Perfect Way to Spring Forward

Folks, as I lay awake and try to capture the ever elusive sandman, I reflect on what was a wonderful weekend.  It all started Friday when Blake, my brother three and a half years my junior, brought up the idea of having a barbecue on Saturday.  To those of you who don't know, in my family, barbecuing is an all day event-  of course, I happily obliged.  Not only was the forecast perfect with highs in the mid-sixties for Saturday, but also the idea of being at the family lake house.

View of Lake Sinclair from the sun porch

After a night out with the guys, Saturday finally arrived.  As Max was looking at rental property with father Ron,  I decided to head out to Kroger and gather some essentials for a day of barbecuing; after all, you can't have just barbecue for dinner.  So, Kroger trip #1 consisted of the necessities:  pimento cheese for a quick lunch, wood, apple juice to keep the barbecue from getting dry on the smoker, apples to make apple butter for a Sunday breakfast treat, and the smooth pilsner with all natural flavors, Natural Light.  Shortly after my arrival, Blake was ready to start cooking.

Blake loading wood into the smoker box

After a little while, Gordon arrived with goodies of his own:  sweet potatoes, sundry items for a blue cheese dipping sauce, chips and salsa for snacks, and a quick lunch for himself.  The intent of the afternoon was to watch one of the split squad Braves teams play while the barbecue smoked on the grill.  Unfortunately, the fine folks of the MLB network did not award us this opportunity, so we watched the Blue Jays take on the Phillies, instead.  

While watching the game, we received notice from Max that he and father Ron were finished with their inspection of rental property and were headed our way.  Seeing Ron is always a pleasure, because of his wonderful personality.  Besides, how many of your friend's parents quote Key & Peele by saying "DO YOU WANT TO GO TO WAR, BALAKAY?" to your little brother?  After Ron left, the decision was made to make Rat Toes and jalapeno poppers in addition to our other items-  commence Kroger trip #2.

Prepping of Rat Toes, poppers, and sweet potato fries.  

Later on, friend and volunteer fireman, CJ, came out to assist in the enjoying the festivities.  The five of us enjoyed a wonderful meal while watching the classic Martin Scorsese film, "Goodfellas".  

Rat Toes, sweet potato fries, poppers, blue cheese dipping sauce, 

green beans, shells n' cheese, and the smooth pilsner with all natural flavors

Unfortunately, due to a faulty meat thermometer, the barbecue wouldn't be ready until we were all sufficiently full.  No worries, we enjoyed a wonderful barbecue lunch Sunday afternoon.  Apple butter and pimento cheese were also used to make a stellar bbq taco that was slap your mama good!

Making apple butter

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