UPDATE: BBQ Results for September 20th & 21st

 

With a rain for Thursday night to cool things off, it had to be the sign of a fair day for Friday & Saturday. The man above was certainly looking down on us for a great BBQ weekend. We're off and headed Northwest up to a small stop in the road 12 miles this side of Austin, Texas named Manor. Old houses with wonderful architecture and the home town folks with personalities to match. Settled in 1832 by James Manor with their first school in 1854, noted in years past for cotton however now it's cattle country. 

We arrived in the middle of the day and unlike last week, the temperature was moderate. Just right for setting up. We were right in the middle of the park and had access to electricity and water. Our plan was to try some new recipes and cook methods for ribs. With 4 different racks, I felt for sure we would come up with a winner. At the end of the evening it appeared that we needed to try 4 more. Our next door neighbors, "The Wild Bunch",  from Magnolia, did the entertaining with Karaoke and were a lot of fun. Seems like at every cook-off we attend, we always have great neighbors. Are we lucky or is it  just good ole folks like to BBQ?

Ron & Darrell kept the pit company that evening. The next morning they were keeping the bed's company. No lights, no fire, and nooooooooooooo Alarm. No problem, we kicked their butts out of bed and got started. Cook's meeting at 9:00 AM with Charlie & Joy Lancaster with the IBCA were right on time, so with now it's back to the pit for more fun & games. 

Chili, Chicken, Ribs, & Brisket are the order for the day with turn in times posted for 11, 12, 1, & 2. We've noticed on the smaller cook-offs that the times are closer together and of course on the larger cook-offs there is usually a 2 hour window between the different foods. It would be easier on the smaller cook-offs to have 1 1/2 hour between the turn-ins. Oh well, everyone else deals with it, so can we. 

Not really a whole lot to say,  we showed up,  we cooked,  we drank,  we listened to music,  we sweated,  we visited,  we spied,  we had fun,  we didn't win, and  we went home with a wonderful view of a full moon. We're still looking for a good rib recipe. Help!  What's Regional taste? Did someone say use more salt? Go figure! Things will be better in the fall. Remember, the first day of Autumn is Monday. 

Thank you Charlie & Joy for your time, effort, and professionalism in the judging arena.  With the influence of the IBCA, we always feel like we are getting a fair shake. Again, thanks Guys!

Our host, John Burrell was on top of the event and couldn't do enough to make us feel right at home. Thanks John! Also our hats off to the Lions Club of Manor Texas. Their scholarship program is a great success. 

For those of you who did not make the cook, perhaps you can come out the next time. Check out our website for dates & times of coming events.

 

Don Wright

 

 

 

 

The Moonlite Cookers

http://www.moonlitecookers.com