Varmint

Wait no more, here's the pig in da tub: Please understand that the head and the feet were removed to enable the pig to fit in the tub and to prevent the L'il Varmints from totally freaking out. One of them asked to see the rabbits: I showed her. I expect to be awaken several times tonight with screams of nightmares from her room. Whoever mentioned the rabbits to her should be physically reprimanded.

You should fly!!! I hope all is well and the trip down here is without incident. Getting ready to eat dinner with Heather and Scott Shorter. See the rest of y'all tomorrow or Saturday. Be safe. And beans, get your hiney down here!!!!

I have pictures, indeed. How about a freshly decapitated bunny, still kicking??? Yeah, it was a bit unnerving.

Just got back from the abbatoir with a pig and 3 little bunnies for the VD Stew. Now to start the brining process!

Well, I just purchased 4 shoulders that were on sale -- 26 pounds of meat for 21 bucks!! That's for the "western" or "Lexington" style barbecue. I'm now going to sanitize the bath -- er, "brining" -- tub and then head out to an area outside of Four Oaks, NC to pick up the pig. If you don't hear back from me by tonight, please send the Johnston County Sheriff to look for me!

Steve, when you consider our society's reliance on the old drive thru window, the fast food joints are substantially more convenient. I often wonder what percentage of a typical Wendy's, McDonald's or BK's business comes from their drive-thru window.

It's only an 8-1/2 hour drive according to Yahoo Maps, so you could be here in 6!!!! That's an easy trek. Now we wait. Others can chime in and apply more pressure on Miss Beans.

Yes, yes, yes!!!! Katie needs some help behind the bar, and we need an Alaska/Ohio representative. C'mon, beans, what type of peer pressure gets to you???

Yup!

Too much information!!!! I'll do the bathtub. Do y'all mind if I don't clean it out first -- I figured it might add more flavor that way.

Damn, I just need a big ass zip-lock bag that I could but the pig and brine into!!!!

My catch phrase was, "What's the opposite of 'Eureka'"?

I gave up my pocket protector with my sliderule. Hell, since I had my eyes done, I don't even have any use for the white athletic tape to keep my glasses intact.

Dave, I have a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pathology. I am a Smug Scientist Bastard -- with credentials!!

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but what is the target audience of this commercial? Does BK actually think that the average Joe/Jane who goes to fast food joints would even have a clue about this dorky Rick Bayless guy? Sure, food geeks do, but they're not going to go to BK no matter what. Just wondering.

I may have come up with a viable alternative to the tub brining: Buy one of those cheapo kiddie pools, put it in the storage shed (locked) with lots of icy brine. How's that sound? By the way, I'm doing just a pure saline brine -- no other flavors, as I want the wood and the sauce to carry the day.

You had to bring that up, eh Zeb???? Weather forecasts are wildly conflicting. However, expect the temperature to hit a high of about 72 and a low of about 57. Chances of precipitation range from 20% to 60%. You gotta love those forecasts! On the other hand, chances of no rain range from 80% to 40%!!!!

I have a couple of things that the nanner puddin' can go into. Bananas will be purchased tonight. They'll be ripe enough for Friday. I fear for my wife's sanity . . . .

One of the great things is that the local people (except the fun ones) will all be gone by 5 or 6 on Saturday. We can then really have a party!

Where in the hell is that written down? That's sure not the way we used to do it in Texas . Lots and lots of pictures, please. Y'all enjoy now, hear? THW OK, let me restate that: "I can't drink that much on Friday." I need to be at my functional best on Saturday, right???

I think the tomato deal was for 25 pounds. I need a little more than half for the stew, and, as far as I know, the rest are uncommitted. Anybody who's read the Heartland get-together threads has to be dying for an official Guajolote appetizer. I know I am. Yeah, I ordered a 25 pound box of heirlooms. I asked for the higher acid varieties, as I think they have more flavor. Hope that's not a problem. We'll be picking up at the farmers market on Friday. Could people please PM me when you're planning on arriving? I'm just trying to get some semblance of order in my days. Thanks.

Lush! Another reason I like Malawry so much!!!

You might want to leave sooner if you have any desire to go to Allen & Son! Not sure if that's going to work, but it's possible. Steam foil trays probably would be helpful, but if you don't already have them, we can wait and see what other people bring.

OK, I do have a big bottle of grappa that I brought back from NY.

Katie- Please remember that I do NOT have a stocked liquor cabinet. In fact, I have a pitiful liquor cabinet. I use liquor for cooking more than anything else! Sincerely, Tee-totaller Varmint