Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[bindian]

Brandi, I30 is backed up right now 5-7 miles, was 37 earlier!:shocked: Some of those folks interviewed on the news , have been stuck on the road for over 9 hrs!! So make sure you full of fuel, either Avgas or better, JetA for your diesel

Dennis,
My truck is always full of diesel for the work week. I have plenty of off road diesel for the generator to power the ducklings heat lamp and my heater blower. We'll be fine as long as the propane line doesn't freeze.
30 degrees and pouring rain right now. It is hitting the truck, running down a few inches, but nothing is dripping to the ground. When I came in at 10:30, the cheap thermometer inside the barn said 34 degrees.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Cher left the taters in the fire a little long ...

Those are the best kind. Especially if cheese was burnt also.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Western]

Oh how I would like to open it to a discussion ... BUT... Them again I'm not even a fan of the friendly politics or the front porch!!! So ... I'll leave things as they are!!

Yeah, I went over to the "friendly Politics" once and the front porch has changed since it was started. BR, you and I could solve this for about $1 if we where there......elastrator band is all we need! They been using them with excellent results in DC!:shocked:

 

[NativeSon]

The truck stays parked again today, I ain't movin'. Hopefully I can get to Tyler tomorrow. There was a guy on the TV news in an 18 wheeler that said it took him 10 hrs to get from Dallas to Tyler yesterday. What a mess.

Charlie

 

[farmgirl19]

As long as I don't get stuck drinking rum, I'll be OK. I might like rum, but it doesn't like me. Only thing with alcohol that I have to avoid. Vodka and I are friends.

I was laughing with a co-worker yesterday. She does a LOT of cooking and baking. Makes me seem like I never go in the kitchen! :shocked: Anyway, she was telling me of the rum and brandy that she uses for cooking, and how one would ONLY use it for cooking, because it is 60% alcohol. She laughed when I said, "That's only 120 proof, and I've had Everclear, more than once, so the cooking stuff would certainly work for drinking if there was no other liquor in the house!"

 

[farmgirl19]

The truck stays parked again today, I ain't movin'. Hopefully I can get to Tyler tomorrow. There was a guy on the TV news in an 18 wheeler that said it took him 10 hrs to get from Dallas to Tyler yesterday. What a mess.

Charlie

My roads didn't look that bad near me yesterday, but with the schools opening late, I told the boss that I'd be late too. Trouble is, then one is going until late at night. I am still awaiting the caffeine kick! :yawn:

 

[ronjhall]

Rain, ice, lightening and cold in Hill Country. Should have stayed in Edinburg. No ice down there.

 

[pacerron]

Cher left the taters in the fire a little long ...

Were you out of power or just seeing how the early pioneers lived?:confused2:

Some folks like to bake potatoes in an oven until the skin is dry and tuff, then scoop out the center
and put butter on the skins.

I don't like anything tuff and chewy and don't like to waste a lot of electric power heating the oven to just
bake potatoes but I do love baked potatoes with grilled steak or with anything, for that matter.

We just wrap the potatoes in plastic wrap to keep the moisture in and do them in a few minutes in a microwave
that has a rotating table and variable power settings. Perfect everytime:licking:

 

[lostcreekranch]

Houston right on the edge of turning to crap. 32 degrees and raining. Patricia and I are going to New York City today. She has meetings at Mellon Bank NY tomorrow and I'm going along to be her porter. Got to IAH at a little after 5 am, checked in for flight, went thru security (Pre Check is a great thing), and to United Club for a coffee. At 5:45 got email and call from United that flight cancelled due to Houston weather. That sucks! Our flight was scheduled to depart at 7:15 am. Flight at 6:25 left on time but no seats available or we would be on our way by now. Went to desk at United Club and found that United Global Services had already rebooked us for two seats on flight at 10:43 am. Who knows if 10:43 will go. We expected problems would be on the NYC end of this flight.

I agree with FG that I am now tired of this weather!

 

[lostcreekranch]

Were you out of power or just seeing how the early pioneers lived?:confused2: Some folks like to bake potatoes in an oven until the skin is dry and tuff, then scoop out the center and put butter on the skins. I don't like anything tuff and chewy and don't like to waste a lot of electric power heating the oven to just bake potatoes but I do love baked potatoes with grilled steak or with anything, for that matter. We just wrap the potatoes in plastic wrap to keep the moisture in and do them in a few minutes in a microwave that has a rotating table and variable power settings. Perfect everytime:licking:

We microwave our "baked" potatoes also. Scrub them clean, poke a few holes in them with a sharp knife, and nuke them on high 5-6 minutes until they are about 90% done. Pull them out and wrap in foil, they will continue to cook but, not over cook.

 

[Western]

OMG, y'all are selling yourselves short on a great baked Potatoe!!:shocked::laughing:

Try this: Your hands should be dirty afterwords

Wash and rinse potatoes, poke a few holes around them with a fork, Coat them with stick, or tub butter well. Then sprinkle or rub on course Sea salt.

Place cookie sheet on lower shelf (or foil), then place potatoes uncovered/unwrapped on middle rack in preheated to 425* ovens center rack and bake for 45 minutes, or until fork can penetrate the center.

 

[jinman]

OMG, y'all are selling yourselves short on a great baked Potatoe!!:shocked::laughing:

Try this: Your hands should be dirty afterwords

Wash and rinse potatoes, poke a few holes around them with a fork, Coat them with stick, or tub butter well. Then sprinkle or rub on course Sea salt.

Place cookie sheet on lower shelf (or foil), then place potatoes uncovered/unwrapped on middle rack in preheated to 425* ovens center rack and bake for 45 minutes, or until fork can penetrate the center.

Dennis, I think we all have all those ingredients except the 45 minutes to wait. I can bake and be eating 1/2 dozen potatoes before yours are done. Time and power use are the huge things saved when you nuke your tators. I love 'em nuked as well as I love corn on the cob in the shuck. Microwaves, corn, and baked tators are a marriage made in heaven.:licking:

 

[NativeSon]

Dennis, I think we all have all those ingredients except the 45 minutes to wait. I can bake and be eating 1/2 dozen potatoes before yours are done. Time and power use are the huge things saved when you nuke your tators. I love 'em nuked as well as I love corn on the cob in the shuck. Microwaves, corn, and baked tators are a marriage made in heaven.:licking:

Jim-A microwave potato is ok, specially if you're in a hurry. But Dennis' method makes for a fluffier Spud.

I prefer an even slower method.
Wash the spuds and let them dry.
Fire up the smoker 225-250*
2 1/2 to 3 hours till done-----Size matters.
There you have Smoked Bake Potato. Add the condiments of choice and Serve.

You can also take the above, let it cool, peal it with a paring knife and cut into large Chunks. Put in pot of boiling water till hot & tender.......then make in to Smoked Mashed Potatoes. Serve with a dark Mushroom Gravy. These maybe the best Mashed Potatoes you've every had.

This is proof that here in Texas we'll smoke anything.......and everything.

Charlie

 

[jinman]

Charlie, I considered putting a smoker rack in my fireplace, but just off to the side away from the main grates and flame. There's been plenty written about fireplace cooking/smoking, so I know it's possible, but probably more hassle than it is worth.

 

[Western]

Jim, and I thought you like food cooked to it's best potential:confused3: Since your water bill will be MUCH smaller due to garden size (less hose array) You can splurge on a baked potato once! Sure you can "nuke'm" faster than my method, but I will enjoy mine more:laughing: Sissy

 

[pacerron]

Dennis, I think we all have all those ingredients except the 45 minutes to wait. I can bake and be eating 1/2 dozen potatoes before yours are done. Time and power use are the huge things saved when you nuke your tators. I love 'em nuked as well as I love corn on the cob in the shuck. Microwaves, corn, and baked tators are a marriage made in heaven.:licking:

Amen to that!
Our co-op power company always has had the water heater on a shut off timer. Sure don't want em doing that to the cooking appliances or we would be living like pioneers every winter.
We actually use our microwave on the little generator we have during a power outage with no problems.
Not sure if it is good for it, but what the heck. "Gotta Eat"

I do shut down the computers during an outage when I crank up the generator. I'm not sure a fluctuating frequency would be too good for them, even though they go through a back up battery first.

Speaking of unplugging. I wonder how many modern souls will do the NUD "National Day of Unplugging" this Friday? It has been going on for quite a few years now but with all the electronic crap ruling peoples lives today, the turn off is probably less each year.

 

[pacerron]

Jim, and I thought you like food cooked to it's best potential:confused3: Since your water bill will be MUCH smaller due to garden size (less hose array) You can splurge on a baked potato once! Sure you can "nuke'm" faster than my method, but I will enjoy mine more:laughing: Sissy

We even pre-cook our potatoes chopped up in the micro covered with a piece of Saran wrap.
Great for quick pan fries with onion, bacon and garlic or just to add to " Ron's Chile/Chili"
All the natural juices, starch, and bugs flavor the potato that way.
Boiling potatoes in water makes them tasteless.IMO unless you add a lot of stuff not allowed by TxDon.

 

[pacerron]

Speaking of different Pecker sizes; here is a Hairy woodpecker on the last of my sunflower heads from last fall's garden and a Downy waiting in line, today.
The other shots are the Downy enjoying the Suet ball after the big guy got out of the way.
Had some glare in the window glass this morning.
Birds understand power and size and respect it.
Just like all times in the past when one country or civilization
falls from power there is always another ready to jump in and take over.
How's that for a conjunction/idiom BR and Dennis?

 

[Bird]

For baked potatoes, we just scrub them, dry them, then rub olive oil on'em, and microwave them. The olive oil keeps the skins soft.

 

[jinman]

I love those little downy woodpeckers. Yours is very intent on getting to that suet. I like your high-dollar suet cake holder too. By the time the suet is gone, the sunlight has probably brutalized the ICBINB container.