I'm pooped! Dutch's Wicked Beans, and Pumpkin Bars....

[SonnyE]

I started at 9 AM, and finally took a break at 5 PM.
I made two half steamer trays pretty near full of Dutch's Wicked Beans and got them in the smoker. I think it was around 12:30 PM when I looked up at the clock.
Then had some lunch and jumped right into making Pumpkin Bars. Oh, but there was the trip to the store for a few items.
But Ava (5) and Grandpa busted our buns making the Punkin Bars. She's a great kitchen helper and takes to it naturally. I made sure to tell her as she was stirring things together, that's what makes it sweet. You have to stir the Love in. We had a lot of fun, but she tired eventually. When it went in the oven, she went to watch TV and play games.
Finally, around 5 PM, all the last of the stuff was cleaned, dried, and put away. That's why I don't get any breaks, I clean as I go.
If my sampling is any indication, I think my two dishes will get cleaned out. Even the Admiral approved. o_O

But I'm pooped. And glad another driver is doing the 9:30 tow tonight. The traffic is abominable out there!
The same people who can't find their way home, are now trying to find Grandma's house for Turkeyday!
Our drive will be 1 mile at 4ish PM tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving, All Y'all!

 

[chilerelleno]

My carne asada is marinating, beans are soaking and the chile sauce is made.
The rest is easy peasy.

Greater LA interstate traffic made the national news for the gridlocked pre-Thanksgiving traffic.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

 

[bmudd14474]

Sonny,

Sounds like a good time to me.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[SonnyE]

Thank You Chile and Brian!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greater LA interstate traffic made the national news for the gridlocked pre-Thanksgiving traffic.

I think that's why the SIL canceled me out from the pull. Trying to preserve his oldest and bestest driver.
It was worth losing the money!

 

[crazymoon]

SE, I hope your goodies were a big hit on Thanksgiving!

 

[gmc2003]

Sonny your beans and bars sound wonderful especially with your little helpers assistance. Funny choice using the word pooped considering your line of work. o_O

Point for sure
Chris

 

[SonnyE]

SE, I hope your goodies were a big hit on Thanksgiving!

They were! :eek:
Folks took home containers of beans! :confused:o_O
And a couple took home chunks of the Punkin Bars stuff.
Maybe I can cook a couple of things folks will like. :confused::D
I was pleasantly surprised. Nothing is more complimentary to me than folks wanted doggy bags because they like your efforts.
The Daughter was prepared, too. She brought out a bunch of those disposable containers for folks to gather food in.
The wife got her annual Ham Bone to make Navy Bean Soup, too. Love that!

Maybe Sonny can Smoke? :confused:o_O

I did deviate from the recipe's. My version of Dutch's Wicked Baked Beans differed a few ways. First time around I made Dutch's Beans per the recipe, but about 1/2 the Jalapeno's, and I used canned diced peppers for mine. (Seeds included) I have Tender Mouthed Tammie's around me, so I have to be careful about the heat.
This load was a Mother load. And I effectively doubled the recipe, and a little more.

I added:
2 cans of black beans (for color and interest) Because I was light on Bush's baked beans. I liked it. (6 Bush's 16.5 oz; and 2 Black Beans 15 oz.)
1 whole can (4 ounces) Great Value (Walmart) Diced Jalapeno's, juice and all. In our house, canned store better.
1 Pound of Maple Smoked Oscar Mayer bacon. 16 pieces of bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces before frying. Fried crisp. Some a bit too crisp... OK, I burned it a bit... :oops::( Still good though. About half was recognizable still.
1/2 cup of Organic Maple Syrup.
1/2 cup of Powdered Honey.

I had to smoke them longer. I used Apple wood pellets in my AMNPS via the mailbox. I should have drained the Black Beans, and next time I will. So I cooked the two Half sized Steam Table pans around 6-7 hours, and smoked about 5 of that. At the prescribed time of 2-3 hours, I felt they needed more smokiness.
The wife told me to do them the day before so they would taste better after a rest. She was right.
But I needed a rest too. I was at it from 9-5 without a break except for a quick lunch.

My Punkin Bars desert was great. I even liked it , and there again some of it got doggy bagged for home.
But me being me, I used Dark Brown Sugar to make the topping, instead of light brown. I was looking for better, richer taste. Nailed it.
It was good, but our busted oven door required me to use my walking stick to prop it shut. (It's sprung. And the new range is not here yet.)

So I feel like it was a winner-winner Thanksgiving Dinner.
I helped...

 

[SonnyE]

Sonny your beans and bars sound wonderful especially with your little helpers assistance. Funny choice using the word pooped considering your line of work. o_O

Point for sure
Chris

Thank You Chris!
Uh, well, the kitchen was always kind of a foreign place to me most of my life. I hardly ever Bar-B-Qued really until the late 1990's.
Smoked fish and made Jerky most my life. But about the onlyest tool I used was the sink.
I didn't want to do no more by the time I sat down.

A lot more work than hauling Turdtanics around. LOL!

 

[Dutch]

Sonny, glad my beans are a hit at your house. As I say, change up the recipe to suit your family's taste. I'm going to have to give the canned chilies a try. It would make things easier in camping trips!