Sunday, January 15, 2012

Cold Day, Warm Hearts, Hot Food



Oysters that were steamed to perfection were the star of the show at our family gathering. Linda's brother-in-law Tommie made sure everything was "just right" for a perfect evening.


A barn in the half cylindrical shape with a cement floor has been on this site for over 50 years and still serving a valuable purpose for family gatherings.



Larger than it looks from outside it had all the elements needed for a great time.  A very large picnic table, wood burning stove, refrigerator and plenty of room for shucking oysters after taking them out of the steamer.



Side view showing the grill where 2 chickens were cooked vertically with a can of beer that steamed the interior of the birds making them so good. Later the grill was used to cook link sausage that was the hit of the party for me. You have to be a local to understand. S.B. Smith's Red & White Supermarket has been making link sausage for so long and if people move away and come back to visit they always stop at Smiths to get a 5 or 10 lb box to carry home and savor. We like a healthy piece placed in a hot dog bun and topped with yellow mustard. I knew I had overindulged when I finished the second one.



Closer look at the "beer butt" chickens cooking.



Good stuff, from left to right, lots of chips, my crock pot full of my special chili, then Linda's hot dog chili and another crock pot of black eye peas.



The large wood burning heater with the largest cast iron frying pan I have ever seen full of hot dog weiners getting hot for the crowd.


Better picture of the stove and hot dogs, the dish on the left was a special recipe sauce made of ketchup, hot sauce & butter. The big pot just had water to humidify the air.


The only thing the barn was lacking was a rest room so for that we had to walk up the hill to quaint little house that is so adorable.








All these pictures were taken just turning around in one spot in the center of the room, small but lovely and I could so live in this space and be content.

11 comments:

  1. Is it cold up there where you Yankee northerners live? (LOL) Down here in the south we have the doors and windows open and it's a perfect day. The food looks yummy, Odie, and it looks like a great time was had by all. I hope Rocky and Soffie got a taste of that chicken! Happy Sunday, good buddy!

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  2. Hi Odie. It sure looks as if you all had a lovely time, with some scrummy food there. What a great place to meet up, but you were naughty having TWO hot dogs. Hee Hee!! Wish I could have been there to share the day with you.

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  3. You have such wonderful family gatherings. I love the little house and the barn is a great place to all get together. I've never seen beer-butt chicken before! I would suppose the beer can is opened since there would be quite the explosion if it wasn't!

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  4. That looks like a wonderful family gathering place, not to mention fabulous food! Thank you for sharing a part of your family with us Odie. It reminds me of home. Although we might have had Kogel's hot dogs with coney sauce instead. I love the barn and the little house too! North Carolina is a really good for the soul place to live.

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  5. I would have loved to be at that party and try the famous sausage. It looks like you had a wonderful time! What a lovely little place. Very quaint and simple. Perfect for our friend Odie who prefers the simple life. :)

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  6. Wow, the food looks great! Beer-butt chicken is the absolute best!

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  7. Loving that tiny little house! And now I really want some chili...

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  8. What a delightful family gathering. I love the barn and the 'little' house. Everything sounded delicious to the extreme.
    Loves~

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  9. Fantastic place to have family gatherings! I've never tried steamed oysters.

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