Varmint

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

Jason, take care of your mom. We'll make sure there are tons of pictures. Folks, we have room for more people. If you've been on the fence, hop off and head on down to North Cackalacky.

That'd be great, Marlene!

Weather forecast is calling for a high of 75 and a 30% chance of rain. I can deal with that. Would anyone driving here (with extra space) have one of those water cooler thingies that I could put a whole bunch of iced tea into? I forgot about that!

Well, it has plenty to do with appetite.

But not a profitable one.

I was infusing some rum with tea to see if I could come up with an alcoholic iced tea equivalent. I didn't heat it up -- I just let the loose tea leaves sit in the rum in a jar for about a week. I added a bit of sugar, and it's been in my freezer ever since. There's very little left!

FYI: This event is being covered by the local newspaper, the Raleigh News & Observer. A reporter and photographer will be at my house on Friday and during the party on Saturday. They want to know why in the hell people would come from across the country for a pig pickin'. I told her that it was because y'all haven't been taking your medicine.

Ah, just bring the cats, too!

C'mon, get the nuns to feed the little ones. Or tommy, as he's just one step removed from a nun. If you can get down here, we'll find a place for you to sleep!

C'mon, someone has to have an extra spot in the car for Elyse. We can find a place for her to sleep. She just needs to make pie for us!

Mark- It's likely to be in the 70s with a fair amount of humidity on Saturday. I don't know if that helps, but it should be fairly summer like. Regardless, please make what you think would taste best, as that's all that's important!!!

If there's enough interest, we need to go to Allen & Son. Will anyone else be in town on Thursday? I may have to load up the mini-van and take the L'il Varmints with us!

We don't really look that much alike. Dean is better looking than Dean, and Dean is a bit heavier than Dean. And of course, we all know that Dean is so much older than Dean.

I can think of one reason. If you are going to the trouble of cooking something from scratch why not use the best quality product. With that said, I feel Watkins vanilla is a good quality product. Others may disagree. Mamster, in addition to french toast, simple whipped cream might be another good way to taste test vanillas. Perhaps the french toast could be served with whipped cream and strawberries? But how do you define "best quality"?? If the taste is identical, then why would the real vanilla be of a higher quality than the artificial?

Oh, we're doing fine with the menu, Jo! You know when the pig farmer invites himself to your pig pickin', it's going to be good!

For you non-meat eaters, I just received a 38 ton box containing pickled heirloom okra, sent from the Heartland by Mr. Guajolote. And he's coming, too!!! Thanks, Dean!

A leporine breast, when properly brined, seasoned, and gently smoked over immature pecan wood, results in perhaps the finest example of meat ever created in the culinary world. Or not.

My pig guy may also be providing me with a bunch of rabbit. And it will most definitely be fresh! Some of it will be used for the stew, but I plan on smoking a few bunnies, too. Do you brine rabbit???

Well, I just got off the phone with my Niman Ranch pig farmer, Mr. Wade Cole, and he and his slaughterhouse guy will be coming to the Pig Pickin'. Thus, you'll be able to ask them anything you ever wanted to know about animal husbandry, Niman Ranch practices, and life in an abbatoir (although I think this guy just does it in the barn behind his house!). I'm picking up the pig early Thursday afternoon. Anyone want to join me?

I noticed yesterday that the sweet potatoes were plentiful at the farmers market. Sweet potatoes have long been a southern staple, showing up in casseroles, pies, and simply baked. What are your favorite sweet potato dishes? Are they part of your every day eating or are they reserved for special occasions?

Done

Guys, I may just buy some beef, grind it, get the pig cooker real hot, and make a burger or 5 to have a satellite meeting of the Burger Club on Saturday. It truly sounds yummy.

I think I PM'ed people the directions from the hotel to the Varmint Villa. Please let me know if you need them again, as I'm not really wanting to post that type of info here.

Jason- This may be one of those cases where you have an easy decision to make. Be with your mother. Cella's and my thoughts are with you and your family.