I had the consummate fall weekend this weekend, and it was glorious! It included (in no particular order) high school football, multiple cups of hot cocoa, a costume party, one pumpkin spice latte, college football, a pumpkin carving party, multiple bowls of soup, a crisp run, and lots of fall foliage!
As someone who unabashedly loves costumes in all forms, I look forward to planning and executing my Halloween costume every year. Growing up with an exceptionally crafty mother, I mostly wore homemade costumes. The cat costume on the right was a perennial favorite.
I mostly side with homemade unless complete authenticity can be achieved. See below. Say no more.
I found this gem of a jumpsuit at the Green River Road Goodwill circa 1991. Try not to be jealous. This year I wanted to stretch my creative muscles with my costume. I was set on Keyboard Cat and even went so far as to learn the song on my Casio keyboard, but I chickened out a few days before the party. There are two groups of people in the world - those who watch internet cat videos and those who don't (WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU???), and I feel like most of the people at this party belong in the latter group. Again I ask, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??? What's not to love about a cat playing the keyboard?
After much deliberation, I decided to go with a more well-known internet meme, and one to which everyone in my generation can relate: the awkward school photo. I found a jpeg of the laser background and got it blown up at Kinko's. I mod-podged it to a foam board and pierced four small holes in it for straps. I got my awesome outfit at the Salvation Army, gave my hair the "fading perm" look, and put in my retainer. Belle of the ball!
I found myself at home today with all the requisite ingredients for barbecue nachos. (Don't ask!) After completing an 18 mile run today, I decided I was deserving of a treat. Now, let's get a couple things straight. 1) I often eat barbecue nachos even when I haven't gone on a dreadfully long run, so you can too! Eat 'em every day if you so choose! And 2) I live in Memphis, right? The birthplace of the novelty barbecue item. If I craving barbecue pizza, I go to Coletta's. If I want barbecue spaghetti, I go to Interstate. And if I want barbecue nachos, I go to Central. There is no second option. But today I thought of my readers unlucky enough to live outside Memphis. What happens when you crave barbecue nachos??? Do you even know that barbecue nachos is a thing??? In doing a quick internet search, I discovered several recipes for "barbecue nachos" served with all manner of toppings- sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, black olives. I have one word: travesty. These are not nachos with barbecued pork instead of ground beef or chicken. This is barbecued pork with tortilla chips serving merely as the vehicle to get the pork into your belly. Instead of the bun. Or if you're in Memphis, instead of the noodles, pizza crust, salad greens, baked potato, you get the idea. (Who's ready to move here?!?) No? Well, without further ado, I present my version of Central BBQ's barbecue nachos. 1. Get your hands on some barbecued pork. I slow-cooked and froze a pork butt a few months ago. You might remember it from these posts here and here and here and here. (This pork sure does get a lot of play at my house. Hmm. That's what he hopes she'd say?) I defrosted it, shredded it, and then heated it up on med-high in some oil olive in my iron skillet. 2. Chips.
3. Barbecued pork.
4. Nacho cheese.
5. Barbecue sauce.
6. Shredded cheddar cheese.
7. Jalapenos and barbecue rub. (Both optional, but both delicious.)
8. Bury your face. They are that good. I'm not claiming they're better than Central. That would be heresy, but they are a great substitute.
How are you? Nice to see to see you again. I'm glad you didn't forget about me. But just because I haven't been blogging doesn't mean I haven't been getting on with my bad Patti Wagon self. Case in point: Froze 35 pounds of greens with my Aunt Jane in Kentucky. I'm very excited to experiment with recipes this winter. (Note: When I say I'm excited to experiment with greens what I really means is that I'm excited to experiment with pork fat.) Blog post on the greens freezing to come.
Pencil case refashioned from a pair of corduroy pants. The pattern is an amalgamation of instructions found here and here. I am very pleased with how the case turned out, and I have a few more projects using these pants in the hopper.
And my teacher of the year application is coming along quite nicely.
I will leave you with the promise to try to blog more successfully in the months of October and November. Just don't hold me to it.
