Weekend C&D Thread + Weekend Outdoor Plans

[BeastMan]

Thank goodness it's friday. We've had some outstanding food of late so I'm curious what everyone has going on this weekend. I'm thinking a vodka tonic tonight and perhaps some smoked or roasted chicken this weekend.

I'm going to hit the lake at my parents neighborhood this weekend and throw my new baitcaster and practice my "walking the dog" technique. I honestly don't think I'll catch anything but I haven't wetted a line in some time.

[BeastMan]

Absolute with diet ocean spray cran/pom. Wife brought me home steak on a stick from Babalu

[BrunswickDawg]

The girls are out of town till Sunday, so it's just me an BD Jr. Since the weather is still cool (only 60 today in south GA - burrr) I'm going to make a shrimp and corn chowder. Great winter food, and easy.

[BeastMan]

Since it warmed up today, I ran to the lake at my parents neighborhood to see if anything was biting. Didn't get any takers but really just wanted to use my new combo and bait from Christmas. All my bass fishing is really gearing up for trout and redfish really

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc473/stoms31/Mobile%20Uploads/FE62470B-B563-4D75-B607-EE2B791FD9EE_zpsbfxmsqgg.jpg

[BeastMan]

MIL cooked a pot of jambalaya and some jumbo saut?ed shrimp on the side

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc473/stoms31/Mobile%20Uploads/E9A1CEBE-5F3E-4217-B210-C1C1BB6A5A53_zps55se74qh.jpg

[SpeckleDawg]

Since it warmed up today, I ran to the lake at my parents neighborhood to see if anything was biting. Didn't get any takers but really just wanted to use my new combo and bait from Christmas. All my bass fishing is really gearing up for trout and redfish really

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc473/stoms31/Mobile%20Uploads/FE62470B-B563-4D75-B607-EE2B791FD9EE_zpsbfxmsqgg.jpg

Yep. I'm getting antsy and probably going to go do some searching for fish next weekend. Nice looking rig. Are you left handed or do you just actually use a reel the way you are supposed to? I'm a righty, but can't stand to reel with my left hand on a bait caster or spinning reel. Always have to do the cast and switch.

Eta: how do you like that Citica so far? I'm itching for a new reel and have been eyeing those.

[SpeckleDawg]

No cooking for me. Had some Sal & Mookie's with a SPB Hipster Breakfast and a Lazy Magnolia Imperial Stout.

[BeastMan]

Yep. I'm getting antsy and probably going to go do some searching for fish next weekend. Nice looking rig. Are you left handed or do you just actually use a reel the way you are supposed to? I'm a righty, but can't stand to reel with my left hand on a bait caster or spinning reel. Always have to do the cast and switch.

Eta: how do you like that Citica so far? I'm itching for a new reel and have been eyeing those.

I'm right handed but reel left-handed bait casting and spinning. I always been more comfortable handling the rod/setting hook right my dominant hand. I know thats backwards with most folks, particularly baitcasters. I like the Citica but it hasn't seen the brute reds or saltwater yet. My wife wanted to get me a new combo for Christmas and I wanted a good Shimano but I didn't want to get the most expensive one. I might upgrade my ball bearing which will essentially upgrade the reel to the next level.

[SapperDawg]

For the second weekend this month I spent the entirety of my time off in bed with a version of the flu. The first round was traditional flu. The last round was stomach flu. It is clear I should receive a refund for the flu shot I was subject to in November.

So I am a bit late to the weekend cooking a drinking party, partially because I have not eaten since Thursday night. I rectified this today by making up some chili con carne with elk stew meat. The method I used is based off the instructions here: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chili_con_carne/. I did win the office cook-off using this recipe this year, and beef short ribs as the meat.

This method calls for making a chili paste, and then cooking the paste in a cast iron skillet until fragrant. I like this part, and you can make a dark chili if you toast your paste longer.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo192/scumglove/Mobile%20Uploads/F38D063F-E05A-41FF-97EC-52B0B937830D_zpsqklhksg3.jpg (http://s375.photobucket.com/user/scumglove/media/Mobile%20Uploads/F38D063F-E05A-41FF-97EC-52B0B937830D_zpsqklhksg3.jpg.html)

This is another one of those meals you can make with that bag of venison "stew" meat in the corner of your freezer. Put everything together and toss it in the oven for a few hours in a braising liquid, and there is no way it cant be tender and flavorful, right? My lesson learned is this: I should have saved the femurs of the elk, cut into 3-4" segments, and saved them to toss in long cooking dishes like this. I think the marrow adds a richness not otherwise there.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo192/scumglove/Mobile%20Uploads/35677CEE-0C66-47D3-AFB5-4DB80336E426_zpsa8ekeiyy.jpg (http://s375.photobucket.com/user/scumglove/media/Mobile%20Uploads/35677CEE-0C66-47D3-AFB5-4DB80336E426_zpsa8ekeiyy.jpg.html)

I owe the Army a weekend next weekend, so I will be furthering my two year investigation of the BBQ and brewpubs of Knoxville. Good luck to all you Dawgs still in the woods, I have one more deer trip left, then a few weeks of small game before we sail full steam to turkeys and fishing.