Little Everett's BBQ

If you live in the Hanover Pa area and are looking for some good BBQ make a point to go to Little Everett's BBQ.  Went there yesterday with 2 friends and we were all very pleased with the meal.  I ran into a fellow church member who had eaten there in the past and he said he has not had a bad meal yet.  Good prices for the portion size. I got the Meal deal $10 which had fresh cut thick fries, large soda and the Big Boy Sandwich.  The sandwich was at least 1/2 lb+ with beef, pork or turkey.  The meat was not the sloppy covered in bbq sauce like many other places have it was smoked meat and you add what ever flavor sauce to it.Also it was not all fatty.  It was lean and cooked really well.  Though I could go for something more rare they do have to appeal to the masses so they cooked the meat medium well.  The fries are cooked in veggie oil, so those of you that have a peanut allergy are safe.  I walked out full.  The staff was very warm and friendly.  Asked how our meal was and for me the icing on the cake is when they wished us a Merry Christmas.

Sorry for the picture I started to eat right away and then remember to take a picture.  The basket on the side was what looks like a chicken leg but it is really something they call Hog Wing.  It is a piece of the ham hock with BBQ sauce over it.  Very meaty and good but a little pricey at $3.  I had to try it. Would I recommend going. Oh yeah.  If you are a meat lover it is a must stop.  I will returning as soon as I can to try the next sandwich on the menu.  Check out their website for menu options, location and price.  God bless, thanks for reading and Have a Merry Christmas everyone.
http://www.lilevsbbq.com/Restaurant.html

Hog's head cheese sandwich

Something I have never had and just had to try it. Thanks to El Agave food truck. It was really tasty. Lettuce, tomato, mayo, avocado, mozzarella cheese, jalapeño and pork head cheese on a huge bun. The flavors were really good. It could have
been a little more spicy but that might have taken away the other flavors. Recommend it if you get a chance. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Happy meat Monday

Tonight I made a piece of fresh deer filet (one of the small pieces on the right). Lightly seasoned with fresh ground black pepper, a little salt, evoo and a little worcestershire sauce. I pan fried it this time for a quick meal but next time I will grill it. I like my steak more on the rare side but I did cook these pieces a little more. It came off the pan just a tad pink and so tender you could use a fork to cut it. I attached a few pictures of the meat before and after. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Deer Heart

Well I did it.  My father shot his first deer for the year the other day and I had him save me the heart and liver for me to cook up for the first time.  I grew up on deer meat and love it.  From steaks, burgers and steak subs.  They may be the same meat from the same animal but just like beef it all depends on the cut.  I have never had heart and wanted to try it either from a cow or a deer so when he  got his first of the year I had him save it for me.  I will be honest.  I had him save the liver as well and you will see that in the pictures but when I cut it and smelled it, it had the smell of bile. Not something I wanted to eat so I skipped it.  Even my mother said it did not smell good so she agreed with me.  What I did first was take the outer film off the heart so it would not be tough.  I washed it really well after then sliced it in half, cleaned out the valves and any lose blood.  After cleaning it I sliced the heart in strips and put it in a bag to soak in the flavor of the balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  I like my steak rare but with the heart I wanted to make sure it was cooked well since I am not use to eating it.  After searing it on both sides it browned up a bit.  After plating it I added a little A1 sauce on the side for dipping.  Verdict, would I eat it again?  Yes.  The prep was the hardest part but the taste was good. It was tender and kept the flavor. You can see by the pictures that it had very little fat and what little it did have I cut it off before cooking.  What is going to be on my plate next?  I have no clue but you will be sure to know as soon as I find something good.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the tables.

Heart and Liver

Heart and saw

Heart with arrow hole

Heart plated

Heart sliced

Thanksgiving preview

Ellen made a few things for our friends and fellowship lunch today after church. One was a stuffing that tastes really good. The second I a cranberry and apple mix. I tried it warm last night and it was great. Sweet and tart. It will go really well with her garlic mashed potatoes she is making this morning. The last thing she made were veggie empanadas. She used some type of squash along with peppers and spices for the filling. I did sample one of these and it was really good. First come first serve at lunch today. She only made 25. I told her to label them so the teens did not take any because the seem to be in line first. I will edit this post later with new pictures after she makes the rest of lunch. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Ribs and rice

Eat your heart out McRib.  Mom made ribs on the grill tonight and they were awesome.  Only one problem, not enough of them.  They were so tasty.  She marinated them in a sauce first and cooked them in the same sauce wrapped in foil.  After they were done she spread some of her home made BBQ over them and grilled them a bit more.  Very moist and meaty.  The rice on the side was  a good palate cleaner between bites.  I pulled mine off the bone as you can see and made a mini rib sub.  Well enjoy the weekend and all the Halloween candy.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Ribs and rice

Kale chips

It's been a while since my last post but I did not want to write about common everyday foods. You don't only want to read pasta and steaks. You want to hear about foods that you don't get a chance to eat or something strange. This is not strange but it is not something you would not normally have. Ellen made kale chips. Kale with olive oil, sesame seeds, balsamic vinegar and garlic. Baked them in the oven at 300 till crispy. Very tasty snack. I could eat the entire pan if she would let me. Just keep an eye on them so they don't burn. You want them crispy/flake without the burnt flavor. I suggest you try them for yourself. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the buffet.

Spinach Noodle Kugel and Sesame Green beans

Ellen made a great dinner tonight.  Spinach Noodle Kugel  and  Spicy Garlic Sesame Green Beans.  The kugel had an entire block of tofu for protein .  Very good.  The Green Beans were great as well.  Loaded with sesame seeds and hot sauce they were still crunchy and very tasty.Oh and it had those little onions in it.  One of the better Vegan meals she has made.  Would I eat it again YES.  Would I recommend it to you all to try YES.

BLT?

For those of you who love BLT's but your teeth just can't take the amazing crispy thick bacon I have the solution. This morning I fried 3 fresh from the garden tomatoes in bacon grease. Browned them up. You may ask what us different from fried tomatoes well these were not covered in flour or bread crumbs. They went right into the hot pan. The were very sloppy but the thick cut ones held together. After browning they went onto the bread with mayo and lettuce. Awesome sandwich. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Diversity day lunch

Had some really great dishes this past Thursday at my office. There were dishes from many different cultures. I tried them all except the common ones like Mac and Cheese and regular salad. I took pictures of a few of them and posted them in this blog. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Coconut cream pie

Well I stepped out of my shell and tried something that I usually do not care for.  Coconut cream pie.  Now don’t get me wrong, I do like coconut but only fresh out of the shell.  When you add it to a food like shrimp or desserts I usually steer clear of them.  Tonight I tried Ellen’s home made vegan coconut cream pie.  I have to say that it was not as bad as I told myself it was going to be.  The texture was just like custard pie, firm with a light crust.  The top was drizzled with chocolate which added to the flavor.  Would I eat this again no to be honest but if you like coconut then you will love this pie.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Coconut cream pie.

Black water

Just had my first taste of Black Water. Tastes just like water bit black. Drinking it was very deceiving. You are expecting a taste almost like you are about to drink a soda but what you get is water. I know you all know that feeling. Watching someone take a drink and you raise your glass with milk and expect soda and you almost spit it out. Well that's what you get with this. If you can find it try it. I got mine as a gift (thank you Jason) but hear some Weise markets sell it. Good luck. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Vegan tamales

Yesterday Ellen got started on the food for the weekend. With friends coming into town and the FBC of Littlestown picnic on Sunday she wanted to get a jump on a dish or 3. A last minute dish that has to be made the day of the picnic is the Hotdog salad that I wrote about a while back. She also is going to work on a few deserts on Saturday while I am away but I digress. Yesterday she made tamale. Dough home made, corn husks in the water and the pan of vegan innards. Into the steamer pot they went after she padded and tied off each husk. 35 minutes later they came out. Wow were they good. We split one to make sure they were good enough for friends. If you are lucky enough to be at the picnic, along with all the other amazing dishes the other church members bring, you will be able to have a tamale or two. Not to leave the meat eaters out I am making the mix for chicken tamales as I write this. Hope to see you all there. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the picnic table.

ABC for lunch

Last night Ellen an I went to Frederick Md for First Saturday. Each month on the fist Saturday the stores stay open later, venders are out, live music on the street corners and there is always a theme. We took friends of ours, Jon and Nancy out and a lot of fun eating and shopping. We ate at a Thia restaurant and had an amazing meal. Much to my dismay the lighting was low and my iPod with no flash did not pick up a good pic of our food. Lesson learned, always carry a mini mag light to dinner. Today after church we took Ellen's mom to Appalachia Brewing Co for lunch. I got the grilled caesar salad and added shrimp to it. Half a head of romain lettuce with their home made dressing, croutons and cheese. The lettuce was grilled to give it a smoky flavor. Great salad and very filling. Would I get it again? I would if I could share it as a starter that way I could have one of their awesome burgers but a am glad I tried it and I recommend it to everyone. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

The original Deer steak sub

If you ever had the delight to eat at my parents house when they were having deer you will know how good it tastes.  Some say deer is a strong tasting meat and not for them.  Two of the best dishes are the deer  medallions  marinated  and grilled rare. They are over an inch thick and amazing.  My father fixes them for Thanksgiving as a tapa and they go fast.  You better be standing there when they come off the grill or you will miss out and be kicking yourself for the rest of the day or week for that matter.  The second is deer steak subs.  Best in the summer with fresh tomatoes on a good roll.  Pan cooked with fresh onions from the garden till well done.  All the fixings are out and make it to your liking.  Hots, lettuce, mayo, cheese etc...you are the builder.  Even people that do not like the taste of deer love these subs.  My mother has even gone to the lengths to take frozen meat out on trips to Ohio to her sisters and cook them there.  If these were made in a restaurant the supply would not satisfy the demand.  I just had one the other day and lucky for me there was only enough meet left for one sub.  It stopped me from over eating because I would have had a second. If you know my mother and have not tried the sub ask when the next time will be and get in line...hahah..sorry mom for the line out your door.  Dad now has to bring home a few more deer this year.
God bless, thanks for reading and if you have not tried it yet go for it.  You never know till you take a chance.

Deer steak sub

Papa Joe's

Seven Seas Soup

Peep angry bird

Went to Papa Joe’s for dinner for my mother’s birthday this past Tuesday.  I arrived early and had a chance to talk to the waiter about what to order off the menu.  I told him about the menudo soup I had and he had the same thing from the same place.  I told him I was game to try anything so he picked the Seven Seas Soup for me.  It was a tomato base broth very close to Maryland crab soup.  It had two large crab claws, shrimp,clams, muscles, fish, some small shell fish and scallops. Very tasty and filling.  It came with tortilla shells but there was no need for them.  I guess they expect you to pull out some of the seafood and use the shells.  Papa Joe’s is our favorite place to have Mexican and the portions are large.  If you walk out of there hungry then you have a problem it’s called a tape worm.  God bless, thanks for reading and if you have not had it before then try it.

http://www.papajoeswestminstermd.com/

What is on your menu?

This year I will be cooking some bizarre food.  Deer heart and liver will be on the menu at some point.  Rabbit if I am lucky enough to get one out of the yard.  I will be trying a few other things that are different next month at work.  They have Diversity day and we bring in dishes from other countries.  I am making Pork and sauerkraut (requested by a few of the ladies I work with).  I am always game to try something new and exciting. Really hoping that someone brings in chicken feet.  Keeping my fingers crossed. Also next month is our church picnic.  Pot luck and Ellen is making Hotdog salad.  Everyone always brings great dishes and I always over eat. This fall I am looking forward to roasted pumpkin seeds.  Hot out of the oven they are so good.  So keep me in mind when digging into your favorite dish and let me know what is in your feet bag as you strap it on your head and pig out.  Thanks again everyone for reading and passing this blog along to your friends.  God bless and see you at the table.

Deer

Menudo soup

Well I had it and to be honest I will not be having it again.  Menudo soup was different.  Beef stomach sliced thin and cooked in a spicy soup broth.  The broth was great.  Very spicy and not to heavy.  The stomach on the other hand was, well let me say I think it was more of a texture thing for me.  It did not have a taste of its own.  It took on the spice of the broth.  It was not rubbery like I thought it was going to be but more spongy.  They served it with tortilla shells, cilantro with diced onion, and oregano.  The sides added flavor but I still had to put some of their home made salsa on the shells with the stomach.  The home made salsa and warm chips were really good.  They brought those out before my lunch along with some guacamole.  I do not care for guacamole but I tried theirs and it was better than most I have had.  It was not chunky at all but smooth like a dipping sauce.  She brought me out a sample of the pork they were cooking.  That was good.  I could have had that in the broth.   I will be going back to try some other stuff.  It is the most authentic Mexican food I have had in the area.  The portion for the price was great.  My meal was $8 and I was full walking out of there.  God bless, thanks for reading and hope to see you at the table.

Menudo soup

Pizza night

We made two pizzas tonight. Ellen made herself a vegan pizza with sun roasted tomatoes, fresh oregano from her herb garden, onions and some other spices. Mine was topped with fresh tomatoes and oregano. They were very good and we both have enough left over for lunch. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Fried green tomatoes

Tonight's dinner was tots, salad and fried green tomatoes. Fresh from our garden. It may not look like enough to fill you up but you would be wrong. We were both stuffed. God bless, thanks for reading and hope to see you at the table.

Great snack

Our in San Diego we had
A chance to go into Trader Joe's. That was a mistake in a good way. Not only did Ellen find some great stuff for her to eat we also found this tasty treat. Two flavors of lightly salted seaweed. Wasabi was my fav. Not too spicy but you could feel the heat. If you get a chance stop and get some. Just .99 per pack. Just be warned. One pack will not be enough. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Asian buffet dinner

Ellen and I went to the Hibachi buffet in Hanover today for lunch. I got my fill of sushi and other tasty things. Here is a sample of what was in the last two of my five plates today. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.
Sushi, seaweed, crab legs, chicken on a stick, craw fish, squid ( grilled and steamed).

Last nights dinner

Chicago deep dish pizza. No I did not make it. We went out and it looked so good on someone else's table I had to get it. It did not disappoint. The sauce was not salty, crust was fluffy with a crispy outside crust. I had two slices and saved the rest for today's lunch. I could not wait and had one slice for breakfast. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Eating my way through So Cal

Here is the I was promising everyone from my trip to San Diego.  I should have wrote one each time I ate something but I was too lazy to do so and to type on an Ipod is not fun at all.  So let me say that the trip to San Diego was awesome.  Comic con was out of this world.  The costumes and people were overwhelming.  We had such a blast watching people and seeing all the great stuff there.  Eating there is one thing I did not do.  There was not much to eat there besides hot dogs and drinks which I can get anywhere so I just took some prepacked nuts, fruit bar and some water to get me through the day.

I am not going to go into a lot of detail on all that I ate and I did not take pictures everything I ate.  Some of what I ate you can get around here but I did want to highlight some of the better things that I had.  The most bizarre was the Sea Urchin saveche fresh at a road side stand.  He cut it open and fixed it for me.  It was still moving as I ate it.  The Hodad's burger was spotlighted on Diners drive in's and dives on Travel Channel.  The line was out the door.  This was also the first time I have ever had Eggs Benedict.  I hate runny eggs but I wanted to try something new so this was one of those things. Loved it.  I was told to try the menudo soup but never got a chance so my goal is to ask around here at the the Mexican owned places to see if I can find a place that I can try it.  So here are a few pictures of the food and each are labeled so you know what it is.  Also a few websites to visit from the places I ate.  Enjoy.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

http://majesticgarlic.com/ 

http://hodadies.com/home/

http://pomodorosd.com/

http://www.poppasfreshfish.com

Grape fruit orange limon and lime fresh from tree

Chili cheese burger and fries at Lake Cuyamaca

Hodad's burger

Lobster and eggs benedict with potatos and salsa

Majestic Garlic

Pappas Fresh Fish Company Sea urchin saveche 1

Pappas Fresh Fish Company Sea urchin saveche 2

Pappas Fresh Fish Company Sea urchin saveche 3

Pomodoro's linguine Di Mare

Tuna taco sliders with blt salad

grape fruit fresh from tree kathy's house