Howdy

Gee whiz, someone out there sure is extra super-duper nice. This morning, I received this really heavy box--about 30 lbs.--marked perishable (my favorite kind!). "What in the world?" I thought. My tea swap? Hmm. "Did I order something and forget about it?" Wouldn't be the first time I did that! When I opened it, everything was packed neatly in yet another box--a cold box. Hmmmmm. I then opened the styrofoam lid and the most luscious smell of BBQ came from within. It's BBQ from Texas!! (Honey, you ain't had no BBQ 'til you had Texas BBQ--especially beef brisket.)

This is from Willy Ray's in Beaumont, TX. David Rosengarten has a gastronomic newsletter (that I wasn't aware of until now) and it seems you can order this smorgasborg of Texas BBQ from them. I received a huge smoked beef brisket, a huge smoked pork should and a couple of sauces and rubs (which is completely unnecessary for either--don't need no stinkin' sauce on Texas BBQ--my Lawd!). Oh my. I am in HEAVEN! And where is the hub? Gone. On his way to Australia from Singapore. Guess I'm just going to have to invite the neighbors over for a good ol' Texas BBQ this weekend--don't know if I can wait until the 4th! Let's just say I will have to put a little bit away for his return (well, maybe).

Now for the fun part, I have NO idea who sent this. There was no information on who it is from. I have cousins in Texas, but I doubt they would send anything other than their own BBQ. (My cousin Don takes days to cook his beef brisket and boy is it the best.) The hub has a client in West Texas, but it was addressed to me. My brother likes to send me good food from time to time, but I haven't heard from him in a bit. Who else would it be? If any of you know anything about it, please let me know! I'm dying to know!! I may have to make a phone call to Willy himself and see if he knows. (Speaking of Willie, I may have to pop a Willie Nelson cd in to get the mood set.........squeeeeeeel!) I can NOT wait to open these meats and plop 'em on the grill and smell the smoke as they re-heat!

Another howdy came in yesterday when I received my Cooking with Paula Deen magazine. Woooo-hooo. And let me tell you, there are some lip-smacking recipes in this one! Just chock-full of 'em (notice my Southern drawl coming out? hehe). Take a look at this mess of green beans! (They're my favorite veggy.) Mmmm-mmmmm-good. I love good Southern cooked green beans in the 'summa' time. (I like blanched ones in the winter months.) I remember mom cooking her green beans with a little pork and tiny white potatoes forever--For-Ev-VER. They would just fall apart being scooped into a bowl. Now, that's "Southin," ya'll. I'm going to have to use some of her recipes to go with my Texas BBQ. Oooooh-weee. I can't wait! (Poor hub.)

Ok, enough salivating, back to what you were doing!