Labor day, no, Sunday...

I woke up at 7:15 AM on Sunday morning (late night Saturday, lol). No breakfast, just coffee today. I shaved and showered and then headed to Meijer's. In all the excitement yesterday, there were three things I didn't pick up that I absolutely need today!

I got back home and made a simple marinade for the two sirloin cut pork tenderloin steaks. I mixed 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce with 1/2 cup soy sauce and threw in two peeled, crushed garlic cloves as well. This went into a large baggie with the two pork steaks and I put them back in the fridge at 11:30 AM.

Now, it's out in the backyard. By noon, I'd filled an entire trash bag with junk out back (chip bags, an empty carton for a case of canned beer, Styrofoam coffee cups and numerous CVS bags, etc.) I pulled the winter covers off the three rose bushes. Then, I removed the winter lid and refilled the reflecting pool slowly. While that was filling up. I put out the young Shaolin monk, the Buddha in the front and Buddha in the back.

I got out the leaf rake and cleaned out the front flower beds and the beds along the south side of the garage. Next, I thought I'd get out the old bent mailbox post. I used a 25 foot tow strap and my cheap Chinese-made come-along. I dug out the one side, used my old pick to break the concrete, but could not get the damn thing to come out of the ground! I'm running out of time, so I will have to postpone this effort for a while.

I got the ribs ready. I know I've explained this before, but it bears repeating as these are truly the best damn ribs I've ever tasted. I cut the rack in half, removed the membrane from the bone side (get under it with a paring knife and you can easily pull it off, using a paper towel) and they went into my roasting pan on a rack. Once in the pan, I covered them with one cup of bourbon (I like Jim Beam) and one cup of apple juice. Next I massaged them with the dry rub (a mixture of salt and fresh ground pepper, one teaspoon red pepper flakes, two tablespoons of Montreal steak seasoning and four or five minced cloves of garlic). Then they go in the oven to slow cook (250 degrees F for 3-3 1/2 hours). I took a break for lunch: cold fried chicken and large curd cottage cheese mixed with snipped chives.

I took the leaf rake out back and got the area around the reflecting pool cleaned out. Next comes the long walks involved with picking up fallen branches in the back yard (as I have LOTS of trees, I have LOTS of fallen branches). I got maybe 1/3 of the back yard (closest to the house picked up when my legs started to quit on me.

So, I went inside and lay down. I turned on the NASCAR race, hoping it would lull me to sleep. But, it didn't. I finally gave up at 5:00 PM and started getting serious about tonight's dinner. First, I peeled, cubed and boiled three russet potatoes. Then I made up my hamburger patties, using the peanut butter jar lid and saran wrap trick. I seasoned them on both sides with house seasoning and let them sit to come up to room temperature.

I changed into my shorts. tee shirt and slippers and put my outside clothes and the last few towels, etc, from the weekend into the wash machine.

I diced some celery, the last bunch of scallions and snipped a handful of chives into a bowl for the potato salad. The potatoes, I drained, rinsed in cold water and they are cooling in the fridge. I lit the charcoal in the grille and, for the first time, understood Jake's reluctance to use his grill as a grill, rather than a smoker, as my grates are seasoned and so clean. It almost hurts to know what I am about to do to them!

I put the clothes in the dryer and checked on the coals. They are ready! So, first I grilled the eight burgers until they were just barely medium rare (they cook a bit when you warm them up in the microwave, you see). After pulling them off, I put on the pork steaks and the baby back ribs. I am coating the ribs with a mixture of one whole bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Hot and Spicy Barbecue sauce and 1/4 cup of bourbon. Both the pork steaks and the ribs are off to the side for indirect heat. I pulled off the pork steaks and put them in the house, concentrating now on the ribs. The coating got thicker and thicker and finally started caramelizing. I finally pulled them off around 6:30 PM, and put them back in the oven on "warm."

BTW, at least five times while I was grilling, neighbors would drive by and honk and wave. Made me feel good!

I put the hamburgers and the pork steaks into baggies and them into the fridge. I did try little piece of the pork steaks and they tasted fantastic! I'll have to remember that marinade!

I added the cold potatoes to the veggies I'd cut up, added two hardboiled eggs and made a quick sauce, consisting of mayonnaise, yellow mustard, dried parsley, dried thyme, salt and pepper. I thinned it out with buttermilk and test-tasted it. Nice, tangy taste (but needed a touch more salt and pepper). I folded that in to the veggies and put it back in the fridge to chill some more. At 7:00 PM, I had dinner ready (though I'm not hungry yet).

I took the opportunity to clean up the many dishes and the kitchen itself. Then I reluctantly closed the kitchen window that has been opened all afternoon (with the furnace turned off). I went into the living room to read until 8:00 PM and my Sunday shows. I am listening to a fascinating radio show (Little Steven's Underground Garage) about the Ramones. While I did recognize a few songs, I must admit I never paid any attention to them back in the day. The only reason I am interested now is that Anthony Bourdain talks about them A LOT!

But, now my shows are on. After 9:00 PM, I fixed a paper plate (still thinking of summer barbecues) with four ribs, a little extra sauce and a helping of the potato salad. Excellent!!!

When my shows were over, I turned off the light and went to bed. I did notice that my arms, shoulders and back all ache. I may have overdone the raking today.