#salt bricks for bbq

[saltbricksandtiles]

Himalayan Salt Block, Plate, Slab for Cooking large size for larger food

[tl-screenshots]

BFDI Characters

8-Ball 9-Ball A A duck Amber Amethyst Ammolite Anchor Announcer Anvil Apple Aquamarine Avocado Axinite Baby Balloony Bally Banana Apple Barf Bag Basketball Battery BBQ Sauce BeiBei Bell Benitoite Billy Bob Joe Birthday Cake Black Hole Blender Blocky Bomby Bone Book Boombox Boom Mic Bottle Bracelety Bubble Burrito Bugs Buttslide Man Cake Cake's Dad Camera Cave Drawing Naily Cereal Box Clapboard Carrot Cakes Check-It Eyebrows Cheeseburger Cheese Orb Cherry Jr. Chips Chompy Christmas Tree Chrysoberyl Clock Cloudy Coiny Conch Shell Coral Cord Clip Credit Card CRT Cube Polyhedron Cube Roller Cubey Cursed Announcer with Body David Davidworm Deadly Diamond Diamond (ABCDEFG) Dioptase Discy Divide Operator Dodecahedron Polyhedron Donut Dora Dragon Drear-Top Eggy Eight Eighth Note Electric Guitar Emerald Eraser Evidence Bag Evil Leafy Exploding David Fanny Fake Firey Feldspar Fifteen Firey Firey Jr. Fire Monster Firey Speaker Box Firey Speaker Box's Clone Fish Monster Five Flower Flower Speaker Box Fluorite Foldy Football Player Four Fourteen Fries Frog Frozen Yogurt Fry Garnet Gaty Gelatin Glass Glue Gold Golf Ball Gramophone Grandfather Clock Grassy Gratitude Hello Kevin Hematite Hexagon Speaker Box Hot Sauce Ice Cube Icosahedron Polyhedron Income Tax Return Document Infinity lolite Ivory Jade Jasper JingJing Juice Box Johnson Jordan Kabab Kitchen Sink Kornerupine Lapis Lazuill Leafy Leafy's Family Leek Lego Brick Lewis Lightbulb Lightning Lithium Liy Lollipop Loser Lottery Speaker Box Malachite Marble Marble Bottle Marker Match Member Metronome Milkshake Minus Operator Mocha Mouth Naily Needle Nickel Nickel (Inanimate Insanity) Nine Nonagon Polygon Nonexisty N Variable O Obsidian Octagon Polygon Octahedron Polyhedron One One-Half Fraction One-Quarter Fraction One-Third Fraction Onigiri Opal Pastel Feather PDA Pearl Pen Pencil Peridot Phi Irrational Pie Pi Irrational Pillow Pin Plus Operator Poo Popcorn Portable Music Player Popsicle Price Tag Profily Puffball Puffball Speaker Box Pumpkin Puppet Purple Face Purple Girl with Wind Hair and Angry Eyes Purple Round Speaker Pyrite Quadrilateral Polygon Quartz Radio Announcer Raisin Ramen Noodles Rectangle Polygon Remote Robot Butlers Robot Flower Roboty Rocky Rose Rubber Spatula Ruby Rusty Coin Salt Lamp Sam Sam (Salmon Fiveyears) Sapphire Saw Scared/Dumb Scissors Selfie Dog Seven Shampoo Shirty Shopping Cart Side-View X Six Skull Sling Shot Singing Narrator Slivery Snare Drum Snowball Spike Ball Speaker Box Spongy Spray Can Square Polygon Square Root Operator Stapy Steamy Strudel Super Fan Taco Tape Teabag Teardrop Ten Tent Tennis Ball Tennis Ball Speaker Box Tetrahedron Polyhedron Times Operator Thirteen Three Three-Quarters Fraction Topaz Touch-Tone Tree Triangle Polygon Triangle Speaker Box Tune Turquoise TV Two Undecagon Polygon USB Vacuum VHSy Variscite Vomit Waffle Water Bottle Winner Woody X Yellow Face Yellow Facey Yellow Watermelon Your Mom Your Name Y Variable Zero Z Variable

[sk-hpsb]

[gourmand-sl]

“Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.” ⁠ Anthony Bourdain⁠ ⁠ Credit:⁠ Kraftwork: BBQ Brick Shed⁠ Kraftwork: Set of Bottles ⁠ Junk Food: BBQ Ribs⁠ Pitaya: Spice it Up (peppers)⁠ Vespertine: Tropical Tiki Set⁠ Nutmeg: Fresh Delivery. Baguette⁠ Dust Bunny: Farmer's Market. Chives.⁠ ⁠ Broken Arrows: Kitchen Utensil. Salt. Pepper Mill.⁠ Minimal: September Group Gift (pink plant)⁠ Dust Bunny: Paradise Plants. Fan Palm.⁠

[brookston]

Holidays 6.15

Holidays

Arbor Day (Costa Rica)

Cagayan de Oro Charter Day

Corban Bairam Day (Sudan)

DACA Anniversary Day

Day of Valdemar (Denmark)

Dia del Arbol (Costa Rica)

Engineer’s Day (Italy)

Festival of Neon Decadence

Fire Service Workers’ Day (Kyrgyzstan)

Flag Day (Armenia, Denmark)

Fly a Kite Day

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed Day

Global Wind Day

Husband Caregiver Day

International Day of Latex

International FrontRunners Day

International Justice Day for Cleaners & Security Guards

International Level Crossing Awareness Day

International Women in Mining Day

International Working Animals Day

Irish AIDS Day (Ireland)

Justice for Janitors Day

King Valdemar’s Day (Denmark)

Kiss a Wookiee Day

LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Day 2022 ( website )

Lion King Day

Magna Carta Day (UK)

Mangaia Gospel Day (Cook Islands)

National Book Day (Argentina)

National Bug Busting Day (UK)

National Electricity Day

National Foam Party Day

National License Plate Frame Day

National Man Day

National Marina Day

National Megalodon Day

National Salvation Day (Azerbaijan)

Native American Citizenship Day

Nature Photography Day

Raja Sankranti (Odisha, India)

Rice Seedlings Transplant Day (Korea)

Separation Day (Delaware)

615 Day

Smile Power Day

Sneak a Kiss Day

Spill the Salt Day

Thisbe Asteroid Day

Verbena Day (French Republic)

Vulcanized Rubber Day

World Dengue Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (UN)

World Meat Free Day

World Snail Day

Worldwide Day of Giving

YMA Day (Mizoram, India)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Key West Conch Fritter Day

National Beer Day (a.k.a. Beer Day Britain; UK)

National Big Boy Day

National Knish Day

National Lobster Day [unofficial, also 9.25]

National Papaya Day

National Prune Day

Pork Rind Day (Peru)

Potatoe Day

Independence & Related Days

Arkansas Statehood Day (#25; 1836)

Cagayan de Pro City Charter Day (Philippines)

National Salvation Day (Azerbaijan)

Opol Day (Philippines)

Pinang (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Reunion Day (Denmark)

Valdemar Day (Denmark)

3rd Saturday in June

Badger Day [3rd Saturday]

Bawming of the Thorn (Appleton Thorn, England) [3rd Saturday]

Dog Dad’s Day [3rd Saturday]

Father’s Eve [3rd Saturday]

International Day of the Swimming Pond [3rd Saturday]

International Surfing Day [3rd Saturday]

Madam Lou Bunch Day (Old Flop House Celebration & Bed Race; Colorado) [3rd Saturday]

Mermaid Parade (Brooklyn, New York) [3rd Saturday]

National Dog Dad Day [3rd Saturday]

National Hollerin' Contest (Spivey's Corner, NC) [3rd Saturday]

Polar Bear Swim (Nome, Alaska) [Saturday closest to 21st]

Saturday of Souls, Second (Eastern Orthodox)

Solennität (Switzerland) [Saturday closest to 22nd]

World Juggling Day [Saturday closest to 6.17]

World Martini Day [3rd Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 16 (3rd Full Week)

Northern Arizona Monsoon Season (thru 9.30)

Festivals Beginning June 15, 2024

Alabama Blueberry Festival (Brewton, Alabama)

Arcata Bay Oyster Festival (Arcata, California)

Beer and BBQ Stroll (Westminster, Maryland)

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Jacksonville, Florida)

Brews on the Bricks (Hays, Kansas)

Cajun Fest (Purcellville, Virginia)

Clayton BBQ & Brews Festival (Clayton, California)

Colorado Renaissance Festival (Larkspur, Colorado) [thru 8.4]

The Freshtival (Rohnert Park, California)

Hampton County Watermelon Festival (Hampton, South Carolina) [thru 6.22]

Highland Realm Blueberry Farm Bash (Hampshire, Mississippi)

International Vinegar Festival (Roslyn, South Dakota)

Lake Dillon Beer Fest (Dillon, Colorado)

Monterey Wine Festival (Monterey, California) [thru 6.16]

Mumbai International Film Festival (Mumbai, India) [thru 6.21]

Nashoba Rock N Brewfest (Lancaster, Massachusetts)

North Beach Festival (San Francisco, California) [thru 6.16]

Oink & Ale (Leaksville, North Carolina)

Ojai Wine Festival (Ojai, California)

Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days (Pleasant Grove, Utah) [thru 6.23]

RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival (Bell Buckle, Tennessee)

Sip-N-Shop Wine Walk (Eagle River, Wisconsin)

Slocomb Tomato Festival (Slocomb, Alabama)

Squeal On The Eel (Logansport, Indiana)

St. Louis Bourbon & Brews Festival (St. Louis, Missouri)

StrawberryFest (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin)

Strawberry Festival (Middlefield, Connecticut)

Summer Brew Fest (Denver, Colorado)

Sun BBQFest (Uncasville, Connecticut) [thru 6.16]

Taste of Chicago Rogers Park (Chicago, Illinois)

Taste of Redwood Valley (Calpella, California)

Trooping the Colour (London, UK)

Venice International Theater Festival [Biennale Teatro] (Schwarzenberg, Austria) [thru 6.23]

Wine and Vine Fest (Nicholasville, Kentucky)

Wine Time at the Colony (Saxonburgh, Pennsylvania)

Feast Days

Abraham of Clermont (or of St Cyriacus; Christian; Saint)

Albertina Berkenbrock, Blessed (Christian; Saint)

Alice (a.k.a. Adelaide or Aleydia) of Schaerbeek (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Augustine of Hippo (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Bad Joke Day (Pastafarian)

Bardo (Christian; Saint)

Bernard of Menthon (Christian; Saint)

Bourdaloue (Positivist; Saint)

Brian Jacques (Writerism)

Clement Vismara (Christian; Blessed)

Crescentia, Modestus, and Vitus (Christian; Martyrs)

Daisy Spell for Overcoming Indecision Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Edburga of Winchester (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Evelyn Underhill (Church of England and The Episcopal Church)

Germaine Cousin of Pibrac (Christian; Saint)

Gregory Lewis Barbadigo, Cardinal Bishop of Padua (Christian; Saint)

Guan Sheng Di Jun Dan (Taoism)

Halum (Muppetism)

Hesychius (Christian; Martyr)

Howard Hughes Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Hugo Pratt (Artology)

Landelin (of Crespin or of Lobbes; Christian; Saint)

Media Ver IX (Pagan)

Modesto’s and Crescentia (Christian; Martyrs)

Neal Adams (Artology)

Nicolas Poussin (Artology)

Orsiesius (Christian; Saint)

Pearl the Pika (Muppetism)

Rising of the Nile Day (Ancient Egypt)

Saul Steinberg (Artology)

Tatian Dulas (Christian; Martyr)

Trillo (Christian; Saint)

Vance A. Larson (Artology)

Vaughe (a.k.a. Vorech), Hermit of Cornwall (Christian; Saint)

Vestalia ends (Ancient Rome)

Vitus (a.k.a. Guy; Christian; Martyr) [Czech Republic]

Vladimir (Christian; Saint)

Islamic Lunar Holidays

Day of Arafah [8-9 Dhu al-Hijjah] (Islamic) a.k.a. ... 

Arafat Day (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, UAE)

Wakfet Arafat (Egypt)

Youm Arafat (Djibouti)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fatal Day (Pagan) [12 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [23 of 53]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [20 of 32]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Tycho Brahe Lucky Day (Scandinavia) [4 of 4]

Premieres

All the President’s Men, by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (True Crime; 1974)

The Apartment (Film; 1960)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Animated Film; 2001)

Bao (Pixar Cartoon; 2018)

Batman Begins (Film; 2005)

Blackadder (UK TV Series; 1983)

Bleach, by Nirvana (Album; 1989)

A Bridge Too Far (Film; 1977)

Bull Durham (Film; 1988)

Cock-A-Doddle Deux Deux (The Inspector Cartoon; 1966)

Dick Tracy (Film; 1990)

The Dirty Dozen (Film; 1967)

Double-Cross-Country Race (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1951)

Duran Duran, by Duran Duran (Album; 1981)

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Film; 2007)

The Gifts of the Jews, by Thomas Cahill (History Book; 1998)

Gravity Falls (Animated TV Series; 2012)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Film; 1990)

Heartburn, by Nora Ephron (Novel; 1983)

Hercules (Animated Film; 1997)

The Hick Chick (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1946)

Holiday (Film; 1938)

Home is Somewhere Else (Animated Film; 2022)

Hungarian Goulash (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

The Incredibles 2 (Animated Pixar Film; 2018)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, by Jack Finney (Novel; 1955)

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Film; 2001)

Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye (Song; 1973)

Like a Rolling Stone, recorded by Bob Dylan (Song; 1965)

The Lion King (Animated Disney Film; 1994)

Little ’Tinker (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1948)

Medal of Honor, by Allen Mikaelian (History Book; 2002)

The Offspring, by The Offspring (Album; 1989)

Operation Sawdust (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1953)

Pink Pull (Pink Panther Theatrical Cartoon; 1979)

Pyramids, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1989) [Discworld #7]

Rendezvous with Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke (Novel; 1973)

Rocky II (Film; 1979)

Russian Doll (Film; 2001)

Slow But Sure (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Star Wars: Conviction, by Aaron Allston (Novel; 2011)

Summertime (Ub Iwerks ComiColor Cartoon; 1935)

Supernatural, by Santana (Album; 1999)

Tag (Film; 20189)

Unknown Pleasures, by Joy Division (Album; 1979)

Wax Works (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1934)

Woodpecker in the Moon (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1959)

Yesterday and Today, boy The Beatles (Album; 1966)

Today’s Name Days

Gebhard, Lothar, Veit (Austria)

Čedomil, Toma, Vid, Vito (Croatia)

Vít (Czech Republic)

Vitus (Denmark)

Guido, Kuido, Viido, Viit (Estonia)

Moona, Viena, Vieno (Finland)

Germaine (France)

Bernhard, Gebhard, Lothar, Veit (Germany)

Afgoustinos, Avgousta, Ieronymos, Livyi, Monica, Ortansia (Greece)

Ariana, Jolán, Vid (Hungary)

Enrica, Everardo, Germana, Modesto, Vito (Italy)

Banuta, Benno, Vilija, Zermena (Latvia)

Bargailė, Krescencija, Tanvilas, Vitas (Lithuania)

Vigdis, Viggo (Norway)

Abraham, Angelina, Bernard, Jolanta, Leona, Leonida, Nikifor, Wit, Witold, Witołd, Witolda, Witosław, Wodzisław (Poland)

Amos (România)

Vít (Slovakia)

Benilde, María, Micaela (Spain)

Margit, Margot (Sweden)

Krystentia (Ukraine)

Alice, Alicia, Alisa, Alisha, Alison, Alissa Allie, Allison, Allyson, Alyce, Alyse, Alysha, Alysia, Alyson, Alyssa, German, Germain, Germaine, Jermaine, Vidal, Vito (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 167 of 2024; 199 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 24 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 10 (Geng-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 9 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 8 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 17 Blue; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 2 June 2024

Moon: 65%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 26 St. Paul (6th Month) [Bourdaloue]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 89 of 92)

Week: 3rd Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 26 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.15

Holidays

Arbor Day (Costa Rica)

Cagayan de Oro Charter Day

Corban Bairam Day (Sudan)

DACA Anniversary Day

Day of Valdemar (Denmark)

Dia del Arbol (Costa Rica)

Engineer’s Day (Italy)

Festival of Neon Decadence

Fire Service Workers’ Day (Kyrgyzstan)

Flag Day (Armenia, Denmark)

Fly a Kite Day

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed Day

Global Wind Day

Husband Caregiver Day

International Day of Latex

International FrontRunners Day

International Justice Day for Cleaners & Security Guards

International Level Crossing Awareness Day

International Women in Mining Day

International Working Animals Day

Irish AIDS Day (Ireland)

Justice for Janitors Day

King Valdemar’s Day (Denmark)

Kiss a Wookiee Day

LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Day 2022 ( website )

Lion King Day

Magna Carta Day (UK)

Mangaia Gospel Day (Cook Islands)

National Book Day (Argentina)

National Bug Busting Day (UK)

National Electricity Day

National Foam Party Day

National License Plate Frame Day

National Man Day

National Marina Day

National Megalodon Day

National Salvation Day (Azerbaijan)

Native American Citizenship Day

Nature Photography Day

Raja Sankranti (Odisha, India)

Rice Seedlings Transplant Day (Korea)

Separation Day (Delaware)

615 Day

Smile Power Day

Sneak a Kiss Day

Spill the Salt Day

Thisbe Asteroid Day

Verbena Day (French Republic)

Vulcanized Rubber Day

World Dengue Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (UN)

World Meat Free Day

World Snail Day

Worldwide Day of Giving

YMA Day (Mizoram, India)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Key West Conch Fritter Day

National Beer Day (a.k.a. Beer Day Britain; UK)

National Big Boy Day

National Knish Day

National Lobster Day [unofficial, also 9.25]

National Papaya Day

National Prune Day

Pork Rind Day (Peru)

Potatoe Day

Independence & Related Days

Arkansas Statehood Day (#25; 1836)

Cagayan de Pro City Charter Day (Philippines)

National Salvation Day (Azerbaijan)

Opol Day (Philippines)

Pinang (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Reunion Day (Denmark)

Valdemar Day (Denmark)

3rd Saturday in June

Badger Day [3rd Saturday]

Bawming of the Thorn (Appleton Thorn, England) [3rd Saturday]

Dog Dad’s Day [3rd Saturday]

Father’s Eve [3rd Saturday]

International Day of the Swimming Pond [3rd Saturday]

International Surfing Day [3rd Saturday]

Madam Lou Bunch Day (Old Flop House Celebration & Bed Race; Colorado) [3rd Saturday]

Mermaid Parade (Brooklyn, New York) [3rd Saturday]

National Dog Dad Day [3rd Saturday]

National Hollerin' Contest (Spivey's Corner, NC) [3rd Saturday]

Polar Bear Swim (Nome, Alaska) [Saturday closest to 21st]

Saturday of Souls, Second (Eastern Orthodox)

Solennität (Switzerland) [Saturday closest to 22nd]

World Juggling Day [Saturday closest to 6.17]

World Martini Day [3rd Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 16 (3rd Full Week)

Northern Arizona Monsoon Season (thru 9.30)

Festivals Beginning June 15, 2024

Alabama Blueberry Festival (Brewton, Alabama)

Arcata Bay Oyster Festival (Arcata, California)

Beer and BBQ Stroll (Westminster, Maryland)

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Jacksonville, Florida)

Brews on the Bricks (Hays, Kansas)

Cajun Fest (Purcellville, Virginia)

Clayton BBQ & Brews Festival (Clayton, California)

Colorado Renaissance Festival (Larkspur, Colorado) [thru 8.4]

The Freshtival (Rohnert Park, California)

Hampton County Watermelon Festival (Hampton, South Carolina) [thru 6.22]

Highland Realm Blueberry Farm Bash (Hampshire, Mississippi)

International Vinegar Festival (Roslyn, South Dakota)

Lake Dillon Beer Fest (Dillon, Colorado)

Monterey Wine Festival (Monterey, California) [thru 6.16]

Mumbai International Film Festival (Mumbai, India) [thru 6.21]

Nashoba Rock N Brewfest (Lancaster, Massachusetts)

North Beach Festival (San Francisco, California) [thru 6.16]

Oink & Ale (Leaksville, North Carolina)

Ojai Wine Festival (Ojai, California)

Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days (Pleasant Grove, Utah) [thru 6.23]

RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival (Bell Buckle, Tennessee)

Sip-N-Shop Wine Walk (Eagle River, Wisconsin)

Slocomb Tomato Festival (Slocomb, Alabama)

Squeal On The Eel (Logansport, Indiana)

St. Louis Bourbon & Brews Festival (St. Louis, Missouri)

StrawberryFest (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin)

Strawberry Festival (Middlefield, Connecticut)

Summer Brew Fest (Denver, Colorado)

Sun BBQFest (Uncasville, Connecticut) [thru 6.16]

Taste of Chicago Rogers Park (Chicago, Illinois)

Taste of Redwood Valley (Calpella, California)

Trooping the Colour (London, UK)

Venice International Theater Festival [Biennale Teatro] (Schwarzenberg, Austria) [thru 6.23]

Wine and Vine Fest (Nicholasville, Kentucky)

Wine Time at the Colony (Saxonburgh, Pennsylvania)

Feast Days

Abraham of Clermont (or of St Cyriacus; Christian; Saint)

Albertina Berkenbrock, Blessed (Christian; Saint)

Alice (a.k.a. Adelaide or Aleydia) of Schaerbeek (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Augustine of Hippo (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Bad Joke Day (Pastafarian)

Bardo (Christian; Saint)

Bernard of Menthon (Christian; Saint)

Bourdaloue (Positivist; Saint)

Brian Jacques (Writerism)

Clement Vismara (Christian; Blessed)

Crescentia, Modestus, and Vitus (Christian; Martyrs)

Daisy Spell for Overcoming Indecision Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Edburga of Winchester (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Evelyn Underhill (Church of England and The Episcopal Church)

Germaine Cousin of Pibrac (Christian; Saint)

Gregory Lewis Barbadigo, Cardinal Bishop of Padua (Christian; Saint)

Guan Sheng Di Jun Dan (Taoism)

Halum (Muppetism)

Hesychius (Christian; Martyr)

Howard Hughes Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Hugo Pratt (Artology)

Landelin (of Crespin or of Lobbes; Christian; Saint)

Media Ver IX (Pagan)

Modesto’s and Crescentia (Christian; Martyrs)

Neal Adams (Artology)

Nicolas Poussin (Artology)

Orsiesius (Christian; Saint)

Pearl the Pika (Muppetism)

Rising of the Nile Day (Ancient Egypt)

Saul Steinberg (Artology)

Tatian Dulas (Christian; Martyr)

Trillo (Christian; Saint)

Vance A. Larson (Artology)

Vaughe (a.k.a. Vorech), Hermit of Cornwall (Christian; Saint)

Vestalia ends (Ancient Rome)

Vitus (a.k.a. Guy; Christian; Martyr) [Czech Republic]

Vladimir (Christian; Saint)

Islamic Lunar Holidays

Day of Arafah [8-9 Dhu al-Hijjah] (Islamic) a.k.a. ... 

Arafat Day (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, UAE)

Wakfet Arafat (Egypt)

Youm Arafat (Djibouti)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fatal Day (Pagan) [12 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [23 of 53]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [20 of 32]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Tycho Brahe Lucky Day (Scandinavia) [4 of 4]

Premieres

All the President’s Men, by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (True Crime; 1974)

The Apartment (Film; 1960)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Animated Film; 2001)

Bao (Pixar Cartoon; 2018)

Batman Begins (Film; 2005)

Blackadder (UK TV Series; 1983)

Bleach, by Nirvana (Album; 1989)

A Bridge Too Far (Film; 1977)

Bull Durham (Film; 1988)

Cock-A-Doddle Deux Deux (The Inspector Cartoon; 1966)

Dick Tracy (Film; 1990)

The Dirty Dozen (Film; 1967)

Double-Cross-Country Race (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1951)

Duran Duran, by Duran Duran (Album; 1981)

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Film; 2007)

The Gifts of the Jews, by Thomas Cahill (History Book; 1998)

Gravity Falls (Animated TV Series; 2012)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Film; 1990)

Heartburn, by Nora Ephron (Novel; 1983)

Hercules (Animated Film; 1997)

The Hick Chick (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1946)

Holiday (Film; 1938)

Home is Somewhere Else (Animated Film; 2022)

Hungarian Goulash (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

The Incredibles 2 (Animated Pixar Film; 2018)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, by Jack Finney (Novel; 1955)

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Film; 2001)

Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye (Song; 1973)

Like a Rolling Stone, recorded by Bob Dylan (Song; 1965)

The Lion King (Animated Disney Film; 1994)

Little ’Tinker (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1948)

Medal of Honor, by Allen Mikaelian (History Book; 2002)

The Offspring, by The Offspring (Album; 1989)

Operation Sawdust (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1953)

Pink Pull (Pink Panther Theatrical Cartoon; 1979)

Pyramids, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1989) [Discworld #7]

Rendezvous with Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke (Novel; 1973)

Rocky II (Film; 1979)

Russian Doll (Film; 2001)

Slow But Sure (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Star Wars: Conviction, by Aaron Allston (Novel; 2011)

Summertime (Ub Iwerks ComiColor Cartoon; 1935)

Supernatural, by Santana (Album; 1999)

Tag (Film; 20189)

Unknown Pleasures, by Joy Division (Album; 1979)

Wax Works (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1934)

Woodpecker in the Moon (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1959)

Yesterday and Today, boy The Beatles (Album; 1966)

Today’s Name Days

Gebhard, Lothar, Veit (Austria)

Čedomil, Toma, Vid, Vito (Croatia)

Vít (Czech Republic)

Vitus (Denmark)

Guido, Kuido, Viido, Viit (Estonia)

Moona, Viena, Vieno (Finland)

Germaine (France)

Bernhard, Gebhard, Lothar, Veit (Germany)

Afgoustinos, Avgousta, Ieronymos, Livyi, Monica, Ortansia (Greece)

Ariana, Jolán, Vid (Hungary)

Enrica, Everardo, Germana, Modesto, Vito (Italy)

Banuta, Benno, Vilija, Zermena (Latvia)

Bargailė, Krescencija, Tanvilas, Vitas (Lithuania)

Vigdis, Viggo (Norway)

Abraham, Angelina, Bernard, Jolanta, Leona, Leonida, Nikifor, Wit, Witold, Witołd, Witolda, Witosław, Wodzisław (Poland)

Amos (România)

Vít (Slovakia)

Benilde, María, Micaela (Spain)

Margit, Margot (Sweden)

Krystentia (Ukraine)

Alice, Alicia, Alisa, Alisha, Alison, Alissa Allie, Allison, Allyson, Alyce, Alyse, Alysha, Alysia, Alyson, Alyssa, German, Germain, Germaine, Jermaine, Vidal, Vito (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 167 of 2024; 199 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 24 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 10 (Geng-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 9 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 8 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 17 Blue; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 2 June 2024

Moon: 65%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 26 St. Paul (6th Month) [Bourdaloue]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 89 of 92)

Week: 3rd Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 26 of 31)

[urbannunxue]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Natural Himalayan Salt Cooking Block 8” x 8” x 1.5” Newport box but never used.

[naturecoaster]

Richloam General Store

In the tiny town of Richloam, population 12,000, sits Richloam General Store. A true piece of American History that has endured since the early 20th century. Richloam General Store on the eastern edge of Florida’s Adventure Coast, Brooksville-Weeki Wachee was founded and built by Sidney Brinson. The building served as the Express office, the Post Office, and the general store for the community of Richloam, which was founded as a turpentine camp, but was converted during the 1920s Florida land boom into farmland. The building was constructed in 1928 after the settlement’s former general store burned to the ground. Its metal siding was a conscious design decision to prevent future fires. The Richloam General Store was the short-lived settlement’s only general store and post office, and it provides a tangible connection to a long-gone community. In 2016 – Brinson’s nephew, and now current owner, Eric Burkes, decided to renovate the store, using as much of the original building materials as possible, including original sheet metal for the walls, various signs, and some of the bricks. A visit today reveals many messages of yesteryear scrawled on the walls themselves. The front porch has several rocking chairs where you can sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding forest, enjoy an ice-cream cone, or even a homemade root beer, sweetened with Richloam honey. From the moment you walk through the front door, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Of course, you can’t visit a general store without looking at the many items on the shelves themselves. The Richloam General Store stays true to the time period and offers goods you would have seen in the 20s and 30s; items you won’t necessarily see in today’s grocery stores. Jams and jellies, sauces, local honey, salt-cured meat, and jars of candy all offer up a taste of life in simpler times. They even have a small ice cream parlor! The only modern item for sale in the store is the family’s BBQ sauce, made from the secret recipe of Burkes’ late father, Big John. Richloam General Store and Posted Office was placed on the National Register for Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on October 12, 2017. The Richloam General Store company is still family owned and operated. Eric’s plans include restoring the train depot and eventually, the entire community of Richloam. For those who enjoy cruising or motorcycle touring on Florida’s Adventure Coast, Richloam General Store is the perfect stop along your journey. Enjoy a root beer, an ice-cream cone or pick up some BBQ sauce and set a spell on the porch. A must-see on Florida’s Adventure Coast, Richloam General is located at 38219 Richloam Clay Sink Rd., Webster, FL 33597. They can be reached by phone at (800) 915-8027. For more information about Richloam General Store, visit them online at http://www.richloamstore.com/ Learn more about Florida’s Adventure Coast, Brooksville-Weeki Wachee, by visiting https://floridasadventurecoast.com/ Read the full article

[fedhospitality]

The American Asado

Chapter 1 ASADO By Mercado

My earliest memories of the Asado can be traced back to long car rides with my parents and sisters in our red two-door ‘92 Honda Civic EX from the Bronx to a distant land called Pennsylvania. We would get out of the car with the excitement of knowing that we would be outdoors all day amongst who we thought were distant cousins and other ancient ancestors. Surrounded by outdoor games and the smells of the open wood fire slow roasting a giant pig aka lechon while a large grill pit turned out countless burgers and sausages and chicken. Those family parties were my first exposure to one of the longest loves I have had in my life, the love for wood-fired food. 

In this chapter I will take you on a trip around the fire with recipes from my smoke-filled journey. I will guide you through the many variations of the wood fired experience, from grouper fish grilled on the fiery sunset beaches of Aruba to jerk chicken served in aluminum foil at a Caribbean roadside restaurant. When the smoke clears I will have you hanging whole chickens off of a hand built Asado rig and slow roasting vegetables whole over simmering coals. 

Do regular people even do things like this? What does it take to become your own personal pitmaster? I know not everyone is going to weld their own cross pipes and cut an old oil drum in half to make a burn barrel. You may not want to walk three miles into the woods with frozen meat strapped to your back and tools essential to survive a winter night! Some of you reading this may not have access to the beach, but I assure you, if you get yourself a Weber grill or you have the means to build yourself the ultimate brick parrilla, these recipes are perfect as long as you have one key ingredient: 

What is an Asado? 

The Asado is an art form that has been perfected over centuries in South America, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay. Translated roughly as “barbeque” in English, the Asado is much more than just cooking meat over an open fire. Rather, the Asado is a cultural and culinary phenomenon that has had a significant impact on American open fire BBQ.

One of the key elements of the Asado is the use of wood, specifically hardwoods such as oak, mesquite, or eucalyptus. Wood is used to create a bed of embers that provides the heat for cooking. The hardwoods also impart a distinct smoky flavor to the meat, which is highly prized by Asado connoisseurs. Similarly, American BBQ enthusiasts have begun to use hardwoods more frequently in their cooking, recognizing the benefits of the flavor and heat provided.

Another key element of the Asado is the preparation of the meat. Unlike American BBQ, which favors large cuts of meat like brisket or pork shoulder, the Asado traditionally features smaller cuts, including sausages, short ribs, flank steak, and sweetbreads. The meat is seasoned very simply, with just salt and sometimes a sprinkle of oregano. Rather than a long, slow cooking process, the meat is cooked relatively quickly, with the focus on achieving a perfectly charred exterior and juicy interior. This approach to meat preparation has influenced American BBQ, with many pitmasters now incorporating smaller cuts of meat into their menus and focusing on precise cooking times to achieve perfect results.

I feel that bringing the American Asado to life is the perfect marriage between low and slow and high heat and char. They both embody simplicity in its cooking approach and both harness the power of hard wood. 

I have strong feelings that even making wood fired pizza in a wood burning oven is a form of the Asado bbq concept and is a way that the Italian culture can have yet another direct correlation to the Argentinian and South American traditions. 

Perhaps the most significant impact of the Asado on American BBQ is the emphasis on community and hospitality. The Asado is a social event that brings family and friends together to share in the cooking and enjoyment of food. Asado hosts take great pride in providing a warm welcome to their guests and creating a convivial, relaxed atmosphere. Similarly, American BBQ pits have become more than just a place to cook and eat food – they are destinations that create a sense of community and camaraderie among guests and pitmasters alike.

In conclusion, the art of the Asado has had a significant impact on American open fire BBQ. The use of hardwoods for flavor and heat, the preparation of smaller cuts of meat with simple seasoning, and the emphasis on community and hospitality are all elements that have been absorbed and adapted by American BBQ enthusiasts. While the techniques and traditions of the Asado may have originated in South America, they have been embraced and expanded upon in the United States and have helped to shape the rich and diverse landscape of American BBQ today.

Caribbean Beach Party Food

The Essentials

BBQ pit (Gas or Charcoal)

Cast Iron Skillets and Plancha

Skewers

Ice-Box with Ice

Beach Chairs

Beach Blankets

Tent

Heavy Flatware and Utensils

Headlamp/Flashlight

Towels

Bug Repellant

Design

Canvas Tent

Tiki Torches

BonFire

Entertainment

Car Stereo (make sure you don't drain the battery)

Guitar

Get Drunk and Sing

Beach Speaker

It's about 6 pm and the sun is getting ready to set on the western shore of Oranjestad and my 6’6” second generation Dutch friend who we’ll call “The Mayor” is cracking open a beer and reaching for the joint to celebrate his awesome run on the kite board. I'm with a group of six locals and a handful of experienced tourists who consider themselves local while in town. Most of them Kite surfers! As I do in every country I’m in or every trip I’m on; I either assume the role of the DJ or the role of the cook. This instance I am both. My mix cd “Seasons Volume 2” is blasting from “The Mayor's” car cd player and I am hovered over the beach grill cooking up our beach feast. Here's some of the recipes I like to break out over an open fire in the sand with a cold Amstel Bright, and I’ll also give you the tips to making the ultimate Beach BBQ

Grilled Grouper Tacos

Pork Schnitzel Plancha

Rocket Stove Jerk Chicken Sammy

Cashew Cake in foil

The Campfire

Essentials

Axe

Camp Stove

Fire Starter

Dutch Oven

Knife

6qt Pot

Cast Iron

Cutting Board

Entertainment

Whiskey

Cards

Book 

Design

Tent/Hammock

Lantern

Blanket

Camp Chairs

This wouldn't be an essay written by me if I didn't mention my love for cooking and eating outdoors in the woods. Ever since that inaugural trip to the finger lakes with my church youth group where we foraged & dug up our own mussels then cooked with butter over our campfire. That was just the beginning of my obsession with building a fire in the middle of nowhere and feeding myself with its flame.Ive designed entire Pop up concepts around this experience and I've gotten a chance to Hike and camp in a variety of scenarios and situations in hopes of challenging myself to a creating a gourmet meal in the woods. Here are some of my campfire fare’s.  

Finger Lake Mussels

Spit Roasted Duck

River Water Turkey Stew

Skillet Tart

Autumn Asado

It's a long day which usually begins a cool 8 hours before anyone even eats a bite at the fall decorated table. An Asado is a labor of love that is a full outdoor immersive experience. Once the fires start and the smoke begins to billow, it's up to the wind to decide where you tango around your hand built steel rigs. Yet There is nothing that compares to the north east foliage as a backdrop with 40 eager guests gathered around a massive fire while a team of 6 move around wood fired grills like synchronized dancers. Everything cooked over burning logs and given just a kiss of smoke. Whole Chickens and Snapper Fish hanging on a soaked butcher twine over a steel drum with fire hot enough to keep your hand over the grill for 10 whole seconds. 6 would be too hot. The asado is all about heat control and I’ll admit that it takes a bit of theatrics to achieve the perfect plate.

It wouldn't be a theater without a cast and crew and that's the other essential ingredient to any successful Asado. THE PEOPLE, the help! Everyone has a mission and a job that is synchronized around time and balanced with heat and smoke. Having a consistent ensamble to put on this flame filled cabaret makes the experience that much better. 



[saltbricksandtiles]

Himalayan Salt Cooking Block to try new recipees

[mitchamsocialuser]

Wood Fired BBQ Chicken Pizza

Sweet and smoky BBQ sauce, tender chicken, zesty red onion, fresh cilantro and precious smoky Gouda cheese elevate this homemade pizza to restaurant deliciousness.

It’s a quick and easy meal that you can make at home for your family anytime! The dough is ready to roll, the sauce is made ahead and the toppings can be thrown together in minutes.

Dough

If you love smoked meat, then you’re going to want to make this wood fired bbq chicken pizza. It’s the perfect way to repurpose your leftover grilled meat, and it makes a great dinner!

This BBQ chicken pizza has tangy sauce, tender roasted chicken, gooey cheese and caramelized onions on top of a NY-style crust. It’s so much better than any frozen pizza, and it’s easy to make!

Start by making the dough. Mix together the yeast with water, then add the remaining ingredients and knead until a smooth, elastic dough is formed. If the dough seems a little sticky, add more flour.

Once the dough is ready, shape it into a 12-inch circle and let it rest. You can also use a rolling pin to stretch it into a thin crust.

Once the dough is done, grill it on the grate of your grill over direct heat until the bottom is browned and bubbles are rising. Rotate the crust every 20 seconds to ensure even baking.

Sauce

Sweet, tangy, and smoky BBQ sauce is the perfect base for juicy chicken, zesty red onions, buttery mozzarella and a hint of Gouda cheese. It’s a classic combination that is a must have on any restaurant menu.

Homemade dough makes this pizza super easy and quick — it’s even easier to make than a frozen pizza! You can even use leftover shredded chicken to make this recipe!

This pizza is also great to make ahead and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook it up. It’s so easy and delicious — it’ll quickly become your new favorite dinner!

For added flavor, I always recommend using FRESHLY GRATED cheese on my pizzas (NOT pre-shredded). This saves money and is MUCH better than bagged shredded cheese as it melts beautifully and stays fresh longer.

Toppings

Tangy barbecue sauce, shredded chicken, and plenty of cheese melted atop a perfectly chewy pizza crust.

To make this grilled chicken and cheese masterpiece, start by seasoning one chicken breast with a good ol’ sprinkle of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Grill it over direct heat until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Finish the job with a smattering of red pesto, fresh mozarella, and sliced cherry tomatoes, topped with a healthy dose of fresh basil leaves.

Topping a pizza on the grill is not just a cinch, but it also proves that you can make a quality pizza in a fraction of the time it would take to order out. If you’re looking for a new way to impress your guests or simply want to add a bit of a gourmet twist to your backyard cookout, we recommend checking out our wood fired pizza oven giveaway! You can enter to win it by texting DaVinci to 73876.

Cooking

The cooking process of this pizza is similar to that of most barbecue pizzas — except with the added bonus of a smoky, tender crust and gooey, ultra cheesy mozzarella! It’s a delicious treat for your family that they will love.

You can make this pizza on a wood fired BBQ or an oven. If you want to cook it on a grill, preheat the barbecue to 550 to 600 degF (288 to 316 degC).

For an even heat, use bricks around your barbecue before preheating it. This will give you a more even temperature that will cook the pizza evenly.

When preparing your dough, use wholemeal flours or fine cornmeal. These will add a more protein-rich texture and also help the dough cook through more quickly.

[himalayansaltlicks]

Himalayan Salt Rock For Grilling Plate BBQ and Cooking — Perfect Gift For Your Loved Ones | Equi Style

Himalayan salt block is absolutely beneficial and important for cooking which is like to table salt but contains slightly more minerals, such as potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. These additional minerals give Himalayan salt its distinctive pinkish flavor and color. The pieces are removed and cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. Because it retains high heat for a long time, the end result can be heated on a broiler or burner and used for cooking. Himalayan salt blocks are also an attractive source for a variety of hot or cold dishes.

It Makes Food Healthy and Delicious

Himalayan salt rock for grilling is an entire pack when it comes to nutrition refreshments. If you try to prepare your food in the Himalayan salt rock, all the supplements present within that block will carry over to your food. This will make the food considerably better and delicious. The harmful portions that move from the metal pan are reduced.

Add Healthful Minerals to Your Meal

This natural Himalayan salt is an exceptionally incredible source of magnesium and other needed nutrition. It helps regulate water content throughout the body, improving the balance of cells especially brain cells, and increasing solid glucose levels. The measurements of these minerals in Himalayan pink salt are extremely small. Himalayan pink salt contains some minerals that are not found in standard salt. However, these minerals are found in exceptionally small amounts and are unlikely to provide health benefits.

Enrich the Flavor of Foods

Whenever you decide to cook on a Himalayan salt plate, it will give your meals surprising flavor due to its mineral substance. This pink cooking salt block have incredible heat appropriation, which reduces cooking time and can make your dish so delicious. It can also give your dishes an interesting surface.

Perfect For Serving Platter

With the passage of time salt slabs made from Himalayan salt are becoming a completely innovative way to prepare and serve food. Salt rocks can be served as a serving block and can be used to mix a mild spicy touch into any dish. It has a pinkish-orange tint and lovely shade can make your food suitable and fit when placed over a block of salt. Start using low heat, at that point gradually increase the temperature of the rock. Himalayan salt blocks can be utilized on burners, barbecues and as well as for grilling.

Natural & Pure Salt

Himalayan salt is one of the best natural and pure salt for cooking because it confer a lot of health benefits. This salt is excellent to improve blood flow, breathing inability and maintain blood sugar in the body.

[simonalkenmayer]

Can you please recommend what to BBQ for a vegetarian? Is there any special way to BBQ? We will be cooking some steak also. I don't really have much experience. Thank you

Hmm vegetarian barbecue is actually relatively easy. I’ve never much cared for any of the proteins that vegetarians use, like tofu. I prefer mushroom steaks.

One thing I will say is, if you barbecue vegetarian food, do it on a salt block. No joke. Go to the local live stock animal store and get a plain slab of pink salt. A brick is usually pretty cheap. Put it in the oven on the lowest temp and then increase in increments every twenty minutes or so. Then carefully transfer it to the barbecue and use it like a griddle. Perfectly seasons it. You can also cook meat on the brick, but get a different one so no contamination happens.

Anyway, eh…a lot of factors come into play when cooking like that. Is it propane? Coal? Wood?

My typical advice for any barbecued thing is: marinate it over night in a nice sauce like soy sauce or some sort of concoction. Salt, acid, herbs and spices. Then dry it, dry season it, and let it sit, coming up to room temp. THEN barbecue. If it’s meat, massage it while it’s inside the marinade (use a big ziplock bag) as this will produce soft meat.

I would need to know what type of barbecue, meat, veg, and so on, before I can advise any further.

[sk-hpsb]

This Item has a Metal Tray included.

This salt cooking plate is made by shaping pure Himalayan pink salt in the form of a broad rectangular slab.

It is a little broad in height as compared to common salt cooking plates which prevent food from overcooking fast.

It is ideal for cutting, grilling, baking, and serving a variety of food including meats, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, scones, and baked goods.

It spreads heat evenly throughout the surface of the plate and cooks food in relatively less time.

Himalayan salt cooking plate transfers all of its nutrients and healing properties.

It has user-friendly dimensions of 12'' (L) x 8'' (W) x 1'' (H).

It weighs just 11 pounds in total with metal tray.

Free shipping is available on this pack

[cluecrewcookin]

Recipe #108 - Baked Mac & Cheese

Ah, it feels good to be cooking again. I really thought I'd be doing it all the time when I got out of school, but it's tough. You really need to plan your whole day around a recipe sometimes, especially if you're going to document the process. Anyway, enough of my whining: mac & cheese!

As I said in my other post, this is some DENSE mac and cheese. Since GTH is a southern-based game I wanted to make sure I was using an authentically southern recipe. The one I ended up choosing (source below) was intriguing because of the essay attached to the recipe. It breaks down why each component is important and why YES you do need to use 5 different cheeses, apparently.

I found this recipe kind of disappointing from both a texture and flavor perspective. Since it's casserole style, each serving was like a brick of pasta (almost like lasagna) and the cheese just didn't have that sharp kick. It could potentially be improved with more spices, but I couldn't really pin-point what kind. If anyone has any baked mac & cheese tips, I'd love to hear them. One thing I was hoping for, that I didn't achieve, was that "crust" that forms on some cheesy dishes and adds some crisp to the dish.

Recipe:

Here is my source

-16 oz elbow macaroni, uncooked

-8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

-8 oz colby jack cheese, shredded

-8 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

-8 oz American cheese, cubed

-4 oz cream cheese, cubed

-1 cup half and half

-1 cup heavy cream

-Salt and pepper

-½ tsp Smoked paprika

-1-2 tsp garlic powder

-1 tsp onion powder

-¼ tsp mustard powder

-2 large eggs

Whenever I go to BBQ places and get mac & cheese as a side, it's usually pretty bland too, so maybe it's supposed to be? Or maybe I just need to go to better BBQ restaurants. Ah well! Until next time, y'all.

[unwritrecipes]

French Silk Pie Bars

This weekend, before one of my nieces who is a confirmed chocoholic and pudding pie lover, embarked on a very outdoorsy wilderness adventure tour, I decided the girl could not be expected to tramp through the woods without a serious pre-trip chocolate indulgence, and thus, these French Silk Pie Bars. What’s a dessert-obsessed aunt to do?!!

If you’ve never had French Silk Pie before you should know that it’s basically like a chocolate pudding pie but with a more mousse-like filling which you achieve by folding whipped cream into the custard. Many versions contain raw eggs, but not this one, so no worries here. Oh, and there’s a flaky pie crust and mounds and mounds of whipped cream topping, so YUM!!!!

These bars are exactly like the pie except in cute little individual portions which make them just perfect for spoiling hiking nieces or serving at your upcoming bbq’s (these would be a major hit at any July 4th celebration, I guarantee!!)

And while they may not be the simplest of desserts to prepare, no one part is difficult and you can definitely prepare the separate components a day ahead and then just assemble the bars a few hours before serving.

So let’s get started: First up, an all-butter, make-in-the-electric-mixer pie crust which eventually gets rolled into a 9x13-inch baking pan and pre-baked.

Next: That silky chocolate filling

Which ultimately gets even silkier because you fold a generous amount of whipped cream into it.

Now we spread it into the baked crust.

And follow it up with a sweet and fluffy cream cheese/whipped cream mixture layer topped with little chocolate shavings.

Guys, these are seriously amazing! I mean, how could they not be, right?!! Every bite is luscious, decadent and oh so satisfyingly chocolate!

Dreamy!!

Full disclosure—since I first wrote this post my little chocoholic hiker got sick and had to come home but I swear it wasn’t cause of these bars!! In fact, I have the feeling I’ll be delivering another batch in the very near future!!

French Silk Pie Bars

Makes about 16-20 bars, depending on how large you cut them

You will need a ¼ sheet pan for this.

Prep Time for Crust: 20 minutes; Bake Time for Crust: 25-30 minutes; Prep Time for Filling: 20 minutes; Prep Time for Cream Topping: 5-7 minutes, plus pie needs to chill at least 1 hour before cutting

Ingredients

For the crust

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces and chilled in the freezer for 10 minutes

1 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus a little extra for rolling out dough

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup ice water

For the filling

7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

4 large eggs, room temperature

¾ cup sugar

¼ dark brown sugar, packed

¼ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons water, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature and cut into 8 pieces

½ cup heavy cream

For the Cream topping

4 ounces brick cream cheese, room temperature (½ block)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

2 cups heavy cream

Chocolate shavings for garnish (optional)

The Recipe

1. To make the pie crust: Preheat oven to 375ºF. Use an electric mixer on low speed to combine the flour, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Add 1/2 of the cold butter and mix on low speed for about 1 minute until the butter starts to break down. Add the rest of the butter and mix until most of the butter is pea-sized (it’s ok if there are still some larger pieces) and there are not huge amounts of dry flour unmixed. Add the ice water in slowly and mix on low-speed just until a shaggy dough begins to form. If you pinch a handful, it should basically stay together—try to resist the urge to overmix.

2. Flour a board or clean counter and dump the dough, along with all the crumbly bits onto it. Form the dough into a rough square. Now fold the side furthest from you over onto itself, so you are essentially folding the dough in half. Flatten it back into a square and repeat the whole process three more times. After the last fold, flatten the dough into a rough rectangle and roll the dough with a floured pin into a little larger than a 9 x13-inch rectangle. Transfer the dough to the ¼ sheet pan, gently pressing into the corners and up the sides. Fold over any overhang. Line with a piece of parchment paper and top with dried beans or pie weights.

3. Bake the dough for 20 minutes, then remove the parchment paper and weights and return the crust to the oven for another 5-7 minutes until it looks golden brown. Let the crust cool completely on a wire rack. You could also make this a day ahead and store well-wrapped in the fridge.

4. To make the filling: While the crust is baking, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring well between each zap, until chocolate is melted and completely smooth. Set aside to cool.

5. Fill a medium saucepan with about an inch of water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, in the bowl of your stand mixer (or another large bowl that would fit over the saucepan) use a rubber spatula to stir together the eggs, both sugars, salt and water. Place the bowl of the boiling water making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Stir the mixture with the spatula until the sugar is completely melted and the temperature of the mixture is about 160ºF. Make sure you stir constantly and scrape the sides of the bowl so that eggs do not scramble. Watch carefully.

6. Transfer the bowl to the stand and fit on the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for 8-10 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy and the outside of the bowl is cool to the touch. Switch to the paddle attachment and add the melted chocolate and vanilla, beating on low speed, until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixture on medium speed, add in a few pieces of the butter at a time, beating them in until completely incorporated before adding the rest. Scrape the mixture into a separate bowl. Now you can either proceed and make the rest of pie or cover the bowl with a piece of plastic wrap and chill the mixture for up to one day.

7. When you are ready to assemble the pie. beat the ½ cup heavy cream in a clean bowl with clean beaters for about 30 seconds on low speed, then beat on high until it is thick and smooth and doubled in volume but not stiff. Use a rubber spatula to fold the cream into the chocolate mixture. Scrape it into the crust and smooth into an even layer.

8. To make the cream topping: Attach the whisk attachment and in a clean bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until it’s smooth. Add in the sugar, vanilla and salt and beat on low speed, scraping down the bowl, then turning it to medium and beating until the mixture is smooth. Scrape down the bowl and on low speed, slowly add the heavy cream. When all the cream has been added, beat on medium-high speed, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed, until stiff peaks form. Spread the cream all over the chocolate mixture in the pan and decorate with the chocolate shavings (if using). Chill the pie for at least 1 hour and up to 8 before slicing into bars and serving.

Enjoy!

Note: Recipe adapted from 100 Cookies by Sarah Keiffer—I stayed pretty true to the recipe but modified some of the techniques.