Dinner with the Fam

We went to Ristorante Bugatti last night and holy shit it was awesome! Best Italian food in DFW and it's not close. Plus, Zee is the best host/owner anywhere. He treats everyone special and always remembers us when we go. It's a fun and neighborly kinda place.

Zee made a special meal just for my little girl. He came up and asked her if she wanted some pasta with butter. She was excited, little girls can be picky and it was his idea which she thought was cool. So he brings out a little bowl of buttered pasta and some fresh parmesan then he tells her if she eats all her pasta she can make her own desert. Well she looks at me like really? I tell her she better eat and find out. So she flies through the plate and asks Zee if she can really go in the kitchen. He say of course and takes her back to the kitchen. She came out a few minutes later with a sunday that she was very proud of. Way cool for an eight year old.

Oh, can't forget the food. I had lamb chops in a Madeira wine sauce, fresh veggies, and pasta in marinara. Wow, just wow! Around the table people had Linguini Pescatore, Chicken Marsala, Veal Parmigiana, Lasagna, and a Filet Mignon. Everything was spectacular. For desert I had what I consider to be the best Creme Brulee in the city. I generally love a Creme Brulee, but Zee puts fresh berries inside and it just make it pop.

It was a great night out with dad, sister, and family. Great food, good drinks, and family makes for a wonderful evening.

Huli Huli Chicken

I fired up the grill last night and made the Huli Huli chicken, which means turn turn by the way. The recipe came from Foodista.com and although I use some ingredients that were not exactly like the recipe (gound thyme for instance), I thought it turned out great. The beer was cold and it was a beautiful sunny day and it damn near felt like being in the islands.

So without further ado..........

Ingredients

 BRINE:

 2 cups WATER

 1 cup DARK BROWN SUGAR

 2 tablespoons KOSHER SALT

 4 CLOVES GARLIC -SMASHED

 4 SLICES GINGER ROOT-SMASHED

 6 SPRIGS FRESH THYME

  SAUCE:

 2 cups TERIYAKI SAUCE

 ¼ cup HONEY

 4 CLOVES GARLIC SMASHED

 1 teaspoon SESAME OIL

 1 tablespoon LIME JUICE

 1 PEEL OF 1 ORANGE

 ¼ cup PINEAPPLE JUICE

 6 CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS AND 4 THIGHS

 1 PINEAPPLE CORED, SKINNED AND SLICED INTO RINGS

 Preparation

Step 1

 MIX TOGETHER THE BRINE- WATER, SUGAR, SALT, GARLIC, GINGER, AND THYME. PLACE IN A LARGE RESEALABLE BAG AND PLACE THE CHICKEN INTO THE BRINE. REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR, BUT NOT MORE THAN 4.

Step 2

 

PUT THE SAUCE INGREDIENTS INTO A SAUCEPAN, STIR AND SIMMER UNTIL SAUCE THICKENS.

 Step 3

 STRAIN OFF THE SAUCE AND PLACE IN A BOWL.

 Step 4

 REMOVE THE CHICKEN FROM THE BRINE AND GRILL UNTIL MEDIUM BROWN AND COOKED THROUGH TO THE BONE. PLACE THE PINEAPPLE ON THE GRILL. LIGHTLY BASTE THE CHICKEN & PINEAPPLE WITH THE SAUCE. TURN AND BASTE 2-3 TIMES EVERY 2-3 MINUTES. REMOVE FROM GRILL & SERVE.

So there you have it...my evening making Hawaiian style grilled chicken. It was awesome if I do say so myself, although I didn't have to since it was a big hit with the kids....

Not to be forgotten in this evening of great food and beautiful weather... there was plenty of beer and Earl Campbell's.....

Good Afternoon

Springtime is crazy. Baseball, spring football, dance... It never ends does it? Hahaha.

I wouldn't change that part of my life for anything. The only problem is it seriously cuts into my grill time. I really want to try the Huli-Huli chicken that I have linked on the homepage. It sounds like a really tasty change up and a fun recipe to make. But alas, it will be a few more days until I can fire up the grill. Forunately, it doesn't cut into my beer drinking time........

I am constantly looking for new and exciting grill recipes. Unfortunately, nothing really gets done around my place until summer. So, most posts will be related to things other than food until then. I will post recipes and pics of the things I do cook when I am able, I just don't know when that will be.

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I may be drunk, Miss, but in the mornig I'll be sober and you'll still be ugly.
                                                                         Winston Churchill

Rough Day for the Colts

Lot's of errors....

They won in the quarterfinals and lost in the semifinals. The Colts were done in by a rough day in the field. Pitching was solid, bats were above average. Ultimately, errors were the story of the day. That being said, the two teams that played for the title were probably the best teams there. The semifinal loss for the Colts was of the old fashioned wood shed variety.

My boy really struggled from third today, actually all weekend. Guess it's time for dad to hit him some grounders, lol. On a more positive note...he's still knocking the cover off the ball. He was 4-5 on the day with a double and 2 RBI.

His stat line after 4 tourneys (14-3-1) --  .568 (25 - 44); 8 2B; 2 HR; 23 RBI

Pretty damn good kid.

Winning

Baby girl rocked it out yesterday.

The Colts were 2-0... Let's go win this thing today.

Oh, and this kid was 3-6 with a home run, a double, and 6 RBI.

This is a very proud papa...

Dance Rock Star

Baby girl gets Elite Gold 1st place - solo; Platinum 3rd place - team ballet; Platinum 1st place team jazz; Platinum 1st place - production. Way to go Fantasia dancers.

That's my little superstar!

Long Day

So, I got up at five to drive an hour and a half to see my girl dance. Momma and baby girl left last night and stayed in a hotel. Now I'm back to get my boy ready to leave for his baseball tourney. Girls are still there since my baby still has three dances today. She did really well on her solo this morning, it was her first ever solo, so it could have been better. Later she will rock the team dances I'm sure!

The boy and I are headed out for a baseball tourney in a little bit. He plays twice today, last game at eight. I guess I'll have a 19 hour day covering about 200 miles today watching my kids. Long day but well worth it! At least gas isn't $3.60 a gallon...oh wait.

Rock it baby girl...

GATA kid...

Favorite Books

Here are a few of my favorite non-fiction books.



Among other things, I love to read. These are inspirational and motivational books, and a couple good old fashioned histories thrown in for good measure. Great reads and really eye opening too.

I'll write a review of each in a few days.

Dallas Colts 14U

Here is a team pic of my boy's team after winning a tourney two weeks ago.

Good Morning

Well, my boy had baseball practice until late, didn't get to fire up the ole grill last night. Basic box dinner prepared by the wife. Oh well, it is the weekend.

Speaking of my boy...He's 14 and plays select baseball. I'm a really proud father. He is having a great season so far, and so is his team. The team, the Dallas Colts, is 12-2-1 on the year and have won two tourneys so far. They are qualified for the USSSA world series in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Dad can't wait for that trip! My boy is a third basemen who bats left and throws right. Currently, he is batting .545 with 6 2B, 1 HR, 1 3B, and 15 RBI. He loves to play and that is what makes him so good. Hopefully, the Colts and #13 will keep rolling this year. They play this weekend so wish him luck!

Not to be neglectful, I have another child.... My daughter is 8 and dances competitively. Her team has done well this year. Lots of High Golds and Platinums, whatever that means....lmao! She dances her first ever solo tomorrow morning so daddy is excited for her!

I'll post updates here as things develop, but wish the boy luck and tell the girl to break a leg!

Busy weekend, but I'm sure I'll find the time to have a few beers and burn some charcoal.

This is the Grill. I cook on it as often as possible. The heat retention characteristics are phenomenal.














Here is the lubrication for the cook.

And here is the hat that I wear.

So, there you have it folks. BTW, I'm firing her up tonight. I'll be back with my cooking endeavors later.

What's up world? Today is the start of my online journal. And the beginning of the rest of my life.

I coach, I drink, I eat, and I try to enjoy life.

I will be writing about all of those things right here...Hope you like it, but if not, I'm really writing for me. Hahaha

Enjoy