Varmint

Those are easy. I've got the best recipe around. I could probably make the crusts and let someone make a double batch.

Darn. I am so totally flattened. And here I was, ready to offer up my new recipe for Old Cardoon Fritters in a Moonshine-Cornmeal Batter with Okra-Jalapeno-Hoop Cheese Dip. Oh well. ← No, I want to try that! But don't waste the shine on the batter -- just give it to me.

Let's try to stick to a basic and tradition, but kick-ass nevetheless, potato salad. Distinguish it by making homemade mayo or something like that. Your recipe does sound good, Rachel, and pretty traditional. As far as the hotplate is concerned, I have an extra kitchen in the loft above the master bedroom with a minifridge in it. I just realized it. This kitchen has two electric burners, too, so you may be able to do all this in the house. See, no worries!!

Umh, right place, wrong event. We'll have enough main dishes with all the pork and chicken. Trust me on this one! We're trying to maintain some level of authenticity with the pig pickin', and since I'm the anal-retentive host, I do get to control the menu somewhat here!

One can never eat enough mac n' cheese, as far as my kids are concerned!

Now if someone wants to pick some kudzu and make something out of that, go right ahead. We do need to remember that this is indeed a pig pickin'. We shouldn't be trying to make it into something other than that. With that in mind, my kids have asked for macaroni and cheese, which is a fine pig pickin' side dish. Any volunteers????

I've not seen cardoon, but I haven't looked, either. One thing to remember about dishes like potato salad is that my refrigerator space is limited. Traditional Southern potato salad is mayonnaise based (Dukes, of course) with some mustard. For the local folks, if you could bring coolers and ice, that'd be appreciated. We need to keep the beer cold!

Two weeks, folks. Two weeks. If you're still on the fence, well, get down. You can hurt yourself up there.

34 48' 41.23" N 78 40' 41.23" W Dean is looking up and waving. Be polite and wave back. ← Dean, please go back inside and put on something reflective. I can't see you at night. ← Wait a minute, I can just take my shirt off, and that should do the trick! ← If I were there, I could just take off my Krispy Kreme hat. ← This might help explain what Dave means:

34 48' 41.23" N 78 40' 41.23" W Dean is looking up and waving. Be polite and wave back. ← Dean, please go back inside and put on something reflective. I can't see you at night. ← Wait a minute, I can just take my shirt off, and that should do the trick!

My house is just to the left of where it says 1301 Dixie Tr. It's got the funky looking gray-blue roof. The gray area at the corner is the tennis court. The tennis court would be very white, as we had it pressure washed (just in time for the grease to soak in).

The official start time is 4 PM. Please come as early as you'd like.

FYI, my address is 1301 Dixie Trail in Raleigh. Yes, Dixie Trail. From the airport and most places coming from the west: Take I-40 East until exit 289, WADE AVE, RALEIGH NORTH, RALEIGH EAST. Go about 3 miles through 3 lights. At the fourth light, turn left onto Dixie Trail. Take the first left onto Leonard, and we're the first house on the right. The house sits above the tennis court. It's a modern, unpainted cedar-sided house. To get to the Brownstone, follow the directions to the fourth light, but turn Right onto Dixie. Turn left onto Hillsborough at the first light. The Brownstone is at 1707 Hillsborough on the right side, about a mile.

They're a small, neighborhood outfit, so I don't see that happening. A road trip may be the most viable option. As far as a detour is concerned, it's easy to get around here. Feel free to go whenever you want, but some folks may want to go together on Saturday or Sunday.

That would be very, very cool.

Monty Python is right -- regarding the holy hand grenade.

I can't believe you didn't nail down the whipped cream clause. ← In this particular situation, it was entirely unnecessary.

So, have all the kinks been worked out? How many different drinks will we be tasting in a couple of weeks?

Oh, and half the fun of that resolution comes from (a) VaNC is a lawyer; and (2) the 50 reference. I know several people will know where that germ of an idea came from. Finally, Jack, I see you repeatedly commenting on this thread. I think it's time to say, "What the hell," and just hop on a plane over here. There are actually direct flights between London and Raleigh.

Just a little resolution from the Pig Pickin' Board, of which I'm the sole member! And by the way, MELISSA IS IN DA HOUSE!!! 14 states plus Canada, y'all. That's pretty sweet.

Executive Decision Alert . . . REPEAT . . . Executive Decision Alert After further consideration, it is hereby RESOLVED that VaNC will be authorized to prepare the banana pudding (hereinafter referred to as the "Puddin'") for the Second Occasional Varmint's Pig Pickin' to be held on Saturday, September 4, 2005 in Raleigh, North Cackalacky (hereinafter referred to as the "Event"). FURTHER RESOLVED, that VaNC shall be the sole and exclusive provider of the Puddin' at the Event, and no other individual shall be permitted to bring Puddin' to 1301 Dixie Trail in Raleigh, Wake County, North Cackalacky on the day of the Event. FURTHER RESOLVED, that VaNC shall be authorized to prepare, and she shall prepare, 50 servings of the Puddin', as 50 shall be the number she shall prepare. Forty-nine shall not be sufficient, except if she shall then proceed to make 50. FURTHER RESOLVED, that VaNC shall be authorized to conscript any assistance reasonably necessary to accomplish the aforementioned task. This, the 19th day of August, 2005. End of Executive Decision Alert

Debra DeMilo. Heh heh. Oh, the Fabulous Knobs. The pudding is for Sunday. It's not a pig pickin' without nanner puddin'. And you'll have to work with Malawry about this one, as the L'il Varmints may very well be looking out for her to make this again. And as you might expect, this pudding must be started with a made from scratch custard! We do allow the Nilla Wafers to be purchased, however. STOP THE PRESSES!!! I just realized that I have Bill Smith's recipe (he of Crook's Corner fame), which is wonderful. The bananas don't turn brown with this recipe. I'll post it tonight.

Would you like some delicious nutria or alligator meat for that VD business? It can't hurt, I don't think. ← Rodents are always good, so the nutria might work. Reptiles generally don't go in VD Stew -- well, not intentionally, anyhow.

We still need someone to make that banana pudding. Anyone here have that type of experience? Hmmm, anyone who's made it with kids before? Anyone?

Debbie, we will also have a crew here to help, so if you want to come over a couple hours early on Sunday, you'll find plenty of volunteers to assist you. That way, we can sample. Y'all, 6 dozen deviled eggs means that there will be 144 halves. That's about a half per person (for the 120 or so attendees) and 24 halves for the host.