Pig Roast

            The Georgia vs. Florida game is one of the biggest rivalries in college football today. Once a year, over many decades, these two college football powerhouses have squared off in Jacksonville, FL to claim bragging rights. Last year the game was played on October 29^th, 2011 and this year was different that any other before.

Around 4:30 am I awoke to get ready for this big day. At 5:00 am the smoker was lit and began heating up for the pig that was soon to be roasted. We prepared the pig with numerous marinade injections, mustard and seasonings. The marinade injections were given first to insure the pig stayed moist throughout the process. The mustard was rubbed on the inside of the pig for flavor and to help the seasonings stick. We then applied a homemade dry rub to the pig for seasoning.

At 6:00 am the pig was placed on the smoker to begin the long and slow process of smoking. Over the next 14 hours family and friends arrived to enjoy this day. Cornhole boards were set up, the game was displayed on a big screen, snacks and adult beverages were laid out to keep our company happy. Throughout the day the smoker was checked repeatedly to make sure it sustained the appropriate temperature. If the smoker was cooling down, wood was added to stoke the fire already burning. If the temperature began to rise above what was preferred, the vent was opened to allow heat to escape.

The process of cooking a pig in a smoker is long and tiring, but the reward is without a doubt worth it. Once the pig was cooked to the desired temperature it was time to dig in. We shredded the meat for everyone to make a sandwich or eat it plain. Homemade BBQ sauce, baked beans, slaw and chips were also laid out for everyone to enjoy. In the end the pig roast, family, friends and a Dawgs win concluded a wonderful experience that will never be forgotten.

           
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A Recent Meal

On Sunday January 15th, 2011 my fiancé and I prepared a meal that consisted of the following food items:

• Tyson Chicken Breast grilled and basted with KC Masterpiece Barbeque Sauce
• Birds Eye Frozen Broccoli Florets steamed in boiling water with Morton Salt
• Bushwick Commission Gold Potatoes cooked in the oven with Kraft Mild Shredded Cheese, Morton Salt, and Morton Pepper that was added after they came out of the oven.

The Tyson Chicken Breast could have come from multiple locations across the United States and Internationally. KC Masterpiece Barbeque Sauce is listed as being manufactured in Illinois. Birds Eye Frozen Foods, just like Tyson Foods, has locations in the United States and Internationally. Morton Salt and Pepper are manufactured here in the United States. The Bushwick Commission Gold Potatoes came from Farmingdale, NY. The Kraft Mild Shredded Cheese was more than likely manufactured in the United States, but they have locations world wide also.

All the food listed above came from Wal-Mart. Researching these food items has made me more aware of where they come from and that not every food item is grown and manufactured in the United States. I try my best to buy things that a manufactured in the United States, but with today’s economy the likelihood of buying things that are is diminishing at a dramatic pace. From now on I will not just assume the food items I buy are grown and manufactured in the United States. By researching these food items listed above I am now more apt to research food as much as possible to find out where it is grown and manufactured. I will also make it more of a point to eat food items that are grown by family and friends in their gardens. By doing this I know for sure where the food is grown.

The portion size we both consumed that night was less than 550 calories. My fiancé and I try to eat healthy the majority of the time. But the best thing about cooking a meal together, rather healthy or not, is the time we spend together. I know years from now when we have kids, cooking meals together may not be an option. So I enjoy this time now as much as possible.

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I could not find a title for my blog, so I named it "I Cant Get One"!!!!