Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: ACW3 on December 10, 2015, 04:13:46 PM
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My wife and I have been hosting an annual Christmas party for 42 years. It started out as a family get-together and grew over the years to include both family and friends. The menu was usually white tail/mule deer/elk chili. The past 10 years have required me to make two large pots of elk chili. We also offered beer and wine. This was our final Christmas party. We decided to go out in style by having it catered. 55 of 70 people showed up for the party.
I have been the alumni advisor for my college fraternity to Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte for the past year and a half. This is a fabulous school for those who wish to become culinary chefs, pastry chefs, or manage the food and beverage services of a hotel or country club. We hired three of my fraternity brothers to help us pull this off. Maureen and I both contributed to making food. As can be expected, I did the smoking/grilling. Maureen made several items and helped with the serving plates and platters. Here are some of the menu items:
Moinks (meatballs wrapped in bacon and dusted with a favorite rub)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/498314e6-1bcc-446a-bc95-33778a60a67a.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/498314e6-1bcc-446a-bc95-33778a60a67a.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5147.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5147.jpg.html)
Smoked salmon on crusty baguettes with dill cream cheese
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5066.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5066.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5130.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5130.jpg.html)
Dried beef balls (horseradish cream cheese rolled in minced dried beef)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5132.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5132.jpg.html)
Pork and elk tenderloins smoked on my new Red Box smoker using apple wood charcoal
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5023.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5023.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5045.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5045.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5113.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5113.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5169.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5169.jpg.html)
Duchess potatoes (mashed potatoes piped onto a sheet and baked in the oven)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5018.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5018.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5141.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5141.jpg.html)
Crawfish and grit cakes
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5013.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5013.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5162.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5162.jpg.html)
Chicken wing “lollipops” cooked on my MAK
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5058.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5058.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5062.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5062.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5114.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5114.jpg.html)
Small cupcakes (using a German chocolate batter and frosted with a bourbon-honey buttercream icing)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5085.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5085.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5092.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5092.jpg.html)
Profiteroles au chocolat
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5028.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5028.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5038.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5038.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5048.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5048.jpg.html)
Pecan diamonds
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5137.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5137.jpg.html)
Gateau St. Honore (baked fruit cups with kiwi, strawberry, raspberries, blackberry with an orange-apricot glaze brushed over them)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5037.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5037.jpg.html)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5124.jpg) (http://s428.photobucket.com/user/teesquare1/media/A%20and%20M%20PARTY%202015/5124.jpg.html)
Absolutely great party. I want to thank Tim for providing his photography skills.
Art
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Wow! Looks great! :) :)
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Nicely done partner.
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Wow.....I sure wish I had a invite to that get together.
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That is some of the best looking grub I have seen in sometime. Tee wear his comfort fit elastic pants?
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That is definitely going out in style - good for you, it looks a perfect feast! Wish I met you 42 years ago...
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Fantastic Art!
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Dayum, Art ! ! !
BD
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That doesn't even suck a little.
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Thats truly something else,wow!
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That is some of the best looking grub I have seen in sometime. Tee wear his comfort fit elastic pants?
Pappy,
Not only did he have his comfort fit elastic pants on, but he was wearing a set of suspenders, just in case the waist band let go. You know Tee, always prepared!
Art
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One word: WOW!
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That is some of the best looking grub I have seen in sometime. Tee wear his comfort fit elastic pants?
Pappy,
Not only did he have his comfort fit elastic pants on, but he was wearing a set of suspenders, just in case the waist band let go. You know Tee, always prepared!
Art
I always have a plan - and a fully capable back-up...In case Plan #1 ( or my waistband in this case- ) "lets go" ;D - hence the suspenders. ;)
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Nicely done partner.
x2 - impressive
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Great work Art! Nicely done and what a bang to go out on! 8)
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Dang. Great ideas in there. Might use some
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Great groceries, great friends and great fun. Our young fraternity brothers from J&W did a fine job but Art was still hip-deep in the prep and cooking. I certainly didn't leave hungry ::)
Hub
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Great spread!
All that food looks amazing!
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Everything looks so good, very well done ;D
I would like to know more about the cupcakes please?
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Totally humbled by the spread. Outstanding job! Absolutely nothing better than gathering with friends and breaking bread. Great job
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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It was fine food, ....but hosted by the finest of people ;).
How could you not love a couple whose initials form " A&M ".... ;D
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Any leftovers ?
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Any leftovers ?
X2 ! !
BD
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Any leftovers ?
X2 ! !
Are you kidding...??? :D :D :D They were picked clean!
BD
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Everything looks so good, very well done ;D
I would like to know more about the cupcakes please?
Here is the recipe they used.
Art
German Chocolate Cake (Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts)
Ingredients US standard Metric
Cocoa powder, natural 3 oz. 85 g
Water, cold 12 oz. 340 g
Extract, vanilla 1 oz. 28 g
Salt .25 oz. 7 g
Sugar, granulated 3 lbs. 1,361 g
Butter 12 oz. 340 g
Shortening, high-ratio 11 oz. 312 g
Baking soda .25 oz. 7 g
Eggs, whole 12 oz. 340 g
Flour, cake, sifted 1 lb., 8 oz. 680 g
Buttermilk 1 lb., 8 oz. 680 g
Egg whites 12 oz. 340 g
Preparation
1 Gather all the ingredients and equipment.
2 Scale the ingredients.
3 Sift the cocoa powder into a bowl, add the cold water, vanilla, salt, and 6 oz. (170 g) of the sugar. Blend and reserve.
4 In the bowl of a stationary mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the remaining sugar, butter,shortening and baking soda on medium speed for five minutes.
5 Add the eggs in thirds, scraping well after each addition. Mix for an additional five minutes.
6 Add the cake flour, cocoa-water mixture, and buttermilk. Incorporate and scrape well.
7 Whip the egg whites to a stiff peak and fold into the mixture.
8 Deposit batter into prepared cake pans: 1 lb., 7 oz. (652 g) for a 9-in. (23-cm) round cake.
9 Bake in a 360°F (182°C) oven until the cake springs back when touched in the center.
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Art you and the wife sure know how to throw a great party!!! All looks delicious!!! Don
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Art you and the wife sure know how to throw a great party!!! All looks delicious!!! Don
Thank you Don. After all those parties, one would hope to have it down reasonably pat.
Art
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Presentation was stellar. Food looked even better. I wish I could snag some chef friends to help me out like that
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Dadgummit that looks good. I just checked my mailbox again and there was still no invitation.
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Dadgummit that looks good. I just checked my mailbox again and there was still no invitation.
Dang, Ken - We must have the same mailbox!
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Nice looking spread Art
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Art, It's people with a heart like yours and Maureen's who make the earth go 'round and not wobble off it's axis. Dee
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Art, It's people with a heart like yours and Maureen's who make the earth go 'round and not wobble off it's axis. Dee
Thank you for the kind words, Dee.
Art and Maureen
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Art, that looks like a very special feast. You and Maureen did a splendid job and your partygoers had to leave with a smile on their face.
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Sorry to be a pain, but i don't see the icing on the cupcake?
bourbon-honey buttercream icing
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Sorry to be a pain, but i don't see the icing on the cupcake?
bourbon-honey buttercream icing
Sorry. I forgot in all the activity. They used a bourbon infused honey I had available. The bourbon flavor was almost nonexistent. It was there, but not with the kick I like. In the future I would add my own bourbon to the honey I used.
Here is the recipe.
Bourbon Honey Buttercream Frosting
Recipe By:
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup honey, infused with bourbon
1/4 cup full-fat sour cream, cold
Directions:
1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat butter for three minutes with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in powdered sugar a little bit at a time until fully combined.
3. Mix in the bourbon honey and sour cream until combined. Spread or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
Notes:
If your home is warm, the frosting may quickly become runny. Refrigerate it to stiffen it up before piping.
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Thank You Sir, I'm so looking to give this a try over the holidays ;D
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Thank You Sir, I'm so looking to give this a try over the holidays ;D
I think you will certainly enjoy it. Remember, all those calories consumed during the holidays don't count.
Art
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Wow, wow, wow!!! What a feast!
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If your home is warm, the frosting may quickly become runny.
Hey, HUB - does that make it cupcake gravy? ;) ;D ;D ;D
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If your home is warm, the frosting may quickly become runny.
Hey, HUB - does that make it cupcake gravy? ;) ;D ;D ;D
S L U R P ::)
Hub
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Art:
I suddenly became very hungry as I looked at the pictures of all that great looking food.
Your family and friends certainly faired very well.
Ken