Sunday 20 October 2013

"Cracker Barrel"!

 Oh, boy. I'm a sucker for proper, country, old-school, home cooking so when I went to "Cracker Barrel that's what I got! After staying in Big Sky for a few days, it was time to again head north. It was a bit of a shame as I'm going to miss the surroundings...and that hot tub.
The view from that wonderful hot tub
 Believe it or not, snow had been forecast for the day I left. It didn't amount to anything but it was snowing! Drove up to Butte, Montana, "...singin', Lord, I was born a rambling man," (see Rascal Flatt's song, 'Me and My Gang') and then on to Missoula where the snow already lay... 
 Long drives have this tendency of making you hungry so locating a good restaurant is usually priority after checking into the motel. This evening's choice: "Cracker Barrel". I've been to a "Cracker Barrel" before when I was younger and was looking forward to going again but I just couldn't help myself but laugh when I went in. It's all Tim Hawkins' fault! Have a watch of the video above maybe after you've been for lunch.
 "What did you order?" you might ask. Well, they do this really cool mix+match deal in their menu called 'Country Dinner Plates' where they first give you a load of main dishes. You can get the regular gubbins like fried chicken and stuff but there's a good few different options, ie, Deep Fried Farm-Raised Catfish Fillets, Hickory Smoked Country Ham and Grilled Chicken Livers. You then choose two sides out of things like mash potato, coleslaw, pinto beans, cheese grits, turnip greens, corn-on-the-cob, etc. This way, you get to choose whatever combination you fancy at the time!
My delicious meal at "Cracker Barrel"!
 For a main I chose their Half-pound Chopped Steak and after having the hash browns at Granny's in Cody (see previous post 'Yellowstone National Park and Country Fried Steak') I thought that a hash brown casserole sounded delicious. It's grated cheese, onions and potato fried as a patty. Delish! When I saw that Mac 'n' Cheese was a side option, I thought, "Oh, yeah!" Don't ask me why, I just really fancied it and boy was it good too.
 My plate came with a corn muffin and a buttermilk biscuit too which they make from scratch. If you're not American and you're reading this then a biscuit in the States is much like an English dumpling in some ways. Golden, buttery, fluffy, etc, and just all around delicious. Anyhow, they're super tasty and make you want to "slap your Mama"! (See above video.)
 The service at this particular "barrel" was just fantastic. really great staff which always makes your meal nicer. Seriously, who wants to be served by a grumpy waitress/waiter? In fact, the staff were so nice that they let me have a photo in their kitchen! How cool is that?
 So, many thanks, "Cracker Barrel", another happy customer!


 P.S. I liked those biscuits so much I took some back to the motel! Where's my Mama...
Myself and the big boss, Stephen




My wonderful waitress who constantly had a huge smile
on her face




I really like biscuits!



























Back Tracking to Previous Post, "Billings, MT: Golden Corral Buffet"

 My apologies, everyone. I neglected to put in the most important picture from that post a few days ago. This is me with one of the gentleman who worked in the grill section of the buffet. 









"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 
of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Mama's Pasta and Daddy's Chilli

I could get used to this... Cheers!
 After a night in Billings, there was then a four and a bit hour drive to Big Sky Montana. The cabin I was staying was nothing short of awesome! Nearly everything was made from timber and there were moose decorated everywhere around the rooms. Even the salt and pepper and an oven glove! The kitchen was fantastic complete with an all-American fridge-freezer and gas 'stove' as they are known as over here. Beside the kitchen, however, my favourite object sat outside in the just above freezing temperatures: the hot tub. Oh, boy, I want one of these! After a day in a hot, non-stop, stressful, kitchen, you will seriously appreciate a good soak.
Isn't this the cutest oven
glove you've ever seen?
 One day while there I made a chilli with tortillas, a definite firm favourite of mine. It's my Dad's recipe which is always super popular when made. When I'm home, I'll hopefully get the recipe up here for you all. It's really easy, takes literally a few minutes and is super tasty. Bring on the Doritos!
Yep, those are salt 'n' pepper pots
 I also did my Mum's pasta and bolognese sauce. Again a very popular dish whenever served up to any age group. You can find the recipe right HERE so give it a try sometime and tell me what you think!

Seasoned with Montananinity,

Jacob





A well simmered chilli

Note the cheeky bear in the background. It's designed for
holding utensils.

Another BBQ!
A very satisfying result if I say so myself


Get the recipe HERE
Your the best, Mum!






















"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 
of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

Monday 14 October 2013

Jacob and Jamie in Canada!

Green, nice!

Hey, can I join in?
 "Jacob Shepherd, master chef, internationally acclaimed food author (and just all round 'Delicious Man') and British chef and TV presenter, Jamie Oliver, team up to bring better food to Canada!"

Well, I wish anyhow...


 No, in all seriousness, it just so happens that Jamie and I are both going to be in Canada doing the exact same thing that we both love: bringing good food to people whenever we can! Isn't that just incredible? Jamie and the grocery chain, Sobeys, have come together to hopefully make a difference to how the people of Canada look at food so I wish the very best of luck to them.



"Jamie Oliver and Sobey's Take on Canada"
Jamie: "How big is Canda anyway..." 
Me: "Ha, ha"



"Wait up, Jamie! I'm coming!"


Seasoned with Vision,

Jacob


Go, Jamie!


"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 
of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

Saturday 12 October 2013

Billings, MT: Golden Corral Buffet

Welcome to an American buffet!
 After a few days, it was time to hit the road again. This time I'm heading north up to Billings, Montana which is a few hours so some snacks are needed. Now the last time I was in the States in 2007 there were a few snacks that seemed to become standard. Ritz crackers, grapes and the infamous baby carrots. It was much hotter in 2007 as I was over during the summer months so water bottles left out of the coolbox became hot enough to stick a tea bag in. And when left in their resealable bag, baby carrots end up warm... The idea doesn't seem pleasant, I understand, but I now associate that taste with being on the road.
 So, after munching on warm baby carrots, I was ready for some proper food. I checked in to a Motel with WiFi to do some blogging but it was super frustrating as I couldn't get enough connection. Blast. But a visit to the Golden Corral buffet can fix most problems!
A medium-rare ribeye steak with breaded shrimp, veggies,
mashed potatoe with gravy, cornbread stuffing and chips
Ah, the taste of the road:
warm 'baby' carrots
 Golden Corral are a buffet chain that do nearly every type of food imaginable. Seriously: you name it, they got it! Fried chicken wings to enchiladas to fresh watermelon to Banoffee pie... Started in the 70's, there are now around 500 Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. They offer a self serve buffet system divided into sections such as the pizzeria, the grill, the salad bar and the Brass Bell Bakery which boasts some delicious treats. (I learned later that the bakery gets its name from having a brass bell chime every fifteen minutes to announce that fresh rolls, cakes, etc, had just come out of the oven.)
Stand aside, baby carrots!
 After having been to many buffets in the States when I was younger, I have come to understand that there is a method or a technique if you will as to how you plate up. I used to just walk along the buffet, piling on whatever I liked the look of until I could not physically get any more on my plate. However, this can end in a disaster and completely ruin your meal. Sweet 'n' sour on your brussel sprouts or curry with cornbread I'm sure you'll agree isn't exceptionally tasteful. So, I now peruse the buffet without taking anything, decide what I fancy and then start again, serving myself a proper 'meal'. (In my opinion.)
 In the dessert section, there was what they call a 'chocolate fountain'. (See below.) It's sounds like something out of a dream, right? Well, it's real! I knew they existed but I've never been able to try one until now. Skewer some strawberries and marshmallows and plunge it under until coated with a glossy, brown, dripping coat of deliciousness!


"Bon apetit!"


Seasoned with Technique,

Jacob

P.S. Anybody got some Alka-Seltzer? He, he!



Right, what shall I have?








I like these little chilli/soup bowls




Hmmm... I think I'd like a chocolate fountain







"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 
of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

Friday 11 October 2013

Yellowstone National Park and Country Fried Steak

Old Faithful going off right in front
of me
Did I mention that this is very much
bear country?
  From Cody, it's only a few hours to Yellowstone National Park so have a guess as to where I went for the day? Yep, you guessed it. I nearly didn't as well as the road got closed due to a dump of snow the day before but after checking the next morning, it was discovered that it had opened but snow-tyres were recommended... Oh, boy.
 As you drive through the mountain pass, you climb to over 8,500 feet so the temperature starts dropping and all of a sudden snow blankets the forest around you. Cool. (Literally!) The surprise of seeing snow everywhere was insignificated (I made that word up), however, when I saw on the side of the road walking toward oncoming traffic a huge, shaggy bison! There it was, plain as day and boy was it big! Just incredible.
Here's one I snapped quickly as it walked right past the
vehicle I was in!
 Now, what shoots over 30,000 litres of boiling hot water 145 feet into the air around every 66.5 minutes? None other than the world renown geyser, 'Old Faithful'. And I got to see it! That was pretty impressive. I was expecting it to be a little louder than it was but what was more surprising than how it sounded was how it smelt. Yeah, let's just say it was a little gassy...
 The entire geyser basin was just beautiful and like nothing I've ever seen but I'd like to say to all the Rangers there that you guys might need to address the limescale problem sometime. 
A bit of a scale problem...
 Alright, alright. To the food! 
 Before leaving Cody, I went to this restaurant called Granny's (see photos below) where they do some pretty good home cooking. I perused the menu for a bit and tried to decipher what things like a 'Tim Bob Melt' was before ordering a Country Fried Steak with two over-easy eggs, hash browns and country gravy which is a food group all of it's own. I've had a country fried steak before so that was good but I've never had proper hash browns (because McDonald's doesn't quite cut it somehow...) or proper country gravy. But this was the real deal and it was delicious. I gave my blog address to the waitress (a habit I've decided to get into) but I didn't get a photo in the kitchen so I shall have to do that next time...

Seasoned with Macrosmaticness,

Jacob

Ready to tuck in!
 Now, this is Wyoming so, yes, the gentleman behind
me is wearing forest camoflauge...
































"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 
of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

Tuesday 8 October 2013

BLT's, a Chinese Buffet and Mt. Rushmore

"Great faces, great places..."
 After another long drive through dry and rolling South Dakota from Minnesota, I arrived in Rapid City to spend the night in a hotel (not motel this time). I had a swim, a BLT and much needed night's sleep. The next day I'd been looking forward to greatly: I went to see the "Faces" otherwise known as Mt. Rushmore! The weather was absolutely gorgeous and I got there mid-morning which apparently is the best time for light otherwise shadows can spoil it a bit so if you're thinking of visiting, get a clear day and arrive as early as you can.
 The entire area around Mt. Rushmore is just simply incredible. If you're a hiker or just enjoy the outdoors then this place is just awesome. I wish I had more time to spend there but, alas, I didn't. I had another over seven hour drive ahead so it was back on the road again. 
 After seven hours turned into nearly ten...I finally drove into Cody, Wyoming. I was staying a few miles out of town but it was completely dark so I couldn't really see where I was properly. When I woke up the next morning and looked out the window, however, did I then see one of the most amazing (if not the most amazing) view from a living room ever. Wyoming is an absolutely amazing place! All of the Western movies you've ever seen just can't compare to actually being where they're set.
Jamie in Arizona, I believe. A lot of Wyoming
looks a lot like the background
 I went to a Chinese buffet for lunch and tucked into some teriyaki chicken, spring rolls, popcorn shrimp, egg-fried rice and all that jazz. That was good! There was this really nice banana dessert there too though I didn't find out what it was. So, if you're in Cody sometime and fancy a Chinese then get yourselves to the China Town Buffet. However, my all time favourite Chinese buffet that I've been to was one in Niagra, Ontario but I just can't remember what it was called... Blast.


A bacon, lettuce and tomatoe sandwich with
fries. (Chips over here a what we call crisps.)
Hey, that's my word!





















Hmmm... I like buffets
My 'Dr. Seuss' ice-cream
Ah, that's better!






"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 
of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly