I have some frustrating logistical limitations this year because of other obligations I have in the morning and in the evening. But, if there is grill space available for me to use, I'd like to bring some hanger steak and grill it on site. I'll bring some other accoutrements to go with it.

=R=

Heather22 wrote:Will we have access to electricity?

IIRC, there aren't any electrical outlets there, unless you could creatively figure out a way to power them through the cigarette lighter in your car.

Heather22 wrote:I have a few portable burners. I was going to bring one to keep the collard greens I plan on bringing warm, will this be plausible? I will just need table space and electricity. Will we have access to electricity? Otherwise they can be served at room temp I guess. I plan on getting there early to help set up as I will have to leave early as I have to be at work at 4.

See you all soon

Sadly, unless you bring a generator, there's no electricity.

Hi,

The Forest Preserve has generators covered in their rules and regulations: you need a special use permit.

Ron - we will be delighted to see you. We can easily accomodate your steak.

Regards,

I'm very much looking forward to coming, plus two.

I am going to bring a thai melon salad; coincidentally, one of my friends is going to bring a thai cole slaw.

I am happy to bring my 22" Weber kettle if needed and if d4v3 can fit it in his truck (or some other samaritan can provide transport.) I'm going to assume that we don't need it based on Cathy's assertion above, but if that changes...

I'm planning on attending, though I'm not sure what I'll be bringing yet.

Joe, was I one of your +2? I can drive you (and your grill) if you want.

Aaron Deacon wrote:Mhays, when you say we're light on "seasonings" what does that mean?
.

I was meaning (relatively) ordinary stuff like salt, pepper, mustard, mayo, onions, pickles, relish...and...dare I say it...ketchup. IDK if any of these will be necessary or applicable, though; just an idea.

Cathy2 wrote:Ron - we will be delighted to see you. We can easily accomodate your steak.

Awesome. Thanks!

So, here's my longer list:

Hanger steak, etc.
Case of Pellegrino
Plastic cups
Leftover containers
additional mystery items

Do we need any additional charcoal or wood beyond what's already pledged? If so, I can bring some of both.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Do we need any additional charcoal
=R=

I already have a 40lb bag of lump charcoal I want to use up in the car, as well as about 40 oz of Heintz Ketchup (must keep The Hat Happy). How does all this stuff get in there?

We will not be there before 12:00 because of logistics and I need my beauty sleep. But, we will be there for clean up. We volunteer to haul recycling and bring contractor bags for their storage. We ask you all keep aluminum in one pile and plastic / glass in another, until we get there. If we could keep two of the garbage drums empty until I can label them for recycling, that would be helpful, but we will manage anyway. We think this is important.

-ramon "the Lorax" publius

stevez wrote:

Heather22 wrote:I have a few portable burners. I was going to bring one to keep the collard greens I plan on bringing warm, will this be plausible? I will just need table space and electricity. Will we have access to electricity? Otherwise they can be served at room temp I guess. I plan on getting there early to help set up as I will have to leave early as I have to be at work at 4.

See you all soon

Sadly, unless you bring a generator, there's no electricity.

Cathy2 wrote:The Forest Preserve has generators covered in their rules and regulations: you need a special use permit

Then I guess I won't be bringing them. The greens can easily be served room temp.

ronnie_suburban wrote:I have some frustrating logistical limitations this year

Nothing compared to mine. Either I figure out how to be in Madison Wisconsin and Chicago at the same time or choose between the LTHForum Tailgate Picnic and my nieces wedding.

I had the picnic date on my calendar 6-months ago, I really wish my dear sweet niece Emily had consulted with me on dates.

Have fun all, Ellen and I will be thinking of you!

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Nothing compared to mine. Either I figure out how to be in Madison Wisconsin and Chicago at the same time or choose between the LTHForum Tailgate Picnic and my nieces wedding.

I had the picnic date on my calendar 6-months ago, I really wish my dear sweet niece Emily had consulted with me on dates.

Have fun all, Ellen and I will be thinking of you!

WHAT???!!! No DTs this year???
Somehow I missed these last year and have been sustained through the past 12 months by the thought of making amends at the 2008 picnic.... I wish I had the grilling skills to even think of following in the footsteps of the master. Anybody else still looking for an idea of something to bring?

Gary, your grilling expertise and charming presence (not necessarily in that order) will be missed!

Post subject: Dragon Turds (Recipe)
Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:50 am 
LTH,
Been making Dragon Turds for years, great sunny, or cold and cloudy, day beer drinking BBQ appetizer.
This is the recipe that's been getting all the love from John Kass in the Chicago Tribune.
Enjoy,
Gary
==

Dragon Turds
25 - Fresh Jalapenos*
1 lb fresh chorizo (any type of fresh sausage may substitute)
1 lb bacon cut in half

Cut stem and top from jalapeno
Cut slit in side of jalapeno
Deseed
If sensitive to spice remove jalapeno rib
Stuff with chorizo**
Wrap with bacon, secure with toothpick.

Place on smoker grate, cook until done.***

*True chile heads, or masochists, may wish to use habanero peppers

**For an interesting twist add a small piece of dried fig or date to chorizo.

***Given the variability of jalapeno size, smoker grate temperature etc. it's impossible to give an accurate length of cooking time. Make a few extra and periodically check to see if sausage is cooked through. Dragon Turds are done when sausage is cooked through.

Heather22 wrote:The greens can easily be served room temp.

A few years ago, Bruce brought greens to an event piping hot packed in a cooler. He prewarmed the cooler by pouring in boiling hot water. Once heated, he poured out the water and towel dried the interior. He put his greens hot off the stove (in a storage container) into the cooler, then filled any empty space with crumpled newspaper.

A trip from South Bend, IN to Chicago, he opened the cooler and steam rose up with the greens as hot as they came from the stove.

I used this idea for transporting hot links to a dinner to feed people from Katrina. Stuck in traffic for more than 2 hours, they were 'hot off the grill' when I arrived.

Regards,

I, too, have frustrating logistical challenges mostly in the form of soccer commitments. September 1 marks the day that soccer takes over my life for about 60 days, particularly on the weekends (aw, who am I kidding? Make that about 6 days a week). I have been trying to juggle but have made little progress. Last year I was able to make it, but it does not look like the Soccer Gods are going to favor me this year.

Have lots of fun everyone - I will miss the food, and even more so the good company and general festivities.

Hi,

I did a drive by to the grove last night. There are six benches in or near the shelter. There are two benches by the brick-and-mortar toilet. I will inquire if the Forest Preserve people will move them. Otherwise we can consider dragging them, though those are heavy suckers.

Plan on bringing some lawn chairs. Might need more portable tables, I will figure that out tonight.

Regards,
CAthy

I plan on bringing garbage bags, baby wipes for the wiping of grease-covered hands, and tomato jam (I have a bunch of tomatoes ripening on the vine, and just saw this recipe in NYTimes from Bittman that looked good), to be used on bread, meats, etc.

We are 2 days, 14 hours, 33 minutes and 10 seconds away from the picnic as of this posting!!!

Here's the updated spreadsheet, hopefully with all the errors corrected, but keep 'em coming, folks. If you have something that needs to be changed, please PM me. If you have something to add, please post here and also PM me.

I also realized (though I have yet to double-check) that your dish might get a name-tag as well, so please make sure I've got it right, along with your name and the names of your picnic companions, etc. (again, anyone not specified gets a tagged "your screen name +1" )

BTW, thanks to everyone for everything you're doing, both behind-the-scenes and in front. I love this event!

Yes, Cathy is apparently arranging for D4V3 to pick up my grill, and we're also bringing smaller Costco water bottles, and I've now made the peach mint muscat sorbet from my Spanish party last year, since I saw damaged peaches cheap today, and mint too, at Green City. So that's two of the tarts, the base for the ice cream ball, and the sorbet, plus water.

Ron and Gary, you've got logistical issues? I'm still in Alaska. I'll be cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for hungry fisherman instead of feasting at the picnic this year.

Louisa Chu wrote:Ron and Gary, you've got logistical issues? I'm still in Alaska. I'll be cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for hungry fisherman instead of feasting at the picnic this year.

Your sister and brother are always welcome!

Regards,

I have a last minute addition. Since I understand that there appears to be room in d4v3'sWSM, I'll be bringing a couple of brisket points that I smoked the other day so that I can cook up some KC Style Burnt Ends.

Whew, I saw the words "last minute" and for a minute there I thought Stevez was out too.

Mike G wrote:Whew, I saw the words "last minute" and for a minute there I thought Stevez was out too.

Sorry, I'm still coming (and looking forward to it).

It is always a pleasure to see you, and too long.

I would like to attend. Will help out with prep/clean-up since I am not good at cooking
Will also bring garbage bags and zip lock bags.
Hwa

Will attend by myself.
What I will bring is still a mystery when I figure it out I will let you all know.
I am not too far from the picnic if anyone needs freezer or refrigerator space they can drop stuff off the day before or early morning and pick it up later when they will go to the picinic.
I am looking forward to it.
Hoping for some great weather.
i will stop eating right now so I can make space in my stomach for Saturday afternoon.

Hi,

Saturday is going be a beautiful day with a high of 72. It has been very dry the last few months, so today's rain is very welcome. While it may not rain on our parade, there might be the miraculous gift of the puddle. If it is attractive to kids as it was two years ago, then parents may want to bring spare clothing.

Smiling face of Mike G's son Myles (Gwiv image)


I realized that day my inner child had faded. I never recognized the recreational opportunities of the puddle.

Regards,

I want to bring something else besides my Sacher Torte. What, you ask, could be as tasty and healthy as a rich chocolate cake served with whipped cream? Why chopped liver, of course, which I will bring with appropriate bread/crackers.

Evy

Logistical issue:

I've volunteered to bring a beverage, which I am going to do, but I just realized that I don't have anything in which to transport liquid. Does anyone have a gallon-sized (or larger) vessel that I could borrow for the picnic? My schedule is very messy before Saturday, but if there's someone within a 10-minute drive from Evanston, I could pick it up some time tomorrow. Please PM me if you can help.

Thanks,
Sharon

Hi,

I have a gallon size Rubbermaid pitcher I could drop off this evening at Ritzlin map store on Central. Will this work? I also have half gallon glass mason jars I could leave there.

Regards,