knoxville, check out Redbones on the River in Kingston. You’ll be glad you did.

AN ALL YOU CAN EAT TUESDAY BUFFET AT THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN STATE PARK RESTAURANT

2009-08-12T12:12:00.001-04:00

About 45 minutes west of Harriman, up on the Cumberland Plateau, is Cumberland Mountain State Park. We have gone there for years starting way back in the 60’s. It’s a lovely little state park with gently rolling hills, deep untouched forest with winding trails, a lovely lake brimming with fish, a huge swimming pool, lots of cabins and camping sites, and rustic sandstone lodge sitting right in the middle. Inside this main building is a wonderful kitchen that turns out delicious food almost every night, served up buffet style.

No, it’s not an ordinary buffet where all the selections taste like all the food was cooked in the same pot. This buffet has never failed to please all my senses: my vision, my olfactory, and my gustation! Seriously good tasting chicken, roast beef, BBQ, catfish, with all the vegetable and bread trimmings! Tuesdays are set aside for a seafood bonanza that includes: fried and peel-and-eat shrimp, scallops, fried and baked catfish, crab legs, and salmon cut in the shape of a crab shell and stuffed with crab stuffing! OMG folks, it was all great…and then there were the hush puppies!

The other offerings were coleslaw, a pea salad, a salad bar, chocolate cake, banana pudding, and soft-serve ice cream! Tuesday is not the only fantastic evening either:

Cumberland Mtn. Restaurant Dining Schedule - Open 7 Days a Week

Monday - Saturday: Lunch - 11:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. - Dinner - 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Sunday: All day - 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday - Seafood Buffet with All You Can Eat Crab Legs - 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Friday - All You Can Eat Catfish (baked or fried) - 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Saturday - All You Can Eat Rib Night - 4:00-8:00 p.m.

FOOD IS PROBABLY TOO IMPORTANT TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY...

2009-08-03T21:42:00.013-04:00

…but, hey, there are worst things to be addicted to I suppose!

As soon as my friend Jeff Wilson arrived in Harriman, we began his visit with a lunch feast at Midtown, Tennessee’s “Good Ol’ Days Diner” with hot dogs and burgers. The hot dog I had, pictured here was a delight with a sweet tasting slaw and corn nuggets. If you travel through this area (Intersection of Hwys 29 and 70), you must try any of the treats here!

After a day of hiking and sightseeing, we took Jeff to Big Ed’s Pizza in Oak Ridge, TN. Big Ed (Jr.) had expanded the draft beer selection to include two of my favorite pal ales, Fat Tire and Yuengling. I was absolutely thrilled and will go there twice as often now for sure. The pizzas were made to perfection, as only Big Ed’s staff has been making them since 1970. It is a must if traveling through East Tennessee – it’s an institution!

At breakfast the following morning, I started the day with a Ciabatta Breakfast Sandwich at Mimi’s Café at Turkey Creek in Knoxville. Between the great bread is an egg, grilled ham, bacon, garlic spinach, tomato, cheddar cheese, and citrus remoulade!

Jeff picked out the huge Chipotle Breakfast Burrito, which was stuffed with scrambled eggs, shredded beef, green onions, cilantro and black beans, all topped with chipotle sauce and melted cheeses, and served with red skin potatoes!

Jeff and I met Judy, Neena, Ron, and Corey at the Wild Wings Café that evening to cap off a wonderful day of shopping at the Smoky Mountain Knife Works, Bass Pro Shop, and Gander Mountain. Man, we were so hungry for some wings!

As I have documented, Judy and I went to Memphis with Jeff on Wednesday morning. GO HERE for two post on the wonderful time we had last week! In Memphis we treated ourselves to BBQ!

Our first outing was at Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs. The Rendezvous has been in Memphis since 1948. If dry-rub ribs are your weakness, then you must drop by there and pig (on pun intended)! You can see the guys working the BBQ beef and pork in the kitchen from your table. You’ll notice that there are just as many orders “to go” as dine-in! The place is a bee hive of activity. Oh yes, they ship too!

On Thursday night, we made it over to Neely’s Bar-B-Que (west). In February 1988, four brothers (Gaelin, Tony, Mark and Patrick) launched into the barbeque business. They opened their first restaurant in downtown Memphis, with only tables, chairs and one BBQ pit. The brothers started building a reputation of hard work, great BBQ and consistently good service. Four years later after a huge demand we expanded to an East Memphis location, which was opened in October of 1992.

To our delight, these “wet” ribs were sweet and delicious. We also tried the pull-pork and BBQ spaghetti! The spaghetti was a wonderful surprise for us all.

Well, I’ve made myself hungry, so I have to go now. I think there is some “chicken-chili” ready in the kitchen!