The DisFort's Chit Chat Cafe

[4077]

Ok people, cruise in 3 days, ill post some pictures when I get back. This one is all vacation, no camper, cooking or packing more then clothing, so I may hate it. Lol. Work , is still bad. Choices will have to be made at the end of the year. Unfortunately, it feels like I am back at college, where the professer knows less then I do. And that was the honners classes. My situation now is way worse. So, I can stay , fight and try to bailout stupid ideas. This would require basicly starting over and retraining the bosses and there people or just say see ya. Its not easy as others will still be stuck having to work.

I will say cruise is best way to disconnect as no phone stuff from outside world unless you buy onboard access…

 

[bama_ed]

Preparation Steps for Week 1 of College Football -

Step 1 - Review the most recent YT videos from SEC Shorts (very funny)!

Now watch them again with the Closed Captioning turned on and note the extra commentary in the captions not actually spoken. More funny!

Step 2 - Review the Nissan Heisman House commercials for this season with a focus on Alabama players.

Bryce Young is welcomed to the house.

Baker Mayfield is concerned about the "elephant in the room". Note at the very beginning of the commercial the Bama "swoosh A" as the back license plate of the car.

There are more featuring Bama players.

Step 3 - Go to this website https://www.lsufootball.net/ on Saturday morning and click the "College Football TV Schedule" link upper right, print the "Printable Schedule with DirecTV channels" (link appears usually day of games-in this case Saturday). Highlight the day's games you'll be clicking around on. Even for a YTTV subscriber like myself, this is a helpful site because the times shown are Central. Give some love to this LSU fan that maintains this site.

We've already had Week 0 games (go Vandy!) and a few last night. Now let the floodgates open. Hope everyone has a great season.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

Here's the latest from our, now famous, Northside Dairy Haven. The highway department is doing bridge work just past Northside and has a lane closed. Apparently the highway department parked their message board on the Northside property without saying anything.



j

 

[jbrostek]

Road signs with open passwords are always fun.....

Labor Day weekend at the track went well. As anticipated it was an emotional roller coaster for most of us. We had each other but it was clear we where missing some of our track family. Sunday afternoon's Big Bore race we all participated in a missing man lap honoring both Sue Marshall (one of the people I traveled to Disney with for 10 years every winter for our FW stay) and Mike Moscotti that I recently posted about. I could have used some eye wipers as I drove the lap. My DW and youngest DD where in the truck with me, Jessica was flying the Orange checkered flag.



For those not familiar with a missing man, this is how SCCA and other racing organizations honor the loss of part of the racing family. If the Video doesn't work, ill try a different way to link it.

We lucked out with weather but the rains showed up by Monday afternoons races. Thankfully it wasn't flash flood producing and we could use the rain as a nice soaker.

 

[bama_ed]

Working next on a reclamation project that goes back to a past Gulf State Park trip. I'm ashamed of my negligence but it has to be done (for the future).

Bama Ed

So a couple days ago I mentioned a "reclamation" project. It's time I came clean about it.

A couple years ago we had a thread on the Camping Community board about getting a Blackstone cast iron griddle. It was all the rage and I bought into it (and got a griddle). A 22" rectangular model with a lid and a stand. I used it once down at Gulf SP and then put it up back in my garage when I got home.

And it sat.

And it sat.

And it sat.

(I'm just being honest here).

But I had bought the 22" (versus a 17" or bigger on the other side) because I thought I could use it for a bigger group of 4-6 adults (or more) while the 17" is good for a couple. And the time is coming soon where I NEED to cook for 6 adults soon so I need to get my a** in gear, right?

So after I got the toilet all squared away as related above, a couple days later I dragged out the Blackstone griddle. It looked good with the top closed.



But when you lift the lid, I cringe (look away)!



I determined (after cruising the Internet gods on YouTube) that the griddle needed a total makeover. A complete reclamation, if you will. So I had to call in additional reinforcements. WalMart Superstore is my friend.



And put with that the "secret ingredient":

So with the red box and scrub tools, I applied some elbow grease and started the cleanup.



After the deep scrub, this is what the griddle looked like.



(the diamond symbol is from the reinforcement iron on the underside).

After several applications of the "secret ingredient":



Good enough for government work (Don).

Why am I telling you this, you might ask? Because I cooked on it finally tonight (weather allowed).

Pix tomorrow....

Bama Ed

PS - I want to take this griddle to the Fort for our November trip so that's why I'm working on this NOW.

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

So a couple days ago I mentioned a "reclamation" project. It's time I came clean about it.

A couple years ago we had a thread on the Camping Community board about getting a Blackstone cast iron griddle. It was all the rage and I bought into it (and got a griddle). A 22" rectangular model with a lid and a stand. I used it once down at Gulf SP and then put it up back in my garage when I got home.

And it sat.

And it sat.

And it sat.

(I'm just being honest here).

But I had bought the 22" (versus a 17" or bigger on the other side) because I thought I could use it for a bigger group of 4-6 adults (or more) while the 17" is good for a couple. And the time is coming soon where I NEED to cook for 6 adults soon so I need to get my a** in gear, right?

So after I got the toilet all squared away as related above, a couple days later I dragged out the Blackstone griddle. It looked good with the top closed.

View attachment 700365

But when you lift the lid, I cringe (look away)!

View attachment 700366

I determined (after cruising the Internet gods on YouTube) that the griddle needed a total makeover. A complete reclamation, if you will. So I had to call in additional reinforcements. WalMart Superstore is my friend.

View attachment 700369

And put with that the "secret ingredient":

So with the red box and scrub tools, I applied some elbow grease and started the cleanup.

View attachment 700370

After the deep scrub, this is what the griddle looked like.

View attachment 700371

(the diamond symbol is from the reinforcement iron on the underside).

After several applications of the "secret ingredient":

View attachment 700372

Good enough for government work (Don).

Why am I telling you this, you might ask? Because I cooked on it finally tonight (weather allowed).

Pix tomorrow....

Bama Ed

PS - I want to take this griddle to the Fort for our November trip so that's why I'm working on this NOW.

I really like cooking on ours. Many meals are so much easier to make and clean up is a wiz. We have the same 22". The only thing I don't like about it is pulling it out and setting up. So I don't usually bring it out if we aren't stationary for more than 3 days. Not worth the effort unless it's something that warrants it like fried rice.

 

[jbrostek]

@bama_ed We have the same 22" with stand. I removed the side table, it was useless and use a folding table next to it now. I found that the best way for it to keep even long slumbers is after each weekend I do a big scraped down, then again with water. I take a wet terry cloth towel and wipe the hood the sides and then finally the surface. Then season and burn off either the Blackstone seasoning or coconut oil. I use a paper towel to make sure the entire surface gets a good coat too. I let it cool and clean the hood and outside a little more if needed of grease and put it away. After 2 years of use its ready to roll and half the work to clean up as my old grill. The more you cook on it the better that griddle top will season.

 

[bama_ed]

@bama_ed The more you cook on it the better that griddle top will season.

Thanks for the advice James. I want to try to cook on it once a week with different things (breakfasts included).

I really like cooking on ours. Many meals are so much easier to make and clean up is a wiz. We have the same 22". The only thing I don't like about it is pulling it out and setting up. So I don't usually bring it out if we aren't stationary for more than 3 days. Not worth the effort unless it's something that warrants it like fried rice.

I agree with a minimum number of days to make it worthwhile. But hey, were you spying on me? Because I cooked chicken fried rice on it last night.

I started with the veggies and cooked on the left side with a hot burner and the right side was the warming burner.



Slid the veggies to the right side and put the chicken down.



After cooking a few eggs, I put the pre-cooked chilled rice on the hot side.



Time now to mix it up, season it, and take it to the table.



Plated and ready to dig into.



It was delicious.



And the good news is I made a big batch so there are left-overs for tonight.

Ed

PS - suggestions for next week's grilled meal, Jack or James? What are your go-to favorites?

PPS - I do plan to take it with us to Gulf State Park next month. Gonna try to use it more and dine out less for the experience. Fish and shrimp in various ways for sure.

 

[jbrostek]

@bama_ed Not spying, just know due to my own experience. I bought mine and told a friend who had one and his first comment was "Follow the seasoning instructions for a new unit, and then repeat it 2-3 times over 2 days."

I do keep a squirt bottle with some olive oil in it, I put a little down for not fatty items before I start cooking (veggies, rice, eggs, etc.) Great job on the fried rice!! I even cooked fries on the griddle, then move it to one side and cook up steaks or burgers. Cheese steaks with all the trimmings....so many good recepies.

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

I agree with a minimum number of days to make it worthwhile. But hey, were you spying on me? Because I cooked chicken fried rice on it last night.

PS - suggestions for next week's grilled meal, Jack or James? What are your go-to favorites?

-Chopped cheese sandwiches are the family fave
-smash burgers
-quesadillas/grilled burritos
-cheesesteak / chicken cheesesteak
-fried potatoes
-It's good for steak for that hard sear, but it takes some finesse sometimes to not turn it into a hockey puck
-fried rice
-flatbread pizza
-ANYthing breakfasty

 

[friendofeeyore]

Bama Ed, I am pulling for your football team when they play that team in Austin Saturday!!

 

[FtW Mike]

As others have already said I too do all the breakfasty items and find my 22 inch ones are perfect for doing a sliced 2 lb block of Ed's favorite SCRAPPLE all at once.
I've done fries twice now and have found that covering them with a shallow disposable aluminum roasting pan cuts the time and adding some extra oil about mid way thru process adds a touch of deep fryer taste.
Steaks I season before they hit the griddle and drop the meat onto a dollop of butter to the grill just ahead of it ( Heat setting 1/3 to 1/2) and repeat when I flip. To determine correct level of doneness I check how far up sides show evidence of cooking

 

[bama_ed]

Bama Ed, I am pulling for your football team when they play that team in Austin Saturday!!

I'm glad you are, Gloria. Gig 'em. ED

 

[garneska]

I am going into Denali National Park today. It seems my wifi is better here than anywhere else so you might get some pics when I get back. Otherwise I will do a recap next week of our trip.

 

[garneska]

Teaser pics.

 

[Teamubr]

Incredible color on the mountains. I wonder if that is the normal color or fall changes?

Thanks for sharing, Kris.

j

 

[bama_ed]

I guess that big ol' bear in the last pic didn't see you? Or was he tired out from Bert out-maneuvering him? Ed

 

[garneska]

@Teamubr those were fall colors and awesome.

@bama_ed we were on a bus so no worries, when we were hiking I was worried. At the top of the mountain though I was not worried.

 

[jbrostek]

@garneska Wow what an amazing time to go for those fall colors!

We made it through the birthday weekend! Our youngest is in her teen years and started Monday off right by just barely making the bus on time. I hope that his not an omen of what's to come.

Camping wise we went from not many plans after the Grand Design Rally at the end of the month to somehow we are now camping 4 weekends in a row! We had the rally and I had my last race weekend on the schedule. And then we booked a weekend for Melissa and I to go head to another area of VA wine country. We booked a new RV park called Madison Vines. I don't know if it was a former campground, though we are excited to go there since there are a bunch of Wineries around the Madison, VA area. Shortly after we booked it, friends of ours asked if we wanted to come down and see their new seasonal site in VA's Northern Neck area in New Point, VA. It was recently bought out by Sun resorts and next year the nearest non seasonal campground is about 40 minutes away. So we thought it would be nice to come down and spend the weekend there as well. That officially puts me in the RV for 4 weekends of localish travel. I cannot complain as its a great way to wrap up our season without breaking the fuel bank.

Next up is showing off my progress on the refinishing work. The humidity and rain has slowed me down a little since I need more dry time. But I got the lower doors done and repainting some hardware that I could not find a replacement for. That should get wrapped up this week and I can really go to town on the upper hutch. I think I can have all of that done by months end finally as long as I don't have to redirect my efforts elsewhere.

 

[garneska]

I was so worried Whisky was going to hate me but no. She LOVES me. She was so excited to see me and i have not had her 3 months yet but we are a pack. I brought her home at lunch and everyone has been asleep. I am trying hard to stay awake. The 3 hours of sleep on the red eye are not cutting it. Did good this morning but with Whisky and Bert asleep I keep dosing.



we are sitting out on the balcony, enjoying the beautiful and sunny weather in atlanta