I just had a great birthday weekend. Had all the grandkids here, which is always a fun time.

I have been hearing about Swineapple lately, I have seen it on Face Book, in groups and on Pinterest. Well for my birthday we decided to try it.  Bill fired up the smoker and did ribs and Swineapple.

 I will start with the swineapple.

You need

 a pineapple

pork loin, boneless ribs or equivalent. (I used boneless pork chops, best I could do in the middle of no where)

Package of thick sliced bacon

toothpicks (we were out so I use wooden skewers cut down to size)

salt, pepper and any other seasoning you want. (I used Jack Daniels Swineapple sauce)

Cut the bottom off the pineapple, but hold on to it, you will put it back on to help hold the meat.

Hollow out the pineapple (leave the top with leaves on), then stand pineapple upright and using a sharp knife slicing downward peel the skin off the pineapple.

 

Next, season your pork, then stuff it into the pineapple. Once it is stuffed, use your toothpicks (or cut down wooden skewers, which I soaked in water, in my case) and secure the bottom of the pineapple back on it.

Then wrap it up with bacon, again using the toothpicks/skewers to secure them in place.

At this point we put them in the smoker. DO NOT DO this. If I would have though about it, I would have figured it out before hand. If I were to make this again, it would go into a 350  degree oven, or in a cast iron dutch oven over a fire. Here is why. Pineapple contains an enzyme, bromelain. This enzyme breaks down protein fibers, which is why it is used as a marinade (it is also why you get a sore mouth from eating a lot of fresh pineapple). Pork should be cooked to 190 internal degrees - at the thickest part. This takes a long time in a smoker, took us close to 5 hours. Now while that pork is cooking inside the pineapple, the bromelain is working on the protein fibers in the pork.

 

 

When it was done, along with the ribs, we took it inside to slice. The ribs were to die for. The pineapple yummy, bacon great, pork - slimy. Yes, pineapple left the pork with a slimy texture, so slimy none of us could keep it in our mouths long enough to actually taste it. So, please, if you want to do this, either use another cooking source, or a much higher temperature.

To cook the ribs, all we did was peel the membrane off the back of the rack of ribs (you can use a knife to get under the membrane, the just use your hand a grab and pull it off. About an hour before they were to go into the smoker, they were sprinkled with salt and left to stand. Then just before smoking we added a rub. If you will paint them with oil (we use olive) it will help your rub adhere and crust. I just through together a rub this time (1/2 c. sugar, 1/2 c. brown sugar, a T. each; garlic powder, onion powder & paprika.) We have a huge assortment of ready made rubs, check your grocer, or online (Amazon has a ton). The ribs went into the smoker.

We kept the smoker around 250, used hickory chunks and spritzed the meat often with apple juice in a spray bottle. It is a gas smoker. Ribs were heaven.

Veggies were our side. A lot of veggies. Roasted in the oven which brings out their sweetness.



 

You can use any assortment of veggies. We did sweet potatoes, white potatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, garlic, onion, peppers, carrots, mushrooms and a few tomatoes. Cut them in chunks, cutting slower cooking veggies (potatoes, carrots, etc) in smaller pieces than quick cooking one (mushrooms, squash, etc.). We put them on a cookie sheet. I drizzled olive oil over them, my two little helpers added sea salt and coarse ground pepper. We gave it all a toss and stuck it in the oven, about 350 or so for about an hour - time will depend on how big your pieces are. They are so good, even the 2 little ones loved them.

Dessert was Mississippi Mud Cake (the recipe is under the recipe tab), and the kids made ice cream in a bag to go with it.

Ice Cream in a Bag

1 gal. freezer zipper bag
1 quart freezer zipper bag

1 cup milk (or half n half or cream)
1 scant t. vanilla
1 T. sugar

ice
salt, rock is best but any will do, just be generous with it.

Mix milk, vanilla and sugar in quart bag and seal. Add ice to about half way in gallon bag, add plenty of salt, then drop sealed quart bag into ice bag, seal and squish, shake, whatever, just mix it up good. The ice cream is done when it thick, like ice cream. Store left overs in fridge. The older kids had made this a school when they were young, but it was new to the younger ones. We will be doing it again when we go camping in a few weeks.

We even managed to squeeze in a family swim while the smoker was going.

Perfect weekend!

Another Camping Adventure

What a weekend!!! You know how I always say life is never dull in this house? Well this weekend was another example.

The little kids wanted to go camping, so we loaded up Friday and went up to the camper. We had 3 kids and 3 dogs in the truck with us lol. Before we even gone 2 miles, Sadie decided the back seat was to crowded for her and she climbed over onto my lap. Gizmo then went to the back seat. Then Sadie decided she wasn't comfortable, she climbed up me and got behind my head and laid across my shoulders. Crazy girl, she isn't as big as Pete but she is no lap dog.

Then we stopped at a stand to get sweet corn. Before we could stop her Sadie was out of the truck. While we were trying to persuade her back in, Gizmo jumped out. He and Sadie ran around hiking on everything (yes she is a girl and yes she hikes, don't know I have ever seen a female who hikes, of course she begs also and on her hind legs, how many Coon Hounds have you seen do that?). So once their bladders were empty they got back in the truck and we were back on the road. Once again Sadie took up residence on my shoulders. We got there (we had the camper parked at a friend's lake), fixed supper and we all crashed
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I got up about midnight to tinkle. Gizmo went with me, as usual. he walked into the bathroom but then walked back out. This should have been a clue for me. I was just about to sit and noticed a black rope in the tub. Uh no, it was a snake in the tub climbing up the shower wall. I started yelling snake and ran out slamming the door. Ava Beth and Rylan both sat straight up and Bill came in to see what was going on. He went into the bathroom (like I would lie about a snake in the bathroom in the middle of the night). He shut the door and stuffed rugs along the door so the snake wouldn't get out, and we tried to figure out what to do. I suggested his extra long BBQ tongs. He got them and went back into the bathroom, by now the snake had crawled around the bathroom and was on the wall above the stool. He got it with the tongs and took it down to the creek to release. Back to bed, just fell asleep and Rylan came in the bedroom scared and got in bed with us, then Ava Beth did. You know those camper beds are not normal size beds, right? Well the 4 of us and Gizmo slept in ours the rest of the night.

Saturday afternoon, Bill's sister, Lori, came up for a quick visit before heading back to LA Sunday. We were visiting in the camper and Ava Beth wanted to fill the ice trays in the freezer (I have the old fashioned metal kind like most of us had as kids since I decorated it in a late 50s early 60s style). Well she opened the door and said Bubbah (that is the name my oldest grandson gave me, so all the others followed suit) what is that?! I looked, um, go get Papa. It was a huge mouse nest, almost all of a roll of toilet paper (which explained why the roll I hung when we left, was empty when we arrived). With a mama and 3 babies in it. Bill managed to scoop it all up and took it out by a wood pile to let them go. I pulled the ice tray out of the freezer to wash and cracked up to find Mama Mouse had stored 1 in the shell peanut in each section of the tray. lol

Shortly after that a neighbor stopped by to let us know Sadie had killed one of his chickens. He was very nice about it, we all felt bad, so that will be Sadie's last trip up to the camper. When Lori went back to the folks she brought Sadie home.

We had an uneventful trip home, thankfully. What a weekend.

My Little Math Whiz

Ava Beth (9) and Rylan (6) spent the night last night, as usual it was a good time. Rylan and I were watching television in the bedroom when he asked me if I had color tv when I was little. I told him no, that technology was invented yet. He said, what they never heard of crayons? lol Then he asked how long ago tv was invented, I said I didn't know but probably around 60 years ago. He says 60 years ago, Opa is 90 so he would have been 30 then. Yep, not bad for a guy just heading into 1st grade. He loves number problems and quizzes us all the time. Last time he was here he asked me how long till Rase was 90. I said well he is almost 19 so almost 71 years, 72 as of today. So he says, hmm, so 9 years from today Rase will be 27. Well yes. He keeps me on my toes.

Midnight Acrobatics

midnight acrobatics: I wake up to go to the bathroom. First I have to move Gizmo who has me pinned under the blanket (this must be done carefully as if you move him when he is asleep he turns into the Tasmanian devil), put my foot down to feel Sadie, who wont wake up. Step over her only to find Pete blocking the bathroom, he refuses to move so I have to step between his legs and try not to lose my balance. Hit the bathroom and there is a puddle that sends me skidding to the s...tool. Sit down, damn, that puddle was from Pete drinking from the toilet, I know this as my bottom is now soaking wet from the water he left on the seat. Get ready to get up only to find Lucy (our new kitten) has crawled up the pant leg and is sitting in my undies. Move her, mop up the water on the seat and floor, and take the course in reverse. Then, I couldn't fall back to sleep! It is a jungle around here.

Had all my kiddos this weekend. (that is all five of my grands) Worn out!!! Rylan and Ava Beth were arguing over something. He finally let her have it. Little bit later he came in with me and I told him that was a really nice thing he did. Then I gave him a dollar to save up and buy him whatever it was they were fighting about. Little while later he comes in and asks why I always give him one dollar. I said, I don't know, what do you want. He says, a 5 or 10 dollar bill would work. Or a 20, twenty's are always good. lol he has it figured out at 5

Camper Redo Saga - Part 2

Well, that good deal hubby got on the camper was not such a great deal!

TIP: when looking at an older or vintage camper - CHECK EVERYWHERE FOR WATER DAMAGE!!!

We got ready to paint her white, oops my hand went thru the wall! Water Damage, ugh.

First step - find and seal the leak - done!

Step 2 - remove rotten wood (and moldy insulation) until you find good wood.

This involved removing the whole front of the inside of the camper, at which point we discovered the floor was soft under the table and bench, so out went the floor also.

 

 

The door had to come out also to get to all the soft wood.

 

We are now beginning to put in new studs and new floor joists, sub floor and then will put down vinyl tiles. Doesn't look like this girl is going glamping any time soon.

 



Once the front is done, we get to do the right back. Thankfully the middle section is all good. The flooring is here, as is the material for the curtains and to cover the cushions. I suppose I will work on them for now, so at least it feels like we are making progress. So sad. Since we had promised the grand kids a camping trip, we will break out the tents and "glamp" in them a time or two before harvest.  Happy Camping (even in your house or a hotel).

Osso Bucco in the Crock Pot

It all started with this book:

I had to make something in it. The book was a good beach read (nothing deep, but fun), but the recipes - oh my. Then Osso Bucco kept showing up on tv shows and movies and . . . Well, I had to make it. So, I searched high and low, researched, adapted, played and I came up with this recipe. Must have been good - no left overs! Prep took a bit, but so worth it. I don't stand over a stove and slave, I prep and crockpot it. I just wish I had better pictures or better yet a scratch and sniff button. But, here is my recipe:

Osso Bucco in the Crockpot

¼ cup all-purpose flour (I prefer to use Kentucky Kernel seasoned flour)

salt and pepper to taste

10 (1 inch) thick slices veal shank, sliced for osso bucco  

3 tablespoons butter melted with 3 T. olive oil

2 onions, roughly chopped  (I confess, I just use a bag of frozen chopped onion)

5 large carrots, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped  

2 cloves garlic, chopped fine

3 cups beef stock  

1 cup wine (I use white)

2 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes

3 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano  

2 bay leaf

2 Tablespoons finely grated lemon zest

1. Toss the veal shank slices with the flour (if using plain flour mix with salt and pepper first) until evenly coated. Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the shank slices in the hot butter until golden brown on all sides at 5 min, probably closer to 10 per side.

2. Combine the chopped veggies in a large slow cooker. Lay the browned meat on top of  the vegetables, then add the stock, wine and diced tomatoes. Season with oregano, bay leaves and the lemon zest.

3. Cook on Low for 8 hours until the meat is falling off of the bone. Add salt and pepper to taste if needed and remove the bay leaves. Here is a really really bad picture of it:

I serve with Risotto Milanese made in my rice cooker using the recipe from

Which, by the way is an excellent cookbook for rice cookers. Before this book I never realized the differences in rice - but that will be another post.