A little history and lots of cook'n

A house left to fall down taking memories and history with it.

Traditional log home and barn refurbished and used
 as a small museum to carry on the  history stories from so many years ago.

Two of the old places we passed, one with history and memories almost to the ground never to be lived again.  The other has been restored for a museum.  This is a must stop for me heading north, I want to hear the history of it.  Great place to stop and stretch. I want to know was it there during the Civil War and did it play a part in the foundation of our great country.  It sets close to Highway 29 in southern Virginia.  Highway 29 also is named "29th Infantry Division" that starts near Leesburg, VA, Rt 15 and 29 run together in VA for a while.  Interesting considering Rt 15 runs by our own Civil War History., Gettysburg, Pa. Rt 15 must have been one of the main routes for the Military.  I guess I am going to buff up on my Civil War knowledge.  Too many things along the way to NC are getting my curiosity going.

The morning on the Bryant Farm in NC starts like ours in PA.  Gathering eggs is my favorite job, the hens today must think I'm an early riser because they didn't want to give up their eggs to me. I did get enough for the Tandy Cake and Cornbread for supper.  I was a little worried about walking through the pasture with the goats.  I've had some pretty scary experiences with goats of days gone by.  Some love to put their head down and try to ram ya!  When Pam and I were little she had a big goat, I can remember just clearing the kitchen door before that thing got me.  For some reason all of these goats are very nice and didn't try out their head butting skills.

The friendly goats.

Pork roast ready for the oven.

The pork roast has been in the oven all day.  I made a dry rub of garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, pepper, salt, chili powder and brown sugar. It went in the oven at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to toast the seasonings and put a crust on the roast.  Then I covered it with foil and dropped the temperature to 320 and left it for 7 hours.  Once it has cooled enough I pull the meat into shreds and will use some of the roasting juice with vinegar and hot pepper flakes to make a brine to soak the meat in..What is left over will probably be used for pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw on top..Good stuff and very southern!

I had a change of plans (it's allowed if your the cook)  and made Hobo Beans.  The family loves them and they are good the next day too.  Today I used sausage instead of hamburg.

Hobo Beans

1/2 pound hamburger, 1 onion, chopped, 1 can pork and beans, with juice, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1 pinch salt, 1 pinch pepper, 1/2 pound bacon, chopped, 1 can white beans, drained, 1 can large butter beans, drained, 1 can of lima beans, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1 TBSP prepared mustard.

1. Brown bacon in skillet; drain and remove.
    
2. Brown hamburger in skillet; drain.
    
3. Saute onion then remove hamburger from skillet and place in non-stick casserole dish.
    
4. Add pork and beans, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, chili powder, salt, pepper, kidney beans, sugar, butter beans, ketchup and mustard and stir. 
5.  cook in crock pot on low 2-4 hours.

Macaroni salad using Duke's Mayonnaise, most folks in the south will not eat another brand.

The "southern supper". Pulled pork, beans, salad, corn bread and "pickled okra".

The family is full and satisfied, just what this "Mom Cook" loves. Another happy, healthy and blessed day comes to an end.