Dinner Outside: Shrimp with Cheesy Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes

▶️ Play Dinner Outside: Shrimp with Cheesy Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes Around the Fire

A fresh coat of snow has fallen, the clouds have cleared the way for the sun to shine through, it’s about 21°F, life is good. With a fire burning bright and hot in the Breeo Fire Pit, food cooking on the Weber, appetizers and beer being drunk it has become a completely enjoyable afternoon. Toss in some people making circuits on cross-country skies in the Big Playground and sledding on the puny hill back there and you have the making of a proper wintertime wonderland.

Lil and Ken. While the vegetables are being smoked and long before we even think of putting the shrimps on the grill over the fire we have an appetizer of melted cheese and pita crackers.

After our appetizer of cheese and pita crackers and beer we settled in to wait on the veggies before cooking up the shrimp. I decided to make a cheese sauce for the whole thing using leftover cheese soup (based on the recipe from a Townsends video) that didn’t quite end up cheesy enough when first made. I added more cheese to the defrosted mass and when we melted that over the fire it turned out wonderfully. 

Once everything was smoked, melted, grilled, and mixed it was time to eat. The sun was just below the the trees though maybe not quite officially set and the temperature was definitely falling. But with the exception of our toes we were warm and the dinner was ready: time to eat; time to enjoy. We did both.

There isn’t a precise recipe for this meal. I based my spice combination on what my Dad and I (and Lil) like for the shrimps alone sizing it up some to include the Brussles Sprouts (16 ounces) and potatoes (about 2 pounds) and 16 ounces of medium-sized (peeled) shrimps. The sesonings were salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. 

It is always nice to sit around a good hot fire with people you like and a meal you can enjoy. If there is a little adversity thrown in the mix perhaps that justs a bit of zest to the experience.

Dinner and Fire Christmas Eve 2021

▶️ Play Dinner and FireChristmas Eve 2021

It was floating around 50°F yesterday afternoon under heavily overcast skies. It was quiet with little going on anywhere nearby. I got the coals heating up just after 9:00AM and the 3-pound boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt is another name for it though I’ve no idea why) was ready to be placed inside the Weber Kettle. I hoped I had the temperature close to where I wanted it but was pretty sure I did not (I’d ruined my Thermoworks thermometer by leaving it attached to the grill and it melted the housing). Hope for the best.

Pulled Prok Coated in Dry Rub Photo taken December 23, 2021 at 12:41

About 3 hours later the pork was creeping towards 160°F whih was pretty good proof that it had been generally cooking at a lower than I had aimed for. Oh well, add more coats, spritz the meat, and go do errands for a while. That is when I found out with Lil, where the real action was: parking lots around grocery stores. It’s good I didn’t need anything (or so I thought).

When we got back the meat was cooking steadily along though slowly. That’s when I decided to wrap it and basically braise it for the rest of the cook. What I had hoped would be a 5 or so hour cook would end up being more like a 7-hour cook. That doesn’t include the resting time.

As the meat cooked we dove into the soup course, chatted around the Breeo Fire Pit, and drank more beer than we probably should have as we discovered that it is really hard not to just devour high-quality kettle potato chips.

More like a seven hour cook than a five hour cook which is what I was hoping for. But the pulled pork looks good. First bite was also good. But, remember let the meat rest for longer than you think it needs. We did not let it rest long enough.

--December 25, 2021 at 1:42 PM.

Cooking is always an experiment. Cooking over tempermental coals more so. But while we could see where it could have been better our afternoon and early evening dinner by a fire was still a sucess. The pulled pork was tasty, the coleslaw superb, and the homemade vegetable soup certainly hit the spot while we waited for the meat to finish cooking.

Breeo Fire Pit and Lodge Dutch Oven Dinner

▶️ Play Fire Pit and Dutch Oven Dinner

At least it isn’t windy outside. The temperature is in the upper 20s °F and the sky is overcast. That’s a big improvement from the previous day which through in freezing rain so all is about as good as can be hoped for as autumn gives way to winter.

With the Breeo putting out ample heat we managed to stay comfortably warm as we worked to get dinner prepared: Pork a la Normand, Spinach and Artichoke Pierogis, baked potatoes, and beer. Maybe a slightly unbalanced meal lacking a good salad course (I got lazy) but a good one. I’ve made, and written about, the Pork a la Normand before. I do suspect that an hour simmering is generally enough time but the extra 20 to 30 minutes cerainly doesn’t hurt. The baked potatoes absorbed some smokiness flavor into their skins but we had trouble cooking them through in the Weber Kettle even though it claimed to be hot enough (can’t trust the lid thermometer). Wrapping the spuds in tin foil and putting them next to the fire in the Breeo for the last 20-25 minutes did the trick. The pierogis should’ve cooked wonderfully on the sear-plate. After all, my egg rolls certainly did. However, they singed before they heated through. Maybe the plate was a lot hotter this time. I do not know. Finishing the pierogis off by pan-frying them in a cast-iron skillet over the fire in the Breeo worked.

Pork a la Normand (pork and apples)

• 1 Granny Smith Apple. Cored, peeled, cut into small pieces.
• 1 Modest-sized onion (I used about half of what was once a truly huge red onion and I think the flavor was wonderful). Cut into small pieces.
• 1 pound (likely a bit less) boneless pork loin chops. Cubed.
• 1/4 cup flour.
• 1 12-ounce can hard cider though I bet regular cider would be good too (beer also works).
• 1 Tablespoon black pepper (could’ve used a bit less though LIl loved it).
• 1 Teaspoon salt (could’ve used a bit more).
• 1 Teaspoon ground nutmeg (maybe a bit more next time).

Directions

1. Butter or oil (I used butter that I let melt) a preheated skillet or dutch oven bottom.
2. Cut the pork into bite-sized cubes (or so) and coat with the flour. Place the pork in the pan and sear it until it browns on all sides. Remove from the pan and put somewhere to keep warm. You’ll add it back in a bit.
3. Sauté the chopped apple and onion pieces until the onion starts becoming translucent. Add the seasoning and cider.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for a couple minutes before returning the pork cubes to the mixture. Cover and cook until the gravy thickens. This should take about 50 minutes (Note: seems like 75-90 minutes is better but maybe those times it was cooking at a lower temperature).

DIY Fire PIt Hearth and First Cook

The flames aren’t really obvious yet but we have made fire. It’s time to celebrate with a beer.

--December 7, 2021 at 3:19 PM.

▶️ Play DIY Patio Hearth and Breeo Fire Pit First Cook

The ground isn’t quite frozen yet but it is far from soft easily dug into. While I certainly could have placed the Breeo X Series 19 directly on the ground as I had done with the decades-old metal fire buket I’d been using I decided I wanted something a bit classier and better for the backyard. I don’t need anything large so I settled upon a 32 x 32 inches square hearth to serve as the base for the new fire pit which has an outer diameter of just under 24 inches. I imagine I could have just bought paver stones and plopped them on the grass but a little research plus what Lil confirmed suggested that putting the pavers upon a paver-sand base was really the way to go. I assume the base materials (two types of materials: a chunkier aggregate and something much more sand-like) a laid atop each other and the pavers on top of everything. I expect that improves stability and helps with drainage. It isn’t a complex project just difficult because you have to work hard digging up the ground: a hole that is 32 x 32 inches saure and 4 inches deep. Ground that isn’t quite frozen yet but is certainly closer to that state than not.

Making progress on the 32x32x4 inches hole.

--December 7, 2021 at 1:51 PM.

Paver base 1 material. I am pretty sure each bag weighed 50 pounds. We used one bag of base 1 and one bag of base 2.

--December 7, 2021 at 2:23 PM.

Spreading  out base 1 material. A bag holds just about enough for 32x32x1 inch sheet of material.

--December 7, 2021 at 2:23 PM.

Paver base 2 material. I am pretty sure each bag weighed 50 pounds. We used one bag of base 1 and one bag of base 2.

--December 7, 2021 at 2:27 PM.

After about an hour of work it’s time to lay the first paver down.

--December 7, 2021 at 2:33 PM.

One last paver to go.

--December 7, 2021 at 2:38 PM.

The whole project of laying out the hearth (patio) took about 90 minutes and most of that time was spent digging out the dirt. Pouring in the paver base materials and smoothing them out didn’t take that long. Tamping them down took almost no time at all. Laying the 4 16x16 inch paver stones took little time. It probably took longer to fill in the gaps with dirt and paver sand than it did to place the pavers themselves.

I must say I did feel a nice sense of success and satisfaction once the project was completed. All that remained was to fill the Breeo fire pit up with the right kinds of fire starter, kindling, and logs and get the first fire burning.

All done but for some tidying up.

--December 7, 2021 at 2:46 PM.

Split Pea soup, egg rolls, and my Father’s wonderful marinaded shrimp were on the menu for the inaugural meal over the fire. I used my TJM Metal Works Oriignal Mini Fire Anchor to hold the dutch oven over the fire. That worked but I can see why the Outpost Grill, designed to work perfectly with the Breeo, would be a better option.

There is nothing too special about any of the recipes. However, here they are should you care to try them. Of them all my personhal favorite is definite the shrimp.

Marinated Garlic Shrimp

My Fathet’s super tasty shrimp on the searplate.

--December 7, 2021 at 5:41 PM. .

In a small bowl, mix:

• 1 pound jumbo shrimp (16-20 per pound).
• 2-3 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

---

1. In a large bowl, mix shrimp with garlic etc. until shrimp well-coated.
2. Lightly oil cooking pan. Cook shrimp for 5-7 minutes, occasionally stirring. We cooked them on the searplate for a few minutes on each side (as if grilling).

Egg Rolls

It’s time to have an egg roll dipped in homemade honey mustard sauce.

--December 7, 2021 at 4:52 PM.

• Wonton wrappers (I used 7” square wrappers)

Use enough to create between 1/4 - 1/3 cup of filling for each egg roll:

• Shredded (red) cabbage
• Chopped carrots
• Frozen corn
• Diced new potatoes
• salt and pepper to taste plus whatever other spices you feel like.

Honey Mustard Sauce

• Equal parts mustard, mayo, honey.
• For each ounce of the above parts add 1/2 tablespoon vinegar (I only had balsamic which worked fine).
• For each ounce of a component part (eg if you used an ounce of honey you would use 1/8 TSP. Did not sum up the entirety of the component parts, in this example that would mean do not use 3/8 TSP.) use an 1/8 teaspoon cayanne.

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients together.

2. Steam the veggies for about 5 minutes. I used my microwave to do this. Just put them in a bowl, cover the bowl, and run your microwave on high. Of course, you can steam using a steamer basket or probably steam-bake the veggies.

3. Place between 1/4 - 1/3 cup of filling in each wonton wrapper. To seal the wrappers moisten your fingers and fold the wrapper over itself. If you accidentally use 2 wrappers things will be fine.

4. I baked my egg rolls on a baking sheet I put lightly oiled foil on. Lightly oil the egg rolls themselves. You could deep-fry (or maybe pan-fry) them instead. Bake at 425°F for 10-12 minutes.

5. You can freeze the egg rolls after making them and they’ll reheat just fine. It didn’t take long on the searplate of the Breeo.

Split Pea Soup

Taste test of the Split Pea soup by Lil.

--December 7, 2021 at 4:52 PM.

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup of dried green or yellow split peas
• 1 potato, chopped
• 1 quart of vegetable or beef broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Direction

1. In large saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon oil and add onion.
2. After about 5-7 minutes, add potato, peas, broth, and seasoning. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat.
3. Cook until potato and peas tender to bite.
4. In blender or food processor, whirl mixture, a portion at a time.

A Visit to Storm King

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▶️ Play A Visit to Storm King Art Center, October 2021

We last visited Storm King in 2010 but we did not spend that much time there. We looked at a couple sculptures and took the tram but certainly didn’t explore the grounds to the degree we do on this trip. We spent a few hours exploring this time and I’ve no doubt we could have spent much more time and that many people do.

Acra Point Loop Hike

▶️ Play Acra Point Loop Hike

Acra Point is, according to the guidebook we have, a spot with a great view. The guidebook also calls the loop hike, I believe, easy. The hike is a bit north and east of the North Point hike we did the previous day but still about 45 minutes from our Air B&B in Athens, NY. If we visit the area again I expect we will stay in a place like Tannersville either in a lovely mountain hotel or an Air B&B type place. The weather was promising to be mixed clouds and sunshine. With luck we would have good views when they presented themselves.

The trail starts out crossing gushing stream over first a fine wooden bridge and then via a series of cunningly place stones to form a bridge over another tributary of the stream. We felt a bit of trepidation as we worked our way acorss the stones thinking this trail is going to be as tough as the trail forming the North Point Loop. After crossing the stream the trail slowly ascends through a hardwood forest and there is some mud to deal with but nothing like the Rock Shelter Trail.

This is just the first corssing of what seems to be an un-named stream. Right after the bridge we walked across a series of stones that span another braid of the stream or maybe it was just another curve in the main watercourse. Photo by Judy.

--October 15, 2021 at 10:03 AM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

Over the first 1.2 miles the trail slowly ascended through lovely forest. The footing is much better although seeing and feeling the trail is a bit hindered by the leaves covering the trail. Now and then the forest would seemingly open up and more sun would peek through. Birds, notably blue jays and chickedeees (I think) could be heard in the trees. It was a fine morning.

Good morning from the Black Dome Range Trail. This is the first trail, going clockwise, that makes up the Acra Point Loop. After leaving a nice wooden bridge and cunningly crafted bridge of stones spanning a rush stream we quickly entered a lovely forest.

--October 15, 2021 at 10:54 AM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

It’s hard to see how steep the hill is. I think we climbed just over 100 feet in about 0.1 miles. That makes this a pretty steep trail. It had one switchback.

--October 15, 2021 at 11:27 AM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

At the first trail junction we turned to the right and soon were ascending a surprisingly steep hill. The hill had one switchback near the start. The rest of the trail just climbed up the slope interrupted twice by a few large rocks we had to clambor up and over. I think we gained a bit over 100 feet on this hill and walked not much more than 0.1 miles in the process: a steep hill indeed.

Not long after completing the hill we soon came to a spur trail that took us to a clifftop with a lovely view and a fine place for elevenes. The sun wasn’t shining at this point but the wind was all but nonexistent making this a good place for a break after hiking about 1.5 miles and ascending 800 feet. Maplecrest, New York, United States

This is the view from the clifftop just west of Acra Point. If you, like us, miss the spur to Acra Point you won’t feel too bad if you settled down here for a time like we did.

--October 15, 2021 at 11:40 AM. Maplecrest, New York, United States

Views from the cliftop to the west of Acra Point. Left: Mom as we look back towards the spur trail; right: Dad with the great view.

--October 15, 2021 at 11:41 AM. Maplecrest, new York, United States.

After leaving the viewpoint we moved along the ridgetop, gradually ascending, towards Acra Point. We had met a couple with a dog just before the hill climb. Perhaps they were at the spur trail to Acra Point which is why we missed it when we saw them again. They said the view wasn’t that good which contradicts what our guidebook says but perhaps it was blocked by leaves that had not fallen yet. Throughout the day we encountered a few people and a couple additional dogs. But we missed Acra Point.

It is truly Fall. Look what landed on Ken. Photo by Judy.

--October 15, 2021 at 1:49 PM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

We are about 1.5 miles from the end of the hike. At this point the Escarpment Trail has been steadily gently descending. The footing would be great if the trail were not so covered in leaves obscuring things underfoot. But, it’s a foretaste of how deeply covered the Batavia Kill Trail is covered. Photo by Judy.

--October 15, 2021 at 1:54 PM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

The Escarpment Trail at this point is really quite pleassant. The leaf coverage made it a bit tricky at times to follow and see what was underfoot but nothing like the day before. We were not going to set any speed records but we were doing far better and mostly enjoying the trail except when we were not.

When the trail changed to the Batavia Kill Trail things got a bit more difficult as the leaf coverage got considerably deeper. The leaves hid roots and rocks and occassonal flowing (it seemed) water. We slowed down. It is pretty in its way but if I had been hiking alone I would have been moving exceedingly slowly as I cannot really hike blaze-to-blze (discs actually) and that was certainly necessary to aid navigation today.

This is a truly large root ball. Certainly more than twice as tall as a person.

--October 15, 2021 at 3:21 PM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

Mom and Ken relaxing by the tree that is connected to the large root ball. Photo by Jonathan.

--October 15, 2021 at 3:23 PM. Maplecrest, New York, United States.

All in all we enjoyed the loop even though the footing and navigation were sometimes frustrating. We would like to see these trails without their beds of leaves to find out if we move more quickly. The leaves, on and off the trees, do add lovely color but they certainly make the going tougher too.

North Point Loop (sort of)

▶️ Play North Point Loop Hike, Catskills Park, New York

We are walking slowly along the Mary’s Glen Trail after slogging about 1.3 miles on the Rock Shelter Trail. The footing is tough because of the roots, rocks, mud, and leaf coverage. Here we are making a steady climb, the bulk of the 500 feet ascent, towards North Point. As usual Mom takes a fine photo.

--October 14, 2021 at 12:16 PM. Catskill, New York, United States.

From our Air B&B house in Athens, New York we drove about 50 minutes to the trailhead located just outside of the North South Campground on Schutt Road (seen it spelled Scutt Road as well). The weather was going to be warm but cloudy so our chances for brilliant views were not that great. We really had no idea what to expect from the hike. The guidebook classified it as moderate and said it would take about 3.5 hours to hike the 5.5 miles of the whole loop. A good hike for our first day. Things would turn out differently for us.

The Rock Shelter Trail starts out with some lovely boardwalk crossing flowing water and no doubt plenty of mud. Once you leave the boardwalk you quickly find yourself walking amongst numerous rocks and roots paying attention to where you step avoding the sucking mud. If you are sure-footed and possess normal vision you probalby won’t have trouble maintaining a 1.5MPH pace to achieve the suggested hiking time. We did not come close to managing that lofty speed. Toss in the fact that the leaf coverage obscures the trail and tings get tougher still. Were I hiking this loop alon I have no doubt my speed would have been considerably below 1.0MPH. AFter all, I don’t think we managed 1.0MPH over the just under 4 miles of trail we did hike (our last mile, coveraging miles 4 to 5, was on a paved road).

This waterfall is, I think, flowing into Ashley Creek. We are turning off the Escarpment Trail onto the Mary’s Glen Trail to head down towards the paved road that serves the North South Campground.

--October 14, 2021 at 2:54 PM.Catskill, New York, United States.

There are quite a few trails that you can access from outside the campground and more still that you can reach from within the campground (though you must pay a day-use fee). I suspect the footing on most of them is comparable but I also suspect we did not see the best views or most notable sights. What we did encounter was pretty varied and certainly mae an impression but if you are looking to make good speedy time perhaps this isn’t the best set of trails to achieve that goal unless your balance is good and your strong in mind and body.

Dad and I taking a break just beyond the waterfall I shot in the previous picture. Photo by Judy.

--October 14, 2021 at 3:03 PM. Catskill, New York, United States.