Sometimes you just want a barbeque: A whole hog chopped up into small bits of goodness and seasoned with pepper and vinegar. Maybe a little smokiness in the taste. When that happens to me – and I’m not anywhere Lexington or Greenville, NC – I go to Kroger’s, buy a package of Doughtie’s BBQ and I’m in business. Doughtie’s is easily the best packaged barbeque of all. Surprisingly, … [Read more...]

I wrote about these neat little storage bags a few months ago, but the more I use them, the more impressed I am. They are called Rezips, reusable storage bags. Before we left for 8 days on our Hawaiian Cruise, I had left some ham in one of the Rezip bags. When we returned, the ham was as fresh as before we left. That’s because the Rezips are airtight. They are also watertight and freezer safe. I … [Read more...]

I have been trying to eat a little fruit with each meal and my favorite fruits are melons – cantaloupes and honeydews. Problem is when you buy one, odds are that it won’t be good, then you’re stuck with a tasteless melon and have to eat it anyway. So, I have been looking for sure things like Dino Melons when in season and Golden Canary Melons – a winter melon available right now. I have been … [Read more...]

  Sometimes (actually often), I’ll buy gizmos for the kitchen, use them a time or two, then relegate them to the basement shelves to never again see the light of day. But my new chicken fryer has earned a permanent spot in my upstairs cabinets. I love it. The chicken fryer is a cast iron pot, but it has high sides.  Overall, it’s 10 ½ b 3 ½. The downside is that you can only get 4 … [Read more...]

  Sure, a stack of pancakes sounds nice. Maybe even a couple dozen for a brunch. But sometimes you don’t want half of IHOP’s inventory. Sometimes you might want just a couple of pancakes. Maybe even just one instead of toast. As best I know, there is no recipe on the back of a pancake box for one flap jack. But there is a way to make just 1 or 2 or 3 pancakes – or however many you feel like. … [Read more...]

Shopping in grocery stores these days is like playing dodgeball with bulldozers. In almost every aisle, there is a barge loaded with individual containers as store employees select items for on-line orders. It’s a pain getting around those things, as they take up much of the aisle space, but I really feel sorry for those who let others pick out their food. They miss the best deals of all. Like … [Read more...]

Nancy and I didn’t have time to visit both the Creation Museum and Noah’s Ark, so we made the easy choice. Noah’s Ark. We arrived just before the 9 o’clock opening amid a long line of cars, but the check in went quickly and we were soon on a shuttle bus to see the Ark.  Being a Theme Park, you can expect to pay for that privilege. It costs a little over $100 for parking and 2 tickets, and you will … [Read more...]

  Freight is one of the main factors in rising food costs. Because of high gasoline prices and supply chain difficulties, heavier foods, especially, have increased dramatically. Melons, for one. Whereas cantaloupes and honeydew melons had been running $2.99 and $3.99 respectively, they are now $3.99 and $4.99 each, an increase of 25% to 33%. Since buying a melon is crap shoot anyway - … [Read more...]

  Ahh! Sweet corn on the cob. The stores have the fresh ears stacked on end tables now, and it has been a great year for corn. Shuck the corn, remove the silk, and grill it, steam it, boil it, or zap it in the microwave and you are eating delicious, fresh corn on the cob. But. Getting the silk off is sometimes a problem and an otherwise appetizing fresh ear of boiled corn looks not … [Read more...]

  I ran across a great product on a recent trip to Myrtle Beach to visit my brother, Charlie, and his wife Marsha. Marsha cooked the best beef tenderloin I have ever put in my mouth. It was a USDA Prime cut – melt in your mouth tender and packed with flavor. The day after, Charlie and I played golf and made some tenderloin sandwiches, but we needed some horseradish. Afterall, what is a … [Read more...]