Grilled Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes ala Smoked 'n Grilled

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Click Photo for link to Kale Chips

Ya' all remember yesterday's post for GRILLED KALE CHIPS?

If you look closely under those chips, you can see a steak pinwheel (with tomato pesto, blue cheese and spinach... but that's a tease for tomorrow's post), you also see the beautiful orange sweet potato with just a hint of that grill char that adds so much (along with a crispy exterior and a sweet creamy soft interior)!

Now, there is nothing simpler than grilling sweet potatoes.  just a few simple tips and anyone is a pro.  But I saw this recipe on eRecipeCards.com a few weeks ago and I knew I was going to give this unique twist a try.

This recipe was submitted by Curt of the Smoked 'n Grilled blog!  Curt is a transplanted Texan, transplanted to Wisconsin.  he has melded the worlds of low and slow BBQ (smoking) with the Beer and Brats world of BBQ in the land that embraces Cheeseheads.  Taking a quick look through his site, you will find far more than just tossing brats and burgers on a grill.  Like his side dishes of Smoked Ham, potatoes and Sassafras, or if you get tired of serving smoked beans, give Curt's Smoked Three Bean Salad a try!  HE MAKES HIS OWN RUBS and Marinades!  A smoker after my own heart.  Here in Kansas City, we are getting ready for the American Royal (arguably the largest and most prestigious of all BBQ contests (You folks in Memphis, I said arguably).  In back yards all across my neck of the woods, smoking hobbyists are testing out our own concoctions.  I have three spice blends that I am very proud of, but Curt seems to have dozens of recipes posted (like a peppered coffee rub that would really WAKE up your pork chops ;-).

Not sure what size family he cooks for, but he does have a "wife who treats me pretty good".  Well I would say so, he got a Weber Smoky Mountain Smoker as a gift from her!  Ladies, that is the gift that keeps on giving!

Summer time grilling is a myth.  No one really likes standing out in 90-100 degree heat (with extra humidity to really make it uncomfortable).  Prime grilling and smoking season is starting now!  Cool temperatures and beautiful fall weather makes this a perfect time to stop by Curt's site.  You will find plenty of innovative ideas, easy to replicate recipes and a crisp opinionated writing style.

Click the logo to magically be taken to Curt's Site!!!

Click the Bottle
To be taken to
O Olive Oil
Website

What caught my eye was Curt's recipe for Grilled Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes.

As most grilling recipes are, there are a minimum number of ingredients.  But that makes the flavors really pop.  Easily identified means they better blend well.  Like sweet potatoes flavored with cinnamon.  Not sure why, but the dozens of times I have grilled sweet potatoes, it never dawned on me to add cinnamon.

But with few ingredients, there were few opportunities for me to change the recipe.  I made a few though.

First, one of the tricks to grilling sweet potatoes is to do thick cuts (about 1/2 inch).  Easier to handle, gets that crispy outside, tender inside contrast of textures.  I added to this idea by doing long crosswise cuts.

But the biggest change to the taste was to use a flavored oil.  My NEW obsession is with a bottle of pressed Blood Orange O Olive Oil.  The O Olive Oil Company actually presses whole oranges the same time they press the olives, making a deeper richer taste than just infused or flavored oils.  I found this brand at Whole Foods and am trying it on everything I can think of.  It;s wonderful (and in full disclosure, paid myself, no promises were exchanged... I just like it).

One other tip is to par boil the slices for about 5 minutes.  This will get the cooking process started.  So the grill is more heating and crisping the outside than it is actually cooking.

OK.. Here's what I did (BTW, this was just for Jackie and me.  So if you are cooking for a family, you will need to increase the amounts...

And to read Curt's far more detailed how-tos and tips, visit his original post...
 Grilled Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes

1 LARGE Sweet Potato, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 TBS Blood Orange O Olive Oil
Kosher Salt to taste
Cinnamon to taste

Par boil the slices for 5 minutes.
remove from pan, pat dry
rub oil on the slices
season with salt and cinnamon on one side
grill seasoned side up for only a few minutes over direct heat watch for charring.  You want a little, but not too much.
flip, season the other side and finish grilling!

And serve with Grilled Kale Chips and Pinwheel bacon Wrapped Steak!

Grillers, get out of your rut... Brats, burgers and chips are fine (once a season).  But listen to the ohhhs and ahhhs when you serve something innovative from your grill.  be a cook and look over "Smoked n' Grilled" for lots of ideas to make you master of the back yard!

So, if I have tweeked your interest in Curt and the Smoked n'Grilled Blog/website , head on over and say HI for me!
And for a quick look at what he blogs, click on the logo link image to the right.  You will see all the eRecipeCards that Curt  has submitted to eRecipeCards.com.  You can add her recipes to your eRecipeBox (once you have a free account).

See how useful the site is and how easy it is to find new favorite bloggers!



These posts continue to highlight bloggers and recipes that I have found on "eRecipeCards.com"..

~ CheckerBoard Cake ~

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Today's blog will be a lot of fun for me.  Not just because of the whimsical cake above HUGE HIT... It's chocolate, really), but also because I was inspired by my long time blogging buddy... Really Rainey of the Project Table!  I LOVE visiting the Project table.  In fact, I have loved visiting the Project Table long before eRecipeCards.  She has been on my blog list for years.  In fact, I love visiting the Project table so much, in real life, I have set up a blogging meet up with Rainey in October (Doesn't hurt that she lives in the Phoenix area, just a short hop from my sainted Mother)!

But before we get to her, WE HAVE A WINNER!!!  A couple of days ago I hosted my very first contest!  What a huge success.  I always see over a hundred visitors to this blog daily, yet only get 6-10 comments.  Apparently it takes a bribe to get people interested!  A whopping 38 people were interested, but only one person can be a winner...

Number 16, Andra of the Brighter Side of Gluten is the winner.  Andra, drop me a note with your mailing address and I will ship your book out ASAP!

Thanks to all that played along.  And if you are still interested, please double click the book cover to be taken to Amazon so you can buy this TERRIFIC read yourself!

And now back to The Project Table!  While food blogs are terrific, Rainey actually has a well rounded "do it yourself" and "slice of Life" blog.  Just as many posts of hers are shots of her life as are crafty tips as are food recipes.

Click the photo to see the post

Like this crafty tip (which in reality is a foodie tip (and should have been submitted to eRecipeCards.com... But I naggingly digress) for how to grow your own sprouts... pure genius!

Click the Photo to see the post

Her Slice of her Life photos are equally fun.  Like this series of photos she called "Grill with a View", when she shows off a new toy, a propane grill that attaches to a ski boat.  She shows off a bit of lake Powell and the scenery around the lake as she shows off the versatility, cooking burgers (easy... oh wait, she added a slice of grilled pineapple!), a Grilled Pizza (OK, a bit more challenging), Chicken Wings (OK, all in one day, I am really getting impressed) and finally she even showed off the little gem to make some cinnamon dessert rolls.  As product review posts go, this was about as unobtrusive and fun a post as I have ever seen!

Click the photo to see the Blog site

Rainey has also started a "365 days of Rainey blog" which features her photography.  I have considered doing a VERY basic post on photography.  Many bloggers could benefit from a basic understanding of what is easily done with free programs like Picasa 3 and MS Paint.  But really, Rainey has figured out the real trick to taking better photos... practice.  Learn to look at the world with a new eye.  Study angles, shadows, pay attention to backgrounds and props and ponder how to make an interesting shot (Like the AMAZING shot above of "Strawberry Flambe' ".  The basics of adding a splash of color enhancement and proper light balance can be done with the those programs.  BUT, it takes work to achieve that photographer's eye.  Starting a blog dedicated to working to seeing with a photographer's eye and you will get better (as Rainey has)... but I digress.

Click the photo to see the Blog Page

And finally... one more reason to take a look at The Project Table Blog and continue to "haunt" her pages... She is a huge Halloween fan.  Among the most fun decorations and food related holiday faire among all bloggers.  In fact, I first became enamored by her blog during Halloween season.  Like the "Wicked Witch lady fingers" shown above (they are actually sugar cookies with an Almond Slice for the fingernail (although I am pondering using a roasted pumpkin seed instead... more of a nasty look... but I digress).  It is no small accident that I am planning a trip to visit my sainted mother during this favorite time of year for her.  very excited to be visiting the haunted Rainey house (this year, both via viral and via dropping in!).  And now is a great time to add Rainey to your "must visit" page!

Yes... I am a fan!

Oh, one more thing...while preparing this post I found a brand new reason I love blogging so much.

Take a look at the sous chef Rainey used when making the "Wicked Witch lady fingers" shown above...

Now, take a look at the sous chef she used 2 years later when she made this Checkerboard Chocolate cake...

I love personal blogs.  I like to talk about my wife and family when I blog.  I like to read and get a little slice of the life of the blogger I am reading.

The sous chef is Rainey's niece Brianna.  Brianna pops up on occasion on the Project Table!  It's not enough to love the hobby.  Sharing the hobby is also important.  Years and years from now, Brianna will fondly remember sous chefing for her Aunt Rainey.  And years and years from now, Aunt Rainey will just as fondly be able to look back over her blog and fondly remember one of her favorite times in the kitchen (or dozens of them).

Ain't blogging grand!

OK... Let's talk about this recipe...

First, it's a cheat.  Meaning there is a gimmick to get the look.

See... This is a shot I lifted from Rainey's post, but I assure you, I own the same little toy.  Comes with three pans, and the handy little divider.  Just fill one side and the center with one flavor of cake mix.  Then fill the middle.  Do that with two of the pans and alternate with the third.

That's the trick.



Aside from that, I made a red velvet cake mix...

and (hanging my head in shame), I made a box mix of a vanilla cake.

And some butter cream frosting...

Only recipe I have today is...

 Red Velvet Cake is legendary for it's chocolate richness, buttercream icing decadence and the beauty of the red cake contrasted with the white icing. Bobby Flay did one of his Throwdown shows about Red Velvet cake a few years ago. A simple Google search came up with that recipe on the Food Network Website and I stuck to it...

Ingredients For the Cake  

• 3 3/4 cups AP Flour
• 3 tablespoons Dutch processed cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cups vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure Vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature
• The Frosting Recipe Follows

For the cake:

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans and line each pan with a round of parchment paper.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl

Cream the butter, sugar and oil in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beat until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla, vinegar and food coloring.

Add the flour mixture to the batter in 3 batches alternating with the buttermilk, mixing well after each addition. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool on a baking rack for 15 minutes before removing the cake from the pans. Let cool completely before frosting. Slice each cake into 2 layers and frost.

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• 7 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar

Combine the cream, milk, vanilla bean and seeds in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove the vanilla bean and discard. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened to a paste, about 2 minutes. Scrape into a bowl, cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 2 hours.

Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat until the mixture is very fluffy and the sugar is totally dissolved, about 6 minutes. Add the cold paste, a few tablespoons at a time to the butter mixture and whip until light and fluffy.

And BTW...There must be something about Red Velvet cakes and cooking with Nieces... This was my sous chef, Brian, also my niece who visited me while I lived in St Thomas last year.  This was our Easter Red Velvet Cake (decorated with Peeps).

And even my version at the top of the page, that cake was actually made by my wife, with me assisting.

Red Velvet CHOCOLATE CAKE... the family cake!

So, if I have tweeked your interest in Rainey and her The Project Table Blog , head on over and say HI for me!

And for a quick look at what she blogs, click on the logo link image to the right.  You will see all the eRecipeCards that Rainey has submitted to eRecipeCards.com.  You can add her recipes to your eRecipeBox (once you have a free account).

See how useful the site is and how easy it is to find new favorite bloggers!

These posts continue to highlight bloggers and recipes that I have found on  "eRecipeCards.com"..

Spinach Salad with Warm bacon Dressing ala The Life & Loves of Grumpy's HoneyBunch

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What's for Dinner???

The age old question, made just a little more difficult yesterday.  Still getting back into a rhythm from our road trip.not a lot of groceries and no real plan.  But fortunately, just yesterday, the woman with the best logo I have ever seen for a blogger posted this recipe and I suddenly got inspired!!! (BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON)

Shelby, author of the Life & Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch Blog, writes a very fun blog.  She does what I like, which is be very personal about her life and her Grump.  I am always drawn to blogs from people who are happily married, who cook for their best friend.  Shelby unashamedly is in love with her husband and enjoys cooking for him!  Honeybunch and the Grump live in upstate New York, have two grown children, a daughter in law and a cat.  Again, except for the Kansas, thing, I have 2 kids, a son in law and a cat.  So, I am drawn to her food.

And great food it is... She has been blogging for years and years, with over 600 posts.  She posts on average about every other day.

We do have one other thing in common... She has a "Tag Cloud" showing her most popular labels for her dishes.  Desserts and "Cooking Light" are her two most blogged about dishes... Sigh... I feel your painful dichotomy.

Looking through her posts, she does cook with a lot of fresh fruit, from beautiful looking fresh fruit spring rolls to a wicked sounding Blueberry French toast Souffle!  While she does love her desserts, Shelby features healthy whole wheat pasta, as well as squeezes fruit and vegetables in many dishes (like a yummy sounding Red and White Cauliflower Bake).

If you like the personal stories, the wonderful healthy cooking (well... most of the time) and beautiful photos, I urge you to check out  the Life & Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch Blog.

That's her wonderful photo of her version of this Spinach Salad with Warm bacon Dressing recipe to the left.  LOADED with shrimp, beautiful contrast of the colors of the egg and the spinach and everything sounded wonderful about it (and I had most of the ingredients in my pantry, so just a quick trip to the store would get me the red onion and fresh spinach that I needed).

Of course, I made a few changes.  With apologies, I simply can not leave a recipe alone.

I upped the bacon.  Shelby wrote this recipe when she was starting the South Beach Diet (been there).  so she only used 3 pieces of bacon... I used 8.

She had more mushrooms.  I was only able to salvage about a quarter cup from what I thought would have been enough.  So, I added some more Red Onion to make up the difference.

I made a bit extra dressing, added a bit more Dijon mustard and a bit more red wine.

The biggest change, I upped the spice.  I have a spice mix I like that I make up every couple of months that I call my "Big Easy in a Jar".  Just what it sounds like, a Cajun mixture of paprika, peppers, herbs and a few more pepper spices.

So, here's what I did...

8 strip of bacon (save the drippings)
1 Red Onion, sliced into rings, rings cut in half
3 mushrooms, sliced thin
1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 TBS "Big Easy in a Jar" (any commercial Cajun spice mix will do)
2 TBS Dijon Mustard
1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar (I actually had a half empty bottle of red wine, so I used that in place of the vinegar)
1 bunch of fresh spinach
3 hard boiled eggs sliced

OK, this cooks very easy and all in one pan!!!

Fry up the bacon and reserve the drippings. Crumble the bacon
Add the onions to the drippings and cook until tender, about 5 minutes
Add the mushrooms and the shrimp, do a quick stir to coat the shrimp in the sizzling bacon grease.
Add the mustard and red wine and stir everything
And finally, assemble on the plate

Very filling, filled with delicious flavors (BACON BACON BACON BACON).  Just delicious, even with the extra bacon, a light refreshing but filling meal... Exactly what Honeybunch likes to make for her Grumpy!

Thank you so much Shelby.  I loved visiting your blog and will be back whenever you post fresh!

So, if I have tweeked your interest in Shelby and THE LIFE & LOVES OF GRUMPY's HONEYBUMCH, head on over and say HI for me!

And for a quick look at what she blogs, click on the logo link image to the right.  You will see all the eRecipeCards that Shelby has submitted to eRecipeCards.com.  You can add her recipes to your eRecipeBox (once you have a free account).

See how useful the site is and how easy it is to find new favorite bloggers!

These posts continue to highlight bloggers and recipes that I have found on  "eRecipeCards.com"..

Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

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OH BOY... Just yummy!  And not even a little bit, I mean as good as it gets yummy.

And a few hidden benefits... Impossibly easy, fast and have I mentioned that this tastes pretty good.

An update for those of you playing along at home... Mother in law came through her surgery just fine.  She had an angioplasty through a vein that was a little too thin to allow a stint (so that one is going to a problem down the line, but let's dwell on the good stuff.  She also hat a stint put in a vein (kind of a permanent patch on a weak thin vein).  Just incredible what can be done these days.  No open heart chest cracking stuff, they put a small hole in her leg, followed a large vein to her heart and did all the work while watching TV (I think Regis and Kelly, but they never did say).  Mil was uncomfortable last night, but slept just fine and is expected to check out of the hospital in a couple of hours.  She lives in a rural part of South Dakota.  She is an Avon lady (has been for over 35 years).  Her only concession to the surgery, she has asked her clients to come and pick up their ordered items at her home instead of her delivering them.  Over the weekend, she has a trip to visit four of her eight great grandchildren.  I guess 75 is the new 45.

And so she can sit and visit with her friends (the only real reason she sells Avon), I think I am going to make another batch of these for her to share.  I made these last week so Jackie and I would have a little sweet treat for us to enjoy during the long miserable drive from Kansas to South Dakota (there are some big states out here).  And enjoy we did.  I just can not say enough about the taste of these...

But before that, let me tell you about Jill of the Dulce Dough Blog.  Literally (in Spanish), sweet dough, Jill has an amazing blog.  Her photos are amazing.  She spends a lot of time getting angles, lighting and her props set to show off the food.  That's her magazine quality photo to the left (with a LINK to her original post of this recipe).  Now, she certainly made these look as delicious as these tasted (have I mentioned that I enjoyed the taste?) !!!

I am new to Jill's blog, just discovered it a few weeks ago when she first submitted to eRecipeCards.com.  About all I have seen are her treat posts.  And after reading her bio, I understand why.  Her blog is a New Year's resolution from just this year.  Yes, she is that rare individual who has stuck to her resolution.  An accomplished home baker, she decided to concentrate on baking a treat at least once a week for her family.  And thus... a Blog is born.

Jill is a wife, mother of two, pet lover dog and three cats.  Active in church and community with plenty of home hobbies.  I looked hard, but could not find exactly where she lives, but her bio photo shows her in the mountains.  Fresh air, family, loved ones, friends, cats ... who could ask for more...

Oh, and she can make these...

Now, I have read over her blog.  Jill has plenty of baking chops and she can easily work her way through a scratch cake recipe with the best of any blogger.  One hand tied behind her back she can whip up a yeast dough.

This is made from a mix.

No shame, sometimes you get that phone call that you need something for a bake sale in an hour (kids tend to forget to mention things), or, like me, I had already spent a couple hours making buns, a pasta, and a chicken salad for a surprise drive through the plains the next day.  I was just looking for something easy fast and... did I mention... really really really good.

Now, ordinarily on this blog I post my interpretation of the recipes I make.  I am one of those cooks that simply can not leave a recipe alone.  I am always adding changing switching something.  No insult to the recipe or the original poster, I just like figuring out how to make a twist to a recipe that makes it more personal.  And, there is that, "I am cheap" factor.  So often I make do with something in my pantry or in my herb garden that I can change for an ingredient I did not have.

Not so with these.  I did add just a dusting of powdered sugar, but I do not consider that a big enough change to copy Jill's recipe outright. This recipe was not an inspiration, it was an out right steal.  So, rather than reprinting the recipe, I am going to direct you to Jill's original post for her...

Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

Total baking time is 30 minutes.  Total prep time is about 10 minutes.  You only need a Lemon cake mix, some cream cheese, a Lemon, eggs, oil and sugar.  With the possible exception of a cake mix (I buy them when those sales happen, a buck a mix is a good enough price I can justify buying one), everything is in my fridge or pantry.  Another huge advantage to making sure this is in your recipe file.

And did i mention the taste.  Seriously, just about the best Lemon Bars you will ever eat (especially if you are not a fan of the tart lemon taste some bars have).

So if I have tweaked your interest in the recipe, or in Jill or in her DULCE DOUGH Blog, click this link and tell her hi from me.

And for a quick look at what she blogs, click on the logo link image to the right.  You will see all the eRecipeCards that Jill has submitted to eRecipeCards.com.  You can add her recipes to your eRecipeBOX (once you set up your free account) and find this recipe in six months when your kids tell you you have an hour to get a dessert to the school fund raiser.

See how useful the site is... and how easy it is to find your favorite bloggers!

These posts continue to highlight the bloggers, their recipes and my inspirations from my daily readings of eRecipeCards.com!

And now, I am going to get a little personal... Today is the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.  Long before he became a punchline, Elvis was indeed the king of Rock and Roll.

And he loved his mama and my mama loved him.  I plan on calling my mama today.  I call her every year on the anniversary of the death of the king.  Here's a little bit of why...

"It was 35 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play"... No wait, that's the Beatles, the wrong 60's icon.

Starting over, today marks the sad anniversary, 34 years ago today, truly "The Day the Music Died". Oops, sorry, that's the Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly, the wrong 50's icon.

But, this is the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. Long before the kids of today made him into a punch line, he was the reigning undisputed King of Rock and Roll. Mourned in assisted living homes across the country, poodle skirt wearing grandmothers are a little sad this morning. I know my sainted mother remembers this day, and I have three very strong memories of Elvis from three important crossroads of my life. Today I will blog about my first Elvis memory.

Those of you that think there will be another recipe can skip this part... just stories, those of you that want some insight into my soul, read on. You may need some Kleenex before it's over.

My very first memory concerns Elvis, my sainted Mother and my Dad. It was 1962, and my Dad piled the family (me, my older brother Steve, and Mom) into the Chevy and drove to the Starlight Drive-In in Pekin, Il. BTW, The drive-in really was near a levy. And also BTW, it will help if you kind of curl up your lip and snarl a bit whenever you read -Steeeeeeve during the rest of this post. No special reason, it just always drove him crazy. Still does a little.

My Mom was hot. She was a huge Elvis fan, and I think having 2 kids under 7 kind of cramped her style. My Dad was a greaser. There is this amazing photo of the two of them, Mom in her big poodle skirt (sadly, no poodle, but still that big skirt look), and my dad next to her with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in his T-shirt sleeve. I guess a trip to an Elvis movie was as close as they could get to their wild youth. But I am digressing again...

Ok, anyway, I was only 5 years old, but I remember this night very clearly. It was a double feature, featuring an Elvis movie, "Follow That Dream" - Think "Grapes of Wrath" with girls, singing and more girls (in those weird bikinis, with the bottoms looking like granny panties). It was set in Florida, since the bikinis would be out of place in Oklahoma. The Elvis movie was first. We had a tradition at the drive-in, Mom and Dad would climb in the back seat, while Steeeeeveand I would climb up front. Of course, Steeeevewould get the seat with the wheel, but it was still fun to be in the front. Of course, now that I have had a couple of kids of my own, I realize that the whole switching seats was just a scam so Mom and Dad could neck in the back... But I digress again.

I remember Steeeeeve and I tolerated the Elvis movie (too much kissing for this 5 year old). I do recall laughing and having great fun while all 4 of us danced whenever Elvis sang the fast songs. Steeeeve and I would ignore the slow ones, cause we knew the kissing was coming. We tolerated the kissing, liked the fighting (amazing how much fighting there always is in every Elvis movie, he does like to throw the first punch) and ate popcorn and corn dogs. What a great time.

BUT...

The second feature was "King Kong vs. Godzilla". I still have that image of Kong being floated with giant balloons. I think that new Pixar movie "Up" owes an "inspired by" credit to KK vs Godzilla, but I digress.

The BEST part of this night was what happened before the movie started. I had to pee (no, that wasn't the best part, just setting up the best part). Dad took me to the concession stand and left Mom and Steeeeve in the car (I can still remember the dancing hot dogs, popcorn and drinks all marching in a line) while we walked. I finished my business, and when we returned to the car, Mom and Steeeeve were BOTH asleep! It was kind of late by then, around 10 PM. For Mom, raising two boys is very hard work, so who could blame her for whatever nap time she could get. Steeeevewas a Pansy then, and still is. But I am digressing again...

Dad gently put Steeeeve in the back seat to sleep next to Mom. While I was allowed to take the drivers seat. Whoo whoo... Drive in, staying up late, driver's seat, my wimp of a brother asleep in the back while I watched a monster movie with my Dad. Of course I remember this night clearly, TODAY I AM A MAN!

I remember a LOOOOng build up to the fight, with way too much talking. I also remember the first blow in the battle... Kong beat his chest, roared in challenge, Godzilla tossed his head back, screeched in answer, and proceeded to fire his atomic breath at King Kong's crotch. To a 5 year old, there is not much funnier than crotch jokes. Come to think of it, take a look at "America;s Funniest Videos" sometime, crotch jokes are still funny.

I stayed awake for the entire movie, and the drive home. I remember dad carrying Steeeeve into the house (panzy). I also remember going to Sunday School the next day and telling everyone about Kong, whileSteeeve had stories of Elvis and kissing... Bwahahahahahahaha


And on that note... Here's my favorite Elvis song... Many a loaf of bread has been beaten into submission during the kneading stage with "Jailhouse Rock" setting the rhythm!  Enjoy