BBQ Awards
Fernando and I started our BBQ team five years ago Pappy joined us two years ago. Here is Pappy and I with a little over half of our awards. We have 65 awards in five years they include Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion. and top 10 finishes.
Coopers BBQ Mason Texas
We had a quick stop at Coopers yesterday on the way from Molly and Danny’s wedding I did enjoy the Q. The brisket was good but probably better a little earlier in the day, the turkey and goat sausage were both fantastic. The Q is well worth your stop and the guys serving us were real nice great service. I will stop in again.
Pre Thanksgiving BBQ Run
Waiting in line at
Franklin BBQ
Wow what a day last Wednesday. My son John and I got up at 5:00AM and Headed to Austin to see what all the hoopla was about at Franklin BBQ. We arrived at Franklin’s just before 8:00AM. There was already a nice sized line forming outside the restaurant. John and I parked and found our place in line. We figured there were about 50-60 people ahead of us. We were having a good time in line visiting with the people in line around us, one young couple was in from LA and wanted to try some great Texas BBQ. Around 9:00 one of the employees came by to let us know that they were already sold out of pulled pork and ribs. Now remember they do not open until 11:00, but they were taking orders. He then returned to taking orders. Now it is about 9:30 he is nearing us for our order. We are still feeling good about getting to try some of this much talked about brisket. At 9:35 he is taking the order of the people in front of us in line. One man orders a whole brisket and the other orders 1/2 brisket, the young man looks at us and says sorry we are sold out. Yes we drove for over two hours sat in line over an hour and a half and they sold out to the people in front of us. Well our search for BBQ was not over, we had alternate plans. We are now heading a few blocks south to La Barbeque, who’s pitmaster used to work for Franklin’s. Upon approaching La Barbeque we noticed no line and no smoke coming from the pits, they had closed for the holiday and would not be open until Friday. Well now we are hung on the horns of a dilemma. John searches the net for John Mueller Meat Co. and I search for Micklethwait Craft Meats. Mueller’s is closed on Wednesdays so our choice was easy we were headed to Micklewait’s. Upon arriving we see people who were inline with us at Franklin’s, so we take our place behind them. Then more people arrive that had been at Franklin’s and we all have a great conversation about not getting in. After an hour wait the line starts moving, we are in the front so there is no danger of them selling out before we make it to the order window. We spent about $60 on brisket, pork shoulder, Shiner Bock Sausage and chicken, John also got some jalapeno cheese grits. We quickly received our tray of food and we returned to our picnic table that we were sharing with a very nice young couple, their six month old son and their parents in from Florida. In line one of the ladies had told us that she eats at Micklewait’s and Franklin’s both and that the brisket at Micklewaits is just as good as Franklin’s. Now the brisket was moist and tender, but I did not think it was overly flavorful. This could be because of the simple salt and pepper rub that most central Texas BBQ joints brag about. The sausage was very good and I loved the course ground texture that it had. Chicken was very good but again there was plenty of cracked black pepper, but I did enjoy it very much. The grits were tasty but maybe a little undercooked. The plate came with red onions bread and homemade pickles, which were outstanding. Now for the pork shoulder, it was out of this world, probably the best I have ever had. John and I both agreed it was fantastic. Not sure if I will wait in line again for Franklin’s, but I will return to Micklethwait Craft Meats.
Our plates at Micklethwait Craft Meats
Jack Daniel’s Peach Cobbler, its a winner!
This is a very easy recipe and it is excellent. I have entered it in three cook-offs and it has won all three. Two times I have cooked in a dutch oven and once in my oven in the BBQ trailer. I am going to give instructions for the oven. I know you dutch oven enthusiast will know how to adjust. A simple pie crust is easy enough to make or you can use premade crust from your local grocer. I encourage you to give it a try you will love it.
Ingredients:
1. 2 1/2 lbs frozen peaches (I buy 5lb bags that I get at our local HEB) so I use 1/2 bag
2. 2 cups sugar
3. 1/4 cup flour
4. 1/3 cup cinnamon with sugar
5. 1/4 juice of a lemon
5. 3 premade pie crust or two large homemade crust
6. 1/4 cup butter
7. 1/4 cup Jack Daniel’s
Directions:
1. In a bowl add thawed peaches, sugar and flour(mix the sugar and flour before adding to the peaches) and Jack Daniel’s allow time for the peaches to render their juices, stir occasionally.
2. Grease a baking dish with shortening, 9X13 sheet pan or a half hotel pan.
3. Line the pan with crust.
4. Add lemon juice and about half of the cinnamon mixture and stir into the peaches.
5. Fill the crust with the peach mixture.
6. Cover the fruit with the remaining crust.
7 With a sharp knife slice the top of the crust to release steam.
8. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top of the crust and place butter pats on top of the crust.
9. Place the cobbler into a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 45 minutes. The crust should be golden brown and the juices should be bubbling thru the crust.
Cactus Salsa!!!
This week I took my students to compete in a salsa contest. They prepared an excellent salsa using roasted poblano peppers and cactus paddles. We did not place in the top three, but I thought it was excellent. So here is the recipe it is well worth a try.
Roasted Poblano and Nopalitos Salsa
Ingredients
3lbs tomatillos
3 red bell peppers
4 poblano peppers
4-6 serrano peppers
2 small onions
4cups nopalitos
4cloves garlic
1 lemon juiced
1tbsp kosher salt
1bunch cilantro
1. Roast poblano peppers, remove charred skin and dice
2. Dice onions and nopalitos
3. Julienne red bell peppers
4. Chop tomatillos
5. Pan roast serronos until they are tender and the skin is blackened and mince
6. Saute onions and bell peppers, add the mince garlic at the end to not burn it
7. Sweat tomatillos
8. Combine all ingredients except cilantro and mix well while still on the heat
9. Small chop cilantro and add to salsa after removing from heat
10. Serve with chips or along with your favorite Mexican foods
Pit For Sale
This is my reverse flow pit. My nephew and son helped me make it about four or five years ago. The cooking chamber is about 9’X3′ and will cook 30 briskets at one time and has an insulated fire-box. The pit is setting on a gooseneck trailer that has a 24′ deck with two 5500lb axles. I have a 50 gallon water tank on the neck that is connected to a sink and a 55 gallon grey water tank. I also have installed an aluminum tool box for storage. When you fold out the side braces a 12’X24′ tarp will attach to it with bungees. I did not want to cover it in metal so it would not be so hard pulling down the road. The red BBQ Vaults have been removed. my plan was to install a steak grill where they were. I am asking $12500, but the price is negotiable.
BBQ Trailer Up and Rolling
We are a little over two months into selling BBQ in Lytle. Sells have been good for a new business and the community is showing up to support us. You can find us parked downtown Lytle at 15049 Main St, on Saturdays and Sundays. We try to open up at 11:00 and we stay open until we sell out. We don’t sell out every day but we selling quite a bit of BBQ. We sell brisket, spare ribs, sausage, chicken and pulled pork along with sides. Our sides include potato salad, coleslaw, beans and Mexican rice. On Sundays we are serving a Jack Daniel’s Peach Cobbler for dessert.
A big endorsement by one of Texas’s best.
My Pitmaker BBQ Vaults doing the work on my trailer’s BBQ porch.
Our 1st cook off in the new trailer.
The official T-shirt
Congressional Recogniton
In May I was surprised by Congressman Pete Gallego. I was told that he wanted to tour my facility and meet my students. Actually he was there to present me with and award and take a tour. After the tour he presented me a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for the work I do at McCollum High School with my Culinary Arts students.
Texas Style Cuisine 