Cowgirl's Country Life

I see a small patio in my future...

2012-02-01T21:27:00.003-06:00

This horizontal wood burner is sooooo heavy. It takes more than me and my will power to move it! :)The last time I used it, I placed a rock under a skillet to keep it level.I tried to level the smoker today.By using the handle, I am able to pick up the cooker an inch or two off the ground and swivel it left or right a few inches at a time. There is no way I can pull it forward without hooking up

Need an Idea for a Super Bowl Snack?

2012-01-31T21:37:00.003-06:00

How about a Meat Stadium ? :)Barry at the Char-Broil site gave me the heads up about a one-of-a-kind Super Bowl snack idea that will feed a hungry crowd. (or a small army!:))lol I know I won't attempt one of these ....but it looks like fun. :)Thanks Barry!

Smokey Stuffed Peppers on the Hasty Bake

2012-01-30T14:36:00.004-06:00

I haven't made stuffed peppers in a long time... but I doooo love em. :)I simmer the peppers in salted water until pretty tender. drain well... brown some burger with minced onions and garlic... then add rice. Sometimes I add cooked rice to the burger but this time I put a cup of regular rice in and let it simmer. Either way works great.I add tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, cracked black

Sugar and the Speckled Hen

2012-01-29T22:35:00.002-06:00

The title almost sounds like this could be a cookin' post. :)My buddy Sugar is a smart little girl.... I am really glad she came to live here.I like to watch her with the chickens. If she knows which one you want, she will go and get it for you.She moves soooo slow and keeps an eye on the hen...She's been a great help and an even better friend. :)

A "Mini" Crawdad Boil on the Char-Broil Grill

2012-01-27T19:49:00.003-06:00

This is my 4th cook for the Char-Broil guest blogger series.The FirstSecondand ThirdThis time I made a "mini" crawdad boil on the grill. This was my contribution to Super Bowl finger food for the last couple of years, I hope to make it again this year. :)Shrimp, new potatoes, smoked sausage, crawdads, bacon wrapped corn and smokey crab legs...Serve with garlic butter, cocktail sauce, crusty

I can see how this could become a habit :)

2012-01-26T20:42:00.006-06:00

The store had more of these pretty little flowers in a basket by the check-out stand. I couldn't resist them!Who would have thought that a handful of little pink flowers could brighten my day..... and put such a huge smile on my face. :)

Dizzy Pig Beef Fajitas on my Fancy Little Cooker...

2012-01-23T22:39:00.006-06:00

I recieved some sample dry rubs from the kind folks at the Dizzy Pig Dry Rub Company (Thank you!) recently and had the chance to try one this weekend.I drizzle olive oil on a flat iron steak and seasoned with Dizzy's "Raising the Steaks" dry rub for my first Dizzy Pig taste test. :)Started my skillet of onions and peppers first... then added the seasoned steak.It was a nice afternoon..Heated a

Some Reverse Seared Burgers with Hickory Smoked O-Rings

2012-01-20T23:51:00.003-06:00

I've made hickory smoked onion rings in the drum and on the Memphis Pro pellet smoker.. I wanted to see how the Hasty Bake charcoal cooker would handle them.I was hungry for them too. :)I put the onions rings on the top shelf of the Hasty Bake along with some bacon wrapped burgers.Then cranked the hot coal rack down to the "smoke" level. Added hickory pellets to the heat and closed the lid. I

My Favorite Store... :)

2012-01-16T17:58:00.004-06:00

Bass Pro.....This is the store in Oklahoma City. I do not get to visit it often and usually spend too much cash there, but came up with a plan this time.My plan was to shop without a cart, that would limit the amount of "stuff" I could get. Be careful if anyone offers to carry "stuff" for ya though. lolI glanced at the boats and headed straight for the fishing goodies. There was no way possible

A Bacon Chipotle Cheesecake on the Char-Broil

2012-01-12T14:23:00.003-06:00

I started out with good intentions...planned on making a batch of toffee cheese cakes that talented smoking friend Chili Head makes.When I realized how many little cheese cakes the recipe makes, I knew I would not be able to eat all of those and I didn't have help at the time.So I divided the toffee cheese cake recipe in half and made a "savory" spicy cake with part of the cheese.The toffee

Okie Meets Ahi

2012-01-08T13:40:00.004-06:00

I have not had the pleasure of tasting ahi tuna and definately didn't have a clue as to how to go about preparing the fish.When my local grocery store had some great looking ahi steaks on hand, I turned to my talented friends at Big Poppa's Pelletsmoking.com Forum for help.I drizzled the steaks with olive oil and let them chill overnight.... per Scooter's recommendation.Then sprinkled them with a

Venison Pastrami

2012-01-05T11:02:00.007-06:00

I love this stuff!! :) I used a small roast from the hind quarter of this year's little white tail buckFor my dry cure, I mix...5 tablespoons Tender Quick2 tablespoons brown sugar1 tablespoon ground black pepper1 teaspoon ground paprika1 teaspoon ground bay leaves1 teaspoon ground allspice1/2 teaspoon garlic powderThis is enough for 5lbs of meatI trimmed the roast and butterflied it a bit to

Wannabe Chef and the Best Food Weblog Site

2012-01-04T16:57:00.005-06:00

Kind friend Wannabe Chef at the Cast Iron Cookin' Blog mentioned that he had nominated my blog for a food blog award.his words..."I just had to tell you that I just put in a nomination for you at the the bloggies web awards under best food blog I hope that all your regular visitors will go and put in a nomination too http://2011.bloggi.es/ lets get cowgirl some heavy recognition.sorry here is the

Hoppin' John, Greens, Jalapeno Cornbread~n~Fried Back Bacon

2012-01-02T18:47:00.002-06:00

Almost the same menu I made last January 1st!These are some of my favorites whether they bring me luck and good fortune or not. :)I made a skillet of jalapeno cornbread .....and some hoppin' john .....Fried some of my cold smoked bacon .....Cooked the collard greens in the drippings with a little butter added....The jalapeno cornbread, greens, hoppin' john and fried back bacon... I have a feeling

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T11:07:00.002-06:00

Hope everyone has a safe new year's eve and a great 2012!I've had camping and fishing on my mind lately, must be spring fever setting in early. :)Before Christmas I checked out two small lakes someone had told me about...the first one had plenty of trees, the camp sites looked a bit crowded but I suppose that's to be expected in this area. There aren't many lakes or bodies of water here to choose

Christmas Day

2011-12-26T15:45:00.004-06:00

It was a beautiful morning... :)The blanket of snow covered all but the dried sage, yucca and plum thickets.I had my heart set on smoked crab legs but needed to come up with a side dish.The twice baked potatoes were easy to put together. I baked the potatoes early and let them cool, then scooped out the centers leaving just a shell. I sauteed minced scallions and garlic in bacon drippings, added

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T10:45:00.002-06:00

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas!Remember, it's not about presents and Hallmark cards...Give your loved ones extra hugs and kisses while you are able to too. :)

Some Deer Camp Food

2011-12-20T20:49:00.004-06:00

Deer season was fun again this year. We ate too much...also spent many late nights enjoying the stories and laughter.It was nice to see everyone again.Seems like we were constantly eating... I skipped making lunches but made a few breakfasts and supper every night.We had fun on beef cheek taco night...Dined on biscuits and sausage gravy...It's so easy to make when you're in a hurry.A beef short

Snow balls, snow ice cream and half of a snow angel...

2011-12-20T18:18:00.003-06:00

The first good snow hit last night.I'm not sure how much snow we received but the moisture is appreciated.She knows I'm up to something... After wallowing around in the snow with the dog on my chest licking my face, I was able to make about 1/2 of a snow angel. :)I gathered snowballs for the 4th of July...Then finished the afternoon with snow ice cream...I mix 3/4 cup of sugar with one egg. Add a

Looks like winter is on the way!

2011-12-19T19:14:00.003-06:00

It's been raining most of the day, followed by sleet and snow. The much needed moisture is nice. :)Hope everyone in the path of the storm will stay safe and warm.I think I'm prepared.The animals come first, they have plenty of feed and fresh water.As usual, the "kid" inside of me comes out. I feel a bit of excitment when I think about the snow. Tonight's dreams will be filled with visions of

Pecan and Applewood Cold Smoked Olive Tapenade

2011-12-17T22:42:00.004-06:00

It's a big title for such a little bite. :)I love this stuff... almost as much as I love smoked bacon wrapped bacon.I cold smoked a couple of batches of black olives in the smokehouse right before deer season.Actually the first batch went so fast a second one was needed. lolRegular ole black olives work the best. Oil cured olives do not take on the smoke flavor as well.I made some smoked garlic

Kiss em goodbye!

2011-12-15T12:50:00.004-06:00

They really can see ya coming at least a mile away..... Time to load up the last few calves and haul them to the sale barn. (before the end of the year gets here)She's so much help. :)The danged windmill rod is busted again.The leathers have "rolled over" at the bottom of the well.. It will take someone with a wench truck to be able to pull the well rod this time. dang it.....I guess things could

"Burn Barrel" Tacos

2011-12-13T14:47:00.004-06:00

Smoking friend Joe mentioned that this might be considered as an original UDS.... (ugly drum smoker). :)While burning wood in an old barrel to keep warm during deer season, we decided to heat up some beef cheek tacos for an easy meal. The expanded metal came from the tractor tire rim cooker.I heated a small amount of oil in the pan, then sauteed sliced onions and peppers until tender crisp...

Hickory Smoked Bacon Wrapped Bacon

2011-12-09T14:49:00.002-06:00

Bacon...my favorite food group! :)I love this stuff . It rates even higher than chocolate for me. lolI used some of my cold smoked "steakhouse" Canadian back bacon that I made not long ago..Cold Smoked BaconCubed the back bacon....then wrapped it in strip bacon....Sprinkled some with cayenne brown sugar and sprinkled the others with cracked black pepper..Into the hot smoker ( I used the Hasty

A Char-Broil Breakfast Fattie

2011-12-06T15:09:00.003-06:00

Some of you know that I was invited to be a guest poster at the Char-Broil Live site not long ago. I have enjoyed being part of their "team". I might be a bit rougher around the edges than the other contributors but everyone has been soooo kind. The Char-Broil folks are great people! :)...and they haven't run me off yet. lolThis was my First Char-Broil Postand mySecond Char-Broil Postand this is