Pig Fest 2010...

This past weekend we were...

Ok, so I don't drink...

but I do enjoy some Whiskey Bent BBQ each year...

The Smoke Shack never disappoints...

Only in Polk County...

Don't know who this guy is...

but that chicken looked &

smelled delicious...

Not in a million years...

New on my list of favorites...

Character's BBQ

These guys were a trip & their pulled pork & sauce...

were so delicious!

I'm picking up sauce when I go to Atlanta in June...

Yum!

The kiddos...

Concentrating on the Win...

Could it be...

I think it might be...

Courtney & her friends...

Getting some lemonade...

Logan...

putting down a man size plate of ribs...

It is... it is... Myron Mixon...

from Jack's Old South...

seen on the TLC show Pitmasters...

We like to watch him on Pitmasters, but really like him now... the guy just oozes good-time personality & professionalism. He was cool about taking a picture with us & others.

I told him "if you want a real chic to compete against instead of Lee Ann you just call me." He just chuckled!

I had high hopes for her when they aired the preview... but she's really just a whiner & way out of her league {along with Paul Petersen}.

I could out BBQ her, on any given day, in pearls & peep-toe shoes, in my favorite blue jeans... with a baby on my hip {of course... I would have to borrow one... a baby that is}!

Love the show!

Our fabulous neighbor & his oldest...

Mr. Murphy & David...

Back around to Pink Butts BBQ...

where Curtis is cooking corn...

in a t-shirt...

that has a considerable amount of pink on it...

for the "mans man"...

Curtis' Uncle Danny...

Cousin Amanda & her hubby Frank...

Curtis' mom & step-dad with Logan...

a.k.a... "meme & papa"...

That baby loves his daddy...

The Hog Whisperer...

Pot Belly Pig...

Newest addition to the Pig Fest tradition...

at least we hope they will continue to come out each year...

my director, his wife & their little guy...

I'm pretty sure he'll be ready for a rib next year...

Last, but never least...

thank you Lonnie at Bubba Grills...

for bringing me sauce...

and, the baked potatoes stuffed with pork...

were the best!

Lakeland Pig Fest

Lunch from Bubba Grills...

A film crew...

For who?

For our favorite guys to get BBQ from?

Maybe... we sure think they're worthy of the spotlight!!!

(their bbq & sauce is out of this world good)

(order your sauce today)

Actually they were all here for this guy...

Food Network's Jamie Oliver

No... he's not naked...

but, he is The Naked Chef

While we were there we saw our neighbor Mr. Murphy...

and his boys David & BG...

Rice Crispy Pigs anyone?

Courtney & Logan at his favorite Pig Fest activity...

the driving simulator...

We left shortly after this and he was asleep before we got out of the parking lot!

We ate snails for dessert!

little momma & co. had the best recipe featured on SITS.  snails...the best snails we've ever had!!!  some of our snails made trails over to our neighbor...mrs. murphy (hey!!! mrs. murphy...good morning).  check out little momma & co. (they are just the cutest family) and then head on over to SITS for some more recipes!

Sweet Potato Dumplings

This is a favorite of our family and friends!

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter (sweet cream butter...salted)

2 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

5-6 small or 3 large sweet potatoes, uncooked

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-Cut sweet potatoes into squared strips.

-Melt butter in a separate container.

-Divide crescent rolls into triangles.  Triangles come apart easier if left in the fridge until you are ready for this step.

-Wrap 3-4 uncooked sweet potato strips in each triangle.

-Dip in melted butter and place in a 9 by 13 pan.

-Pour remaining butter over dumplings.

-Boil water with sugar and cinnamon until sugar dissolves and mixture blends together.  It will not thicken...but will boil over into a sticky mess if not stirred constantly!

-Cover dumplings with 1/2 of cinnamon-sugar mixture and bake for 35 minutes.

-Leave remaining cinnamon-sugar on lowest temp to keep warm.  If mixture is not kept warm, and you are using glass or stone bakeware, it could shatter your bakeware on the following step.

-Remove from oven and pour remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.

-Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 10 more minutes.

Enjoy!  This great as a side dish or as a dessert with vanilla ice cream!