Big German's Sweet & Spicy Pecans

This recipe comes from my brother.  Some people call him The Big German.  Why?  Because he's big and he's German - h.e.l.l.o.  He brought these pecans to our Thanksgiving get-together last week.  I thought they were absolutely divine.


Big German's Sweet & Spicy Pecans
16 ounces of pecans
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
dashes of nutmeg
dashes of cinnamon
dashes of cayenne pepper

Melt butter in saute pan.  Add pecans.  Stir and stew for a bit until all the pecans are coated with butter.  Pour the brown sugar over the pecans and stir making sure all the pecans are coated with brown sugar.

Spread the pecans out on a cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with the salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and cayenne.  Bake at 275 degrees for 20 minutes. 

When you're done eating handfuls of these at a time, raise a glass to The Big German and say PROST!

(My brother corrected me on the amount of pecans.  I thought it was a 12-ounce bag, but he bought two 12-ounce bags and used a full bag and 1/3 of another bag bringing the total amount used to 16 ounces.)

Shared @ Weekend Potluck:
  

Texas Music Around Fort Worth Weekend of November 30, 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Blue Hat @ The Woodshed Smokehouse – 6:00 

Justin Kaczyk @ The Spice Rack Tapas Bar & Grill Burleson - 9:00

Jamie Richards @ White Elephant Saloon - 9:00 - $10

Jesse Jennings @ Chubby’s Burger Shack - 8:00 

Brushfire @ Railhead in Willow Park - 7:30 

Bobby Duncan @ The Grease Monkey - 9:00 

Josh Ward Band @ Filthy McNasty’s - 9:45 

Me and My Monkey (Beatles Tribute Band) @ Red’s Roadhouse - 9:30 - $5 

Steve Stewart Band @ Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon - 9:00 - $10 

Mike Hosty @ Magnolia Motor Lounge - 10:00

Fish Fry Bingo @ Fred's Texas Cafe - 7:00

Saturday, December 1, 2012


James Hinkle @ The Woodshed Smokehouse – 6:00 

Dempsey Pullen @ The Spice Rack Tapas Bar & Grill Burleson - 9:00

Tom Cheatham @ White Elephant Saloon - 9:00 - $5

Scott Lyle Band @ Railhead in Willow Park - 7:30 

Gene Watson @ Stagecoach Ballroom – $20 - $25

Dustin Perkins @ The Grease Monkey
 
The Phil Wallace Trio @ Filthy McNasty’s - 7:30 - 9:00
Symeon the Lion @ Filthy McNasty’s - 9:15 - 10:45
Clay Wilson Band @ Filthy McNasty’s - 11:00

Ali Dee @ Red’s Roadhouse - 9:30 - $5 

Justin Trevino @ Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon - 9:00 - $10

Kyle Redd Band @ Fred's Texas Cafe - 7:00 

2012 Fort Worth Modeo @ The Live Oak Music Hall - 8:00 - $15

Stuff We Find In Our Yard

Every now and then, we find white stuff in our yard.  I hope we find some this winter...I hope, I hope, I hope. 

Happy Tomato Fresh Salsa

We've discovered something delicious, something fresh, something made with organic tomatoes, something locally made.  It's called Happy Tomato Fresh Salsa.  And...it...is...delicious!  It is the best salsa I have ever eaten.  It is fresh and yummy and just WOW!  

You really have to try some for yourself.  You can purchase this fantastic salsa at Roy Pope Grocery in Fort Worth, Central Market in Southlake and Fort Worth, The Sunflower Shoppe in Fort Worth, and Green's Produce in Arlington.  You can also catch them at the Southside Urban Market. 

They offer original, medium and diablo.  For the holiday season, they've concocted a cranberry / lime flavor that is scrumptious.  All the flavors are delicious (I'm taking my husband's word on the diablo cuz I was a little chicken, chicken, bock, bock, bock to try that one).  I think the medium has just the right amount of kick.

Give Happy Tomato Fresh Foods a like on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.  The owners are super nice and were really informative, plus they're right here in good ol' Fort Worth.  Let's help them grow their business.  Go out and buy some Happy Tomato Fresh Salsa today.

Blogcation This Week

Recipes To Try - Daddy's Biscuits & Milk Gravy

This past weekend I ventured into an area I had never ventured before... I made biscuits without using Bisquick and without opening a can.  Holy cow!  Miracles never cease.  I was watching Trisha Yearwood's Southern Kitchen on the Food Network the other day and I saw her making her Daddy's Biscuits.  I noticed she wasn't rolling out any dough.  I thought "I could do that" and so I did.  And they turned out.  The only thing I did wrong was flatten them out too thin.  Instead of the recipe making 12 biscuits, I made them so flat I had around 20 biscuits.  They still tasted good.  Next time I won't flatten them out so much.

And to go along with those biscuits, you've gotta, gotta, gotta have some gravy.  I've always been able to make gravy - my grandpa taught me how.  Do you see my chest sticking out with pride?  I look like a peacock I'm so proud of myself.  My name is Shelley, and yes, I can make gravy.  The only problem with my gravy was sometimes it would turn out thin and sometimes it would turn out thick - no two gravies ever turned out the same.  (Walks away with tail between her legs.)

Enter Trisha Yearwood's Milk Gravy.  I make my gravy using this recipe every single time now and every single time it turns out great.  I do, however, cut down on the amount of grease and flour.  I only use two tablespoons of grease and two tablespoons of flour.  I still use the two cups of milk though.  I also fry some sausage before making the gravy.  I chop up about five or six pieces of cooked sausage and toss it in the gravy while it's cooking.  You can leave that part out if you want to.  I won't tell anybody. 

You might want to think about wearing your comfy sweats for the rest of the day.  Your belly's gonna need some growing room!

Texas Music Around Fort Worth Weekend of November 16, 2012

When's the last time you went honky-tonkin?  Well, that's too long.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Mike Calaway @ The Woodshed Smokehouse – 6:00 

Brad Hulsey @ The Spice Rack Tapas Bar & Grill Burleson - 9:00

Steve Tenpenney @ White Elephant Saloon - 9:00 - $5

Bobby Duncan @ Chubby’s Burger Shack - 8:00 

3 Fools On 3 Stools @ Railhead in Willow Park - 7:30 

Bobby Dean @ Stagecoach Ballroom – $7

Clayton Gardner @ The Grease Monkey - 7:00 

Seattle (Tribute to 90's Grunge) @ Red’s Roadhouse - 9:30 - $5 

Brady Bowen & Swing Country (CD Release Party) @ Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon - 9:00 - $10

Josh Weathers Band @ Bronco's Sports Bar Hurst 

Convoy & The Cattlemen, Caitlin Cannon & Artillery, The County Fringe @ The Wild Rooster Bar  - 9:30 - $5

William Clark Green & Mike Stanley @ Magnolia Motor Lounge - 10:00 - $10

Paul Benjaman Band @ Fred's Texas Cafe - 7:00

Saturday, November 17, 2012


Brandon Bolin @ The Woodshed Smokehouse – 6:00 

Red Rock Festival @ The Spice Rack Tapas Bar & Grill Burleson - 9:00

Ed Burleson @ White Elephant Saloon - 9:00 - $6  

Gary Kyle @ Chubby’s Burger Shack - 8:00

Charla Corn @ Railhead in Willow Park - 7:30 

Billy Mata @ Stagecoach Ballroom – 8:30 - $15

The Troubaderos @ The Grease Monkey - 9:00 

Marley Prase @ Filthy McNasty’s - 6:00

The Damn Quails @ Red’s Roadhouse - 9:00 - $5 

Landon Dodd @ Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon - 9:00 - $10

The Dick Beldings (90's Music) @ Bronco's Sports Bar Hurst 

Me & My Monkey (Beatles Tribute Band) @ The Wild Rooster Bar  - 10:00

Phil Pritchett & Courtney Patton @ Magnolia Motor Lounge - 10:00 - $8

Casey Hubble Band @ Fred's Texas Cafe - 7:00 

Westbound Rangers @ The Live Oak Music Hall - 9:00 - $10

Stuff We Find In Our Yard

So this morning I'm sitting here at the computer looking through pictures trying to figure out which one to post for Stuff We Find In Our Yard, when all the sudden this bobcat strolls across our driveway.  I jump up, grab the fancy camera my sister gave me, take the lens cap off and start snapping pictures through the window.  These pictures were going to be awesome.  The bobcat was sitting so still and he was looking right in my direction.  I was able to snap six pictures of him before he decided to head down into the creek.  This is one of my amazing pictures from my photo session this morning:

I just about cried when I uploaded the pictures. 

But, the bobcat came back and I was able to trot outside and snap a few pics of him sitting next door in my neighbor's yard. (Have you ever trotted before?  It's sorta fun.)

Not the greatest picture ever, but it'll do.

Fort Worth Food Park

Friday night, my husband I made a trip down to the Fort Worth Food Park - you know, one of the places in Fort Worth where all the food trucks park.  We had never been before and we were really excited to go.

We started off by getting a couple of beers from the Cantina there.  We walked around and scoped out all the trucks' menus.  Lots to choose from.  That night these trucks were there:

Lee's Grilled Cheese
Red Jett Sweets
Salsa Limon
The Butcher's Son
The Spanish Lunchbox
Mediterranean Chunky Monkey

Since there was so much to choose from and since we'd never been before, we decided to eat a little something from all the trucks.

We started off at Mediterranean Chunky Monkey.  We ordered the Pitadilla (this dummy forgot to take a picture of it before we inhaled it).  It had feta cheese, and I think Monterrey Jack cheese, and garlic sauce smooshed between two pitas.  YUM!!  The Pitadilla was one of our favorites of the night.  Really good.

The Spanish Lunchbox - Tortilla

Next we moved on to The Spanish Lunchbox.  We ordered the Tortilla.  The tortilla was more like a potato cake made out of potatoes and eggs.  This was yummy as well.  The tortilla was one of my husband's favorites of the night.

Salsa Limon - Steak Taco

Salsa Limon - El Capitan

We made our way over to Salsa Limon where my husband ordered a steak taco, minus the pickled cabbage.  I ordered the El Capitan.  My husband thought the steak taco was good.  I thought the El Capitan was the bomb.  The tortilla was perhaps the best tortilla I've ever put in my mouth.  I fell in love with El Capitan.  The only thing I wished was El Capitan was mucho grande'er.

The Butcher's Son - Voodoo Tots

Next we ordered Voodoo Tots from The Butcher's Son.  These were tater tots with braised beef and grilled onions with some kind of sauce and curry powder on top.  They smelled like Worcestershire sauce.  (My husband went to the bathroom after he brought these to the table and I sat there the whole time not eating these but just smelling them.  All I kept thinking about was my noseholes were filled with the smell of Worcestershire sauce - I was sort of offended by that smell - I'm weird - I'm okay with that.)  The braised beef on these tots was really good.  The curry powder was a little strong. 

By the time we'd eaten everything and drank a couple of beers a piece, we were full.  We didn't make it to Lee's Grilled Cheese.  But we'll be back, Lee's Grilled Cheese, and we'll be paying you a visit, my friend.

Red Jett Sweets - Vanilla Echo & Nuts For Kentucky

On the way out, we stopped by Red Jett Sweets.  Since my husband isn't a big fan of sweets (what a weirdo) I ordered myself a cupcake and we also got a cupcake to take home to our girls.  I ordered our girls the Vanilla Echo.  I ordered myself the Nuts For Kentucky which is bourbon cake, caramel buttercream rolled in candied pecans.  I took a bite of the Nuts For Kentucky - my eyes rolled back in my head and trumpets played and angels sang - I did a few cartwheels and did a little cheer for Kentucky.  Oh my, the icing was knock-your-socks-off good.  I could eat a wheelbarrow full of that stuff.

If you get a chance, stop by the Fort Worth Food Park at 2509 Weisenberger Street which is over off West 7th.  They're open Thursday through Sunday.  Different food trucks are there on different days so be sure and check their calendar.

Texas Music Around Fort Worth Weekend of November 9, 2012

Go drown your sorrows or go celebrate the outcome of the election - whatever butters your bread.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Molotov Dogs @ The Woodshed Smokehouse – 6:00 

Zach Edwards @ White Elephant Saloon - 9:00 - $7

Stevie Ray Lepard Trio @ Chubby’s Burger Shack - 8:00 

Matt Stapp Band @ Railhead in Willow Park - 7:30 

Rob Dixon & The Lost Cowboy Band @ Stagecoach Ballroom – 8:00 - $7

Changing Carpenter @ The Grease Monkey 

Brandon Smith Band and Dewey Wayne @ Filthy McNasty’s - 8:00 

26 or 5 to 4 (Chicago Tribute Band) @ Red’s Roadhouse - 9:00 - $5 

Shoot Low Sheriff @ Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon - 9:00 - $10

Saturday, November 10, 2012


Passenger @ The Woodshed Smokehouse – 6:00 

Ronny Spears @ White Elephant Saloon - 9:00 - $8 

Aaron Sandoval @ Railhead in Willow Park - 7:30 

Rob Dixon & The Lost Cowboy Band @ Stagecoach Ballroom – 8:30 - $8 

Leland Williams @ The Grease Monkey - 9:00 

Ara Chelsea @ Filthy McNasty’s - 2:30 

Tommy Alverson @ Red’s Roadhouse - 9:30 - $5 

Jeff Woolsey @ Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon - 9:00 - $15

Stuff We Find In Our Yard

Since it's election day and everybody's been all serious lately, I thought it would be fun to post a picture of something funny I found in my yard one day. 

This is my brother I have no idea who on God's green earth this person is or what the hell he's doing in my yard. 

Happy Election Day, Everybody!  I hope y'all voted.  If not, get your buns down there and vote!

Did Hell Freeze Over?

I'm pretty sure hell might have frozen over this morning because I joined a rec center where I plan on working out.  Did those words just come out of my fingers?  Oh, my.  They really, really did.  I have never, in my 40 years, ever been a member of a gym of any kind.  Duh, that's kind of obvious.

In all seriousness, I'm really looking forward to it.  The best part about it I'm thinking will be that I will be all by myself.  What-what!!  They offer child care for a very, very small fee and I could jump up and down and blow sparks and rainbows out of every orifice of my body just to have a couple of daylight hours by myself.  Go me.

Recipe To Try - PW's Good Morning Muffins

This is another great recipe to try.  It's Pioneer Woman's Good Morning Muffins.  One of the ingredients is orange marmalade.  Can I admit something here?  I had never in my life eaten marmalade.  I've danced to the song Lady Marmalade but I've never eaten marmalade.  Boy, have I been missing out. 

This recipe makes quite a few muffins so you'll be able to eat some and give some away to your in-laws or your neighbors or your cousins or your other brother Darrel.

♪♫Hey Sister Go Sister Soul Sister Go Sister♪♫
♫♪Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da♫♪

Y'all have a great weekend!