Smoking Permitted

I will be making this home made smoker ASAP!!! And use it until I feel like shelling out the $$$ for a nice one… OR I may just remain ghetto haha

Here Piggy Piggy Piggy

Jess and I are going to be joining a CSA this year and we cant wait!!! All that fresh produce… mmmm

But come on… Im a guy… as much as I like fresh veg and fruits… I LOVE me some meat… mmmm flesh…

mmmmm oink oink get in my belly

So The next thing I will be looking to do is make my own bacon… Yes thats right my own bacon… No I wont be growing the hog myself, nor will I be butchering it but boy will I use its meat… Making your own bacon is INCREDIBLY EASY!!! And BTW have you seen how your normal store bought bacon is mass produced? Pumped full of water, nitrates, preservatives and liquid smoke? Last time I checked I wanted to buy bacon… not water… that’s some expensive water you’re buying…

There is a better way!!!

While I don’t have a smoker there are other ways to smoke the bacon if I wish, its just all about getting McGyver like haha…

But anyway I got VERY excited when I saw this.

Willow Creek Farms

Anyone who knows about pork knows that Berkshire hogs really are the kobe beef of the pork world… And my god to have a producer relatively close (Ive convinced myself that with in 3 hours is relatively close, hell Ive driven farther for beer) is awesome…

Please visit their site and read and look… That place is EXACTLY what Im talking about… pigs raised humanely and happy and healthy… look around where ever you are and support folks like this

please

Rockstar Week

What a way to bring me back into the world of the drinking… My 30 days were up a little more than a week ago and I needed a good way to reintroduce myself back into the booze world.

First, was the “Dogfloydapalooza”. Basically a party to celebrate the coming together of Three Floyds and Dogfish Head to create the beer called “Popskull” I was fortunate enough to be asked to work the door, so that was all good…

Fun was had by all…

The next night was even better…

We’re talking about 6 courses of GREAT food paired with two beers each… One from Dogfish Head and one from Three Floyds… Take a look…

For those who cant read the menu here’s the run down:

Reception: Pride & Joy

Amuse: 60 Minute IPA
Smoked Pork Fat Gougere with Bacon, Lolla Rossa, Pickled Shallots

Course One: Gumballhead
Dogfish Head Soup – Bouillabaisse, Chorizo, Clams, Aioli, Octopus

Course Two: Oatgoop/Oldschool
Banger and Mash – Pork Sausage, Potato Puree, Frisee, Soffrito – Pancetta Vinaigrette

Course Three: Dreadnaught/120 Minute IPA
London Pub Curry – Braised Breast of Lamb, Dal, Curry, Naan

Course Four: Robert the Bruce/Indian Brown
BBQ – Smoked Brisket, Brisket Jerky, Mustard Barbecue Sauce, Grilled Green Onion, Jalapeno Jelly

Course Five: Alpha King/Red & White
Cheddar – Warm Bleu Mont Cheddar, Fig Mostarda, Sweet Prosciutto – Roasted Garlic, Saltine

Course Six: Barrel Aged Alpha Klaus with Black Berries/Forte
Walnut Cream, Seckel Pear – Dreadnaught Ice Cream, Chestnut Cake, Raison D’Xtra Gastrique, Poached Seckel Pear

Conclussion: Dark Lord/Palo Santo

Then all of that was followed up with heading down to Indianapolis for the Indiana Brewers Guild to help pour for Three Floyds…

Check out a video from our friend Jeffery T here And dont forget to take a look at Jeffery’s podcast here

Cheers!!!!!

OMG Please pass a fork and a defibulator

Do I even need to say anything?

Where is the beer?!?!?!?!?!?!?

So I know ALL of my readers (both of you) tune into this amazing, earth shattering, stupendous, awesome, perfect blog on an hourly basis to see what else I have dribbling out of my slurry of a brain and onto the key board… Some of you who know me best are probably wondering where the hell are all of the beer and booze reviews? (Ok maybe your not, but play along damn it, I swear your monthly friend check is in the mail) Well there will be no beer reviews for at least 8 more days… I am in the last third of a personal 30 day challenge of no booze… No beer, no wine, no liquor, hell not even a swig of cough syrup… It all started the day after my 30th birthday…. I wish I had a story that I woke up with this massive hangover, projectile vomiting straight Jack Daniels and crack rocks but alas there is no such tale. And NO my wife has not put me on a time out because I became belligerent and dumb with her… well no more than normal I suppose.

I took this challenge as just that… a challenge… I figured it would be good for my liver to have a break, and let my immune system strengthen… Plus not to mention my wallet has been happier. Also I figured if I could not stay away from imbibing for 30 days, well lets just say Im happy I have been able to do it so far.

Stupid? naw probably not… now what WAS very dumb of me was to start it on Dec. 16th… Lets all count ahead on our trusty calendars starting at Dec. 16th and ending Jan 14th. Go ahead… Ill wait… … 12….
17 …. 20…. 29 30! Way to go Im sure your 4th grade math teacher is very proud.

Now, did you happen to notice anything big and important in that stretch of days? Perhaps Christmas and maybe even New Years? Yeah Im kind of kicking myself for starting the 30 day challenge right smack dab in the middle of the holiday mess, but I suppose “that which does not kill you blah blah blah” I could of moved it to Jan. 2nd but I opened my big fat mouth and blabbed about it to everyone and Im just that sort of stubborn person to not change things… so I went through Christmas and the New Years with out one drop of any sort of fermented beverage. Thank god that when Jess and I went to our friends house for Christmas that there was a pregnant Laura there who also could not drink ( it helped ease the pain some). While it was nice to have no hangover on new years day I wont lie, it would of been nice to have a nice glass… ok ok ok nice bottle of champagne to help ring in the new year but alas… nothing.

Did I mention that during all of this I had a full bin of great beers and a fully stocked liquor cabinet staring at me? Including a full new bottle of Hendricks (my favorite gin of all time) hell I even had the cucumber (the correct garnish for a Hendricks and tonic). I even had a lot of alone time (the wife works nights) and also continued to hang out with my drunks… I mean my friends on Tiki Chat (check out some of their blogs Brain Gravy , SIDT and Size of Life ) Which leads me into a big big thank you for everyone’s support… there were many times through out this challenge where I was like “Fuck it… Who cares… 7 days, 14 days is enough…” But amazingly just as I thought that someone would say… “Hey man hows the challenge going? I’m so proud of you… Keep it up!!” Damn you all… no Im kidding thank you all for helping me out… I really didnt think it was that big of a thing until I started asking people if they could\would\should try it… Needless to say noone has signed on yet…

So Im happy that I did\am finishing up the challenge… hell I might do it every year, but I wont lie… come Jan 14th… I am going to pour myself the most perfect drink and relish each and every sip…

“Tomorrow will be the best day of Raymond K. Hessles’ life. His breakfast will taste better than any meal he have ever had…”

Anyone out there want to try the challenge? Its really not tough… even if you are a normal to moderate drinker… I’m actually really excited to see what its going to be like when I can once again enjoy a tasty beverage.