Once again another blast from my past as I reprint a recipe from an old food blog. I've been trying to move over some of my favorites. This not only tastes FANTASTIC, but has fond memories for us as this was served at a LARGE neighborhood BBQ event in my back yard!
The Cul de Sac is where it's at and the my back yard is the place to be!
As I am writing this I am basking in the glow of October baseball unlike anything I have ever had in my life. Last night, my beloved Chicago Cubs won their first post season pennant series in Wrigley Field in over 100 years... Indeed, party like it's 1908! 50 years of being a Cubs fan and I was reduced to a few tears as I watched the celebration.
50 plus years ago I was a wee lad loving the Cubs of the 60's. Living just under 200 miles away from the friendly confines I even have a few memories of attending some games live! The line-up included some of the greatest ball players of all time, Ron Santo, Don Kessinger, Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins and possibly the greatest player to ever wear the uniform... ERNIE BANKS!
Ernie is one of those rare childhood heroes who never disappointed. He played to win as much in his declining years as in his glory years. He set record after record. His personal life was a shining example of sportsmanship and enthusiasm. He knew he had fans that read about his every move and he led his life accordingly. My hero then and still now.
It's time to plan those World Series parties. I am living in the heart of the American League World Champs of 2015... The Kansas City Royals. Sadly, last year the Cubs were just a few runs short of a Cubs/Royals series. Although I would have been just a little torn between who to root root root for (Nah, Cubbie Blue all the way).This year I have lined up a dozen friends who have promised to cross league lines and cheer on the Cubs... 'Course I have promised a fully catered Game 7 Party. I would gladly forego that party of the Cubs can win in 4... Dare to dream!
So, I am working out my Blue Food, my Cub (and Ernie) inspired dishes and just general World Series worthy food.
Starting with this Blue Adult Lemonade in Cubbie Powder Blue.
This is a post i have updated for my beloved boys of summer (and now Autumn). Originally made for a back yard BBQ, now worthy of my upcoming World Series watch party...
Well, good news for me, great news for the Cul de Sac... the now annual neighborhood BBQ party and get together is now history. Last year, over 50 people came... this year, There were a few stragglers that came by after I stopped counting at 73. But 73 is a pretty good number.
But, the bad news, I was serving up pulled pork, dishing the side dishes, even wrote out a couple of recipes when asked, and just got too busy to take photos. At one point I remember going into the house to hunt for my camera, couldn't immediately find it and decided hosting the party had to take priority over hosting the blog.
So in addition to a mild hangover, I now have to type this up, knowing that I let you all down.
Keep scrolling down for this easy to follow recipe...
But, I didn't let the Cul de Sac down... The gods and stars were shining on me, I selected the pig that lived a good and virtuous life, I learned from my past cook sessions, using my now famous Raspberry Chipotle Mop and finishing sauce to make a Carolina style Pulled Pork.
I also used a rub of my own.I used the formula for my "Big Easy in a Jar" Cajun Spice Mix, add Brown Sugar to the mix (2 parts "Big Easy in a Jar" to 1 part brown sugar).
I followed my three simple steps to a perfect BBQ, select the best meat (For pork shoulder, no large lumps of hard fat, nicely marbled fat, without large veins of fat running through, never frozen if possible), keep the meat moist (Mop every hour for the first 5 hours, every 3 hours after that), and the long and slow cook session. Cooking at 225, it took 20 hours for the meat to get to the right temperature (195 degrees).
And it did not disappoint. Compliments all around, techniques asked for and explained (although the time frame to get it right did seem to intimidate less enthusiastic cooks), but mostly, I was very pleased to serve up the absolute best pulled pork I have ever made.
The party started at 4 pm, plenty of food, plenty of fun. We met new neighbors, renewed friendships we had missed while gone this year and was able to connect names and faces with the folks we wave to all year round without ever meeting. The kids and the parents with kids stayed for a few hours, got a few games going ("Dads have to bat left handed whiffle ball" was very competitive, with the kids winning (but I think the dentist through the game in the 9th)). By about 7, there were a dozen folks left sitting round the firepit. A nice cool evening (in the 60's) was perfect for a night of laughs and stories.
Like I always say, the suburban Cul de Sac is the place to be, and my backyard is the place to be!
It was a huge success. I highly recommend the party idea to everyone. A little bit of work, but well worth it.
But, as a peace offering for not taking any photos, let me give you an incredibly simple recipe for what became a very popular drink yesterday. So popular, one of the guys made a liquor run just to pick up a bottle of Alize Blue...
This has become my wife's favorite drink. I posted this once as a guest post on OUR KRAZY KITCHEN, but it is worth the extra posting.
we wanted to have a theme drink to serve our friends while we bored them with our stories and photographs.
Like this one…
So, I give you the “Colors of the Caribbean” Lemonade
Start with 1/2 a pitcher (about 5 cups) of your favorite Lemonade
Add 1 cup Blue Alize Liqueur (blue Alize is a French Cognac mixture with Passion Fruit, Cherries, Ginger and other exotic fruit juices).
Fill with ice
Garnish with Lemon Slices
Serve in tall Collins size glass, and garnish with Lemon Slices
Like I said, a huge hit at the party. We went through two bottles of the blue Alize. This is the recipe most asked for. I have a feeling we will be seeing this around the neighborhood again.
Can a whole Cul de Sac have a signature drink???
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Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop... Over 100 in one grilling season (I love to grill!). But not just leat... Drinks, Condiments (LOTS of different BBQ sauces), Drinks, Desserts... even specialty items like GRILLED Pizza, and fun shaped Watermelons. Easy and these ideas will make you the MASTER of your Backyard Domain!
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