Cat and Magnolia Blossom's Midwest AR Roundup

I couldn't decide if the first line of this blog should be "Cat Hill and Magnolia Blossom's Excellent Adventure or One cold, dark and rainy night after a long drive through Iowa, she arrived at a stranger's house.  Two days later she left as a welcomed friend".  When MB arrived Friday night at my house it was indeed cold, dark and rainy and she did have a long drive from Illinois.  It was certainly an adventure for both of us getting this roundup together.  I can't wait to share my experiences of the roundup and the weekend but first some do's and don't's tips.

The Do's:
1. Have a roundup.
2. Can't have one, attend one!  You won't be sorry.
3.  Can't have one or attend one but want to do something anyway for it.  Then send some stuff any cook would find cool.  Trust me they will feel like it's an early Christmas.  We did!

The Don'ts:
1.  Don't leave your house phone ringer turned up on high and then answer the ringing phone in the wee hours the morning(12:15 am) of the roundup especially if you are hosting.  It might be an estranged family member in crisis.  Baking Nana's tip was to get plenty of sleep, she just didn't warn me about possible unexpected phone calls.
2.  Don't try any home improvement projects before the roundup, you might not have enough time to devote to fun decorating stuff.
3.  Don't assume you don't need to print out a paper copy of all the pertinent information of those attending your roundup especially if you have a co-host.

While MB and I might have set a record for lowest member turnout, everyone that came enjoyed the company, the food and the resulting conversations.  Our AR member portion of the party consisted of bhawk, caluv52, Cat Hill, Magnolia Blossom and MiBeingMi.  caluv52 brought her two sons.  Very nice, well mannered young gentlemen they were.  Sorry, caluv52 despite your careful explanation of how to do the accent mark so I could include their names properly spelled, I gave up but I am so glad you brought them.  My husband's BF, Alan, was up for opening day of deer season and I had already told him I expected him to stay for lunch.  Once I knew I would have more than enough BBQ to share, I invited my neighbors to the lunch.  That would be Terrie and her husband, DJ, along with Terrie's visiting parents from Maine. 

Now we've got to  talk about the food.  WOW!!  The food that came through my door to be shared was AWESOME!  MiBeingMi makes some really wicked baked beans.  bhawk declared they were the best she had ever eaten.  That sentiment was widely shared.  MI was also kind enough to bring my personal favorite-cheesy potato casserole.  For desserts, c-52 brought a highly addictive one.  She called it Almond Grahams aka Crack.  She was not kidding.  Terrie, who must weigh all of 90 lbs was reported to have made 25 trips back to get "just one more piece".  That wasn't the only dessert c-52 brought either.  My guys were in hog heaven!  MB brought what I thought was a kicked up German chocolate cake.  It wasn't German chocolate but who cares it was really good!  She also helped me round out my herbed goat cheese and cracker tray by bringing a cheese ball that went fast.  I had to make Mike Harvey's Pumpkin Pickles.  A recipe that he was kind enough to send me.  I wish I had gotten a picture of the faces when I told them what it was.  I'm sure theirs mirrored my own when I first read about pumpkin pickles.  Say what?!  Mr. Harvey, your recipe converted more than one person Saturday.  I may not have done them quite right since I'm not the greatest pickle maker ever but they were unexpectedly good.  bhawk is expecting that recipe to be passed along since she was picking up the necessary ingredients on the way home.  She thought they would be a welcomed addition at her Thanksgiving table.  Since MB and bhawk were staying with me and I expected to have hungry deer hunters, I needed breakfast material.  So I ordered farm fresh eggs to have on hand from the same gentleman who sold me that wonderful cream.  Then made apple muffins, sourdough English muffins and my Mom's infamous cinnamon rolls.  For lunch I made some sourdough French bread (Terrie loves it) and I had to try What's for dinner, Mom?'s soft and fluffy hamburger buns.  I really liked them.  They were great for BBQ sandwiches with coleslaw.

Breakfast anyone?

WAIT!  I'm taking a picture!

MiBeingMi with a cup of  my mulled cider.

My husband derserves his own paragraph for his BBQ.  The midnight crisis call which I got blasted with first, was for him.  So I know the man didn't get any more sleep than I did that night.  Then in the wee hours he went out in the cold with our son deer hunting.  After all that, he still came home and cooked some of the BEST ribs I've ever had.  He didn't stop there.  Previously I had brined turkey and chicken for him to smoke which he did to perfection.  The turkey is a take on Guy Fieri's Mean Green Turkey Machine and is SO good.  The chicken I just put our dry rub on and he took it from there.  The North Carolina pork butt I smoked the day before.  Good thing since I don't function well with little sleep.  Just ask MB.  I believe she said it was rather difficult keeping me on task Sat. morning.  LOL Yep.  If it hadn't been for her and bhawk helping out that morning hard telling how things would have been set up.  I wasn't the only one sleep deprived.  bhawk had spent the night with a youth church group trying to raise money for homeless teens in the Greater Kansas City area.

Pulled pork, ribs, turkey and chicken. Yum!

BF Alan discussing with Terrie the best type of tuperware to have on hand for BBQ left overs.

What can I say? It was all so GOOD!

All that aside.  If your idea of a good time is meeting new people, making new friends and talking about shared interests go to an AR Roundup or have one yourself.  Don't feel up to hosting solo, try to find a co-host.  Mine was not only helpful and a good right hand in the kitchen, making her acquaintance was a great experience.  She had me worried when I lost touch with her due to her HAL problems( refer to 2001-A Space Odessy.  In other words, her computer crashed).  Luckily, MiBeingMi and caluv52 both had MB's #.  Thank goodness it was just a fixable computer problem.

Sunday morning over fresh scrambled egg sandwiches MB, bhawk and I were still savoring the day before.  Sitting around the tables the conversation had ebbed and flowed.  We talked food, recipes, about our families, our jobs and our shared interests.  MB and I have tentative plans to get our husbands together.  They can go to a Nascar race in IL.  She and I figure we can pursure some other form of entertainment.  Soon I plan on taking caluv52 to my favorite thrift store.  I know she and I will have fun.  bhawk, I'm coming soon to your house to see your gardens!  MiBeingMi, I am so glad you came, let's stay in touch.

A special thanks to Lady Sparkle and What's for dinner, Mom? for your thoughtful gifts.  We loved them!  The old cookbooks were so much fun to read, LS.  We had such a laugh over the ironing tips in one.  caluv52 found one that had coupons with no expiration dates or bar codes.  bhawk couldn't wait to do the Sunday morning breakfast dishes with your dish clothes.  WFDM? the aprons were AWESOME!  All of them are so pretty!  It really was like Christmas.


Such thoughtfulness!





Those cookbooks were so fun!

 Even if there hadn't been such gifts or those wonderful hostess gifts(caluv52-WOW!), I would not have passed up one minute of this experience!  My thanks to each and every one of you for making it possible!!!!

Cat

                              caluv52,MiBeingMi, Magnolia Blossom, your's truly and bhawk