BEER BARN

[91rioja]

Back Off, Back Off ! I'm backing off fast,  OK OK I get it now, this forum is not really about a bunch of juicers playing with trains, I was really beginning to wonder how drinking and model railroading became synonymous, so this is simply a forum to discuss anything and use the term beer, by the way a lot of posts on this forum drink coffee.  choo-choo on.

Tatans, glad you undersatnd why we are here.  If you have any recipes you wish to share with the rest of the chefs here, please do so.

Chris

[mikesmowers]

91,  I got the roof fixed the best I can for now, if it still leaks I do not know what to do.
     Did you drink that cold one for me while in your comfy chair?   I think you must have forgotton because I never got it.
            There were these two drunks at the bar one night when one got up and said he had to go to the bathroom. The second drunk said to go for him while he was in there.  A little later the first drunk returned from the bathroom and the other drunk ask him if he went for him while he was there. The first drunk then replied ''I tried but you didn't need to go''.

    Time for a cold one myself,   Hay Joe.....



                                                                   anyway thanks for the thought.       Mike

[91rioja]

Mike,
I didn't forget.  I had your's first, and I just finished mine.
Glad you got the roof fixed so your trains don't get wet.

Chris

[mikesmowers]

   Thanks for the cold one, I musta forgot.  There is no guarentee about the roof, I have been up there 10 times or more and every time it rains it still leaks as bad as it ever did. Lucky though the leak is somewhere so that the water runs down the wall and not in the ceiling, so there is not much danger of the ceiling falling and ruining the trains.
    It would be a big pain to have to cover the layout with plastic all the time.  
  Me thinks it is time for another one.     Mike

[MisterBeasley]

Just a coke for me, thanks.  I spent an hour and a half on my old mountain bike, riding first down the old narrow-gauge line from Billerica to Bedford, Mass, and then out the old B&M reformatory branch to the center of Concord, just north of the rude bridge that arched the flood.  These old rail lines have long since given way to well-travelled walking paths, and for a short while, a paved extension of the Minuteman Bikeway.  The Minuteman was itself once a railroad bed, so those of us who appreciate these nice trails with practically no grades at all know who to thank.

The Barbershop is nearly done, so if any 4 of you would like to sign up for the quartet, we'll be starting with "Sweet Adeline" shortly after the night game on ESPN gets boring.  Wear a striped vest and a red bow tie so we'll know who you are.  Tatans, can you sing harmonies?  Love to have ya with us, y'know.

OK, it's time to pull the grid off the grill, plug in the rotisserie and start brushing sauce on the chicken leg quarters.

OK, while the chicken finishes thawing out, I'll have one quick Bud and present the finished product.  The light is a 14-volt, and the power company hasn't hooked up the lines yet, but I put it on a 9-volt battery just so I could get a photo.

 

[roadrat]

Evening all,

I'll have a cold Gritty's black fly stout.

Had a really great day today I actually drove up to Rumford (maine) and followed Rt17 west to Coo's canyon in Byron (Again in Maine).

This is significant because the Rumford falls and Rangley Lakes RR used to run up this way, The road now covers most the old roadbed but if you know what to look for you can still spot some of the old grade and a few bridge abutments.

I'm modelling this line as a what if, as in what if the line had made it to Megantic, Quebec. and hooked up with the CP and became a bridge line between CP and MEC.

 

Well thats it for me tonite got to be to work for 3:30am.

 

bill

heres a link for the Rumford falls RR

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rum1800/maps.html

 

[mikesmowers]

   Great barber shop Mister B. I really do not like the idea ''Closed on Mondays'' I was planning to come in tommarrow morning for a shave and haircut, Would you open for me about 7:  AM  as a special favor?    Oh, by the way way I don't have any money as in I'm broke,
       Set Em Up Joe.......Give Mister B one on me, maybe I can get a free shave.
                                              Mike

[MisterBeasley]

No problem, Mike.  Baldy's not doing anything, anyway.  The layout is in the 1960's, and a haircut was only a buck and a quarter back then, even in New York.  The Yul Brynner look wasn't really in yet, so the ladies didn't take to the less hirsute among us.  Back then, I sported a Beatle haircut, which eventually grew enough so that if I leaned my head way back, the end of my hair reached down to ... well, let's say it was below the belt line.  You'll have to find someone else to tell you about shaving.  I gave it up in 1969, and didn't see my chin again until 1977.

I put a shot of the "rear end" of Baldy's building over in Weekend Photo Fun.  Nothing remarkable about the building, but the Walthers fire escapes are something other urban modellers might be interested in.

Chicken's on.  Time for another cold one before it needs another brush with the K.C. Masterpiece.

 

[inch53]

Evening all, A barley pop over here Joe please,

Mike ,,, sounds like you just need a new roof to fix the leak. I've seen holes 15 ft. away from where the water shows inside.


Tatans,,, glad you see the light, and have Joe set ya up what ya will.  Just like the coffe shop, it's just another place to chat basiclly. I drink coffe or tea while working on the layout also, just depends on the mood.

JB,,, think the wife's fixing the last of our green tomatoes tomorrow night, to go along with the beef roast, I'm slow roasting out on the grill [if I can find it in the freezer]. Also got a couple butternut squash, and cucumbers left, may have them too.

I MISS MY GARDEN ALREADY

Mike ,,, just got to your joke,,, Joe could use another here now

MR. B like the barber shop, but will have to pass on joining the singing [ by public request here]

Well half times bout over, think I'll abit more afore I call it a day. See ya'll tomorrow maybe, got grandkids again and no school, makes for a might long one
inch

[colvinbackshop]

Chris wrote:

"Now you're talkin'!  Etouffee or Creole rocks.  So what type of roux do you make with the etouffee?  1 Beer or 2 beer?"

And "inch" wrote:

JB,,, think the wife's fixing the last of our green tomatoes tomorrow night, to go along with the beef roast, I'm slow roasting out on the grill [if I can find it in the freezer]. Also got a couple butternut squash, and cucumbers left, may have them too.

JB says:

Funny you should ask that Chris!!...It's a two beer roux, but it took a 6 pack to get that darn thing done....with four of the six for the chef! It did turn out really good though...Even if I did have four beers and some wine too!

I suppose that I really should respond with a PM regarding the recipe...But I'll post it here this time...Not to mention that "inch" is also doing green tomatoes, along with a "slow" roast...YUM!

So, anyway here goes...With two recipe ideas from my Acadian file!

Enjoy, JB

 

 Here is one of those great dishes (the Acadian classic - shrimp smothered in a roux-thickened sauce of vegetables and spices) that was such a great taste experience while we were down in the Big Easy a few years ago for a nieces wedding. 

After better then two years of playing with the traditional étouffée method and trying many a version to duplicate the wonderful dish that we were served...I have finely come up with a really great one, that is quick and relatively painless! 

For extra HEAT, add more cayenne or a touch of Tabasco sauce.

Shrimp étouffée

JB's Voodoo Cafe'

From JB

Serves 4 or more

 

1/4 C. olive oil

3 T. (rounded) flour

1-1/2 C. (1-14oz. can) chicken broth

24 oz. of a dark, full bodied, robust beer

1 T. oil

1 each; green and red Bell pepper, finely minced

1 fresh, minced, "hot" pepper (jalapeno, Garden Salsa....what ever), can be added here too. Just be careful about adding the cayenne that is listed latter, as to not get the dish too hot.

1 Lg. onion, finely minced

4 cloves, crushed garlic

2 ribs celery, finely minced

2 bay leaf

1 to 2 t. salt (to taste)

1/4 t. cayenne pepper

1/2 t. fresh ground black pepper

1 t. thyme leaves

1 (15 oz. can) tomato sauce

1 bunch of scallions (green onions) chopped

2 lbs. (at least) shrimp, shelled and divined

 

1)) In a large sauté pan or Dutch oven heat the oil over mod. high heat until almost "smoking". Add the flour whisking for about 3 minutes until it becomes light brown in color, taking care not to burn it. Slowly add the broth, tomatoes sauce and the beer, continuing to whisk, until the sauce begins to thicken (about another 2  to 3 minutes)

 

2)) Meanwhile sauté the peppers, celery, onion and garlic in about 1 T. of olive oil for about 5 minutes (until the veggies become softened). Stir in all the remaining ingredients, except the shrimp and scallions, bring to a boil, reduce heat to VERY low, cover and simmer, cooking to a "sauce" (about 30 minutes).

 

3)) Add the shrimp and scallions, continue to simmer until the shrimp are "just done" (about 3 - 5 minutes)

 

Serve on a bed of rice, or as we experienced it...on fried green tomatoes! Or...Try rice, and fried green tomatoes!

 

WINE RECOMMENDATION:
The down-home taste of this American original is perfect with a refreshing American white wine. Try a pinot gris from Oregon or a dry Riesling, either from Oregon or Washington State. All of these have more acidity than their California counterparts complementing the taste.

 

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

JB's Voodoo Cafe'

From JB
4 servings (serving size: 4 tomato slices)

 

1/4 C. all-purpose flour

1/4 C. yellow (or white) cornmeal

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

Dash of sugar
16 (1/2-inch-thick) slices green tomatoes (about 3 Lg. green tomatoes)

1/4 C. milk

1 egg

2 To 3 T. olive oil

 

1)) Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (flour through sugar) in a shallow dish, set aside.

Whisk together the milk and egg. Dip tomato slices in milk / egg mixture; dredge in flour mixture. Fry in the pan.

 

2)) Heat oil over med. high heat; brown tomato slices 4 to 5 minutes on each side (until golden brown).

Serve!

[mikesmowers]

   Good evening all , Joe how about a round on the house?       Well now Joe,  you don't have to get nasty..... Just bring us all a round even if they don't want it.
    I am one happy camper this evening, It has been raining here all afternoon and none in the train room.  Makes me say YIPPI YI YA.   
   Went to Wally world today and picked up a couple more trucks and a couple more vans and a helicopter, yea thats what I said, a helicopter. Thought it would be different flying over the mountain. I haven't seen one on anyones layout.  Could this be a first?
     Jeffrey,  did you get your modem back up and running? I see you made a post a while ago.  Catch up with yall later.      Mike


        P.S.     Been one week this morning with no smokes, another reason I am a happy camper
                                 

[MisterBeasley]

Cheers to all - Joe, set 'em up again for the folks that have run dry.

Great news, Mike.  We knew you could do it.  The dance hall alone is proof that you've got the Patience of Job.  You just can't do good modelling if you can't make a decision and stick to it.  Hey, after you pay off the DCC system, how about buying the poor Fillmores a power mower, huh?  I mean, he's gotta have 3/4 of an acre of flat grass.  Have Pity on the Fool, Mr. T.

Thai food tonight.  There's a nice little Chinese grocery just past my LHS, so I picked up some pork and leek dumplings, Thai rice noodles and peanut sauce.  Cooked up real nice with some chicken, peppers, onions, mushrooms and scallions.  Too many noodles, but that just means I'll have to make it again and do it right.  Shrimp next time, though.  The chicken gets lost in the sauce.

The next project is Walthers Interstate Fuel and Oil Company.  I was just looking for a couple of horizontal tanks, but this has a loading ramp for the oil trucks, and a off-loading facility for the rail cars.  But...what color do I paint the pipes?  I'm modelling the 60's, and I don't want anything that would look out of place in the steam era.  (Yeah, I'm gonna do a time warp on my layout.  Steam with sound is just too cool, and diesel can't compare.  I want to maintain dual citizenship, though.  Alcos, F7's and Geeps have a romance all their own.)

And Jeffrey, I had one of your breakfasts yesterday - 3 eggs, bacon, English muffins and plenty of coffee.  It's a maybe once-every-two-weeks thing, but it sure went down easy.

 

[mikesmowers]

     Well there is a different side to this record  that I did not realize a while ago,  now the office is leaking!!!!! It is on the ''Other Side of Town'' if you know what I mean.  Is that what they mean by the phrase ''When It Rains It Pours''   Think I'll have anothe beer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mike

[inch53]

Hey, how ya be this night, I'll have a cold one over here Joe,,,, thanks
Had kids all morn, then it was outside trying to finish some things before the 3 day came came in, then turn cold. Chance of frost Fri. or Sat. morning.

JB,, thanks for the recipes. Didn't dont the roast or green tomatoes today, ended up with grill brats and Mothers skillet bake beans.
 We decided the camper needed to be home before the weather got bad, and couldn't get it out of the campgrounds, along with some other things that needed finishing.

Mike,,, glad the roof patch be holding so far. Went digging through the photos of my last layout. I had helicopter and some airplanes flying above it, but none of them showed up in the pics.

Best get a shower n readies fur bed, got kids tomorrow and with rain coming in may prove to be a long day. But with bad weather forecast for the next week, might be some MRR time in there. Could sure use some.
inch

[MisterBeasley]

"Roof's leakin, Bert."

"Ayuh."

"Why don't ya fix it, Bert?"

"Can't go up thayuh now.  It's rainin'."

"Why don't ya fix it when it ain't rainin', Bert?"

"Don't leak when it ain't rainin'."

 

[mikesmowers]

   Mister B....................... Finally.........................................Someone understands.
                                                               Name witheld  for protaction

[MisterBeasley]

Ayuh.  And Mike, you're at the top of the page.  I'll have a Harpoon IPA, thanks...

[mikesmowers]

   Damn..................It happened again!!!!!
                    Set 'em up Joe
      And besides,,,, How did you know it was me? I didn't sign my  name?      Name with held

[tomikawaTT]

Hi, Joe!  Got a Singha hidden in there someplace?

Mike, I feel your pain - in a most poignant way.  We had the first significant rain in ???, and the smoke alarm in the hall by the guest room started to drip.  Got a look at the roof this morning, and about a square of shingles seem to have departed for points elsewhere.  (High wind is a lot more common than rain here in the Mojave Desert!)  Since I'm well past the point where climbing around on a roof is an option, some roofing contractor is going to love me.

On the other hand, the actual layout space is still as watertight as a submarine (says he, wiping brow.)

As for all you cookin' folks - you sure do know how to make a guy hungry.  Fortunately, the gourmet cook in my family sure knows how to keep me full - or maybe unfortunately.  When I step on a "Your weight and fortune," scale, the fortune always reads, "Get the @#&!! off!  You're crushin' me!"

Chuck

[colvinbackshop]

I love coming to the Beer Barn for a visit and a cold one! Especially tonight...Seems I haven't bought a round yet...Thanks you guys! But, it's my turn next. And hey...Just want to let you know that you are always welcome at the "Side Track Tavern" too!

We're open 7 days a week, with some great food specials and cold "Meininger Ale" on tap....So, if you ever find your self in North Central Minnesota, I sure do hope you'll drop by for a visit...Really!!

The decor isn't much but it's my tavern, bought and paid for and I just had to show off the 1950 International Harvester tapper.

 

BTW, Mr. Beasley:

Nice work on the barbershop! Sorry to have to say it, but if Baldy were to rely on me for the livelihood of the shop he'd be going broke...I quit shaving in 1972 and quit cutting my hair in 1994!! I've saved hundreds if not thousands over the years! Ha!

I will be doing at least one oil company on the upper level of my pike and have the Walthers kit too. When I was a kid (late 50's), we lived just around the corner form a lumber company and in those days it seemed that most lumber companies also sold fuel. They had coal, fuel oil and also delivered farm gas. If memory serves the piping was all color coded with diesel / fuel oil being green, kerosene blue and gasoline red. White gas (for lamps and stoves) was "out back" in a small (maybe 150 gal.) above ground steel tank with a hand pump on it. It was painted silver, but had a wide red strip on it. If I, you or anybody else finds out a color scheme other than what I remember...Please share. 

 

Congrats Mike! One week down, it should only get easier..Keep the course!

 

BTW, can anybody shed light on why I can't seem to get a smaller size font..I'm using size1 on the tool bar, it looks right as I write but is bigger when posted?

[edkowal]

It's Guiness for me!

-Ed

[inch53]

Morning, an irish coffee for me Joe
They pushed the rain back till evening now, but it'll be cloudy most the day. Nothin planned, got kids, so not much well get done, but getting KC out of what she shouldn't be into.

Mike,,, not haven much luck with roof patchen I see. At least it's not on the trains now.

Chuck,,, the wife is a good cook also, thats how she got me. But I've managed to not gain much.

JB,,,,Like your frig tapper and the glasses. If I ever get your way, we'll be sure to look ya up.
Your paint colors on the fuel tanks were the same round here. Marrs furniture sold propane in 100# bottle. It was you haul or they'ed deliever for  $2. We had one bulk propane dealer, Petrolane, most people were still useing coal or fuel oil back then. The coal dealer was in behind the old Farmers Co-op. in downtown Marshall. He sold ice there and his coaling siding on the E. side of town.
 On your , if you make it any smaller, I wont be able to read here. Shows up real small on this end.

Best get on to chores, hope ya'll has a gooden
inch

[MisterBeasley]

Now that is a beer fridge.  Man, that is one fine antique, and the glasses just add to effect.

Your font shows up really small for me, too.  What resolution and font size do you use on your display defaults?  That may be the difference.  (I'm running XP, so there may be some differences here.)  Right-click on a blank part of your desktop and select "Properties."  Select "Settings" from the top, and see what is selected for "Screen Resolution."  On my machine, it's 1280 x 1024.  Then click "Advanced" and check the DPI Settings.  Mine is at 96.

My Motley Fuels company will handle both coal and oil.  The quonset hut in the Walthers kit isn't going to fit, so that will end up somewhere else.  Thanks for the info on the pipe colors - I've got some nice dingy reds and greens that will do nicely.  The whole operation sits "upstairs" from the subway line, so it is actually going to span 3 separate foam liftoffs.  It's going to be interesting to see how well I can disguise the seams on those.

[91rioja]

JB, don't make that font any smaller.  I have trouble reading it as is.  If I'm ever in Minn. again, I 'll have to stop by.  I love microbrews with "local flavor".

I haven't gotten much done on the layout in weeks; heck, I'm even thinking about pulling it all up and starting again.  Not sure what/why I don;t like it.

Anywho, it is a little early for beer, but I'll be back later.

Chris

[91rioja]

Wow, it was rather quite here today.  Well the grocery store was out of Spaten Octoberfest again.  I guess I must have bought them out again.  Oh well, I still have one left from the last stash.

Well, tonights menu is boneless pork loin chops marinated in a habenero bbq sauce, grilled to perfection, with baked Fuji apples and grilled squash, with a baked potato on the side.  That means good eats.

Chris

[inch53]

Evening all, I'll have an old Mill  Joe,
Just stop in for a quick one. Mother fixing boneless chicken ***, don't know how yet. Think it's a new recipe.
No kids tonight or tomorrow, rains coming in, it;s MRR time. Could sure use some. Think I'll slip out to the train room till supper.
inch

[mikesmowers]

  Evening all, Joe, I'll have the usual.             Did not do much today.  I did buy a 1978 Ford 1/2 ton PU this afternoon. It had a paint job on it about a year ago although it needs to be polished, no dents, dings, or scratches. It has a 302cid v8 with auto trans, the interior is in great shape also, new dash cover and seat cover. I got it for $500.00. what do you think, I thought it to be a steal. I haven't paid for it yet so I haven't got it yet.   Oh I got it from my cousin who bought a new Explorer yesterday.  I am kinda thrilled.                                Mike

[MisterBeasley]

One last brew before I hit the hay.  No RR today - it's hockey night.  Really low turnout, but we still had fun, nobody got hurt, and we got to drink beer afterwards.  I'm the Old Phart of my hockey group, but when I started playing, I was the young guy, and Tricky Dick Nixon was in the White House.  Yeah, it's really been a long time.  Now, the group on before us is young ladies.  I play in Concord, Mass., and the girls' program there is known as one of the best in the country.  Quite a few US Olympian women got their start in that program, so I look on these kids with great respect.

Tomorrow, I think I'll drive by my LHS.  There's a steam engine there that's sitting in a box on a shelf, and I think it needs a good home.

[colvinbackshop]

Set up the next round on me, Joe.

Mike: Sounds to me like you got a pretty good deal, course you didn't say  the PU runs! Really though, $500 sounds pretty good to me...You should be thrilled!

Re: your leaky roof...Man I can feel your pain. I had a leak that I fixed and fixed and fixed....and Never was able to fix. The darn leak ended up ruining window jambs! The water would run down to the end of the attic vapor barrier, leak into the wall above the window, then through the jamb. One heck of a mess! Finely sprung for a new steel roof this summer. Now the leak is under control, but somehow, I'm now getting mice in the house. The only thing changed is the roof...They must be getting in through a ridge vent or something...Go figure!

Glad you let me know about the size / font thing. Here I thought I was "yelling" at everybody, cause it's sooooo big here at this end. This note is typed with the #3 (must be the default, as this is the one that always comes up when I open a reply) setting, so let me know how this one comes through.

inch: It's raining here this evening and the forecast is for snow! It's a bit early for that, but it can and has happened before. I'm thinking that even if we do see it, it won't last long. But...On the other hand, I have all the outside chores done and snow season means Trainroom construction season! Yes!!

I took another picture of a A. Meininger reefer tonight, trying to get a little closer, giving better resolution. Once I get the darn thing downloaded, uploaded and again downloaded as a link, I'll post it.

[inch53]

Mornin, an irish coffee Joe

Rainin here now, looks to be done latter this afternoon and turn cold when the front moves through. Think there'll be a fire tonight in the stove.

Mike,,, a 78 ford in that gooda shape would bring $12 to $1500 here easy, maybe even $2000. So' I think you got a great deal on it.

JB,,,, we get mice every year after harvest starts and the weather turns cooler. It's a battle to get rid of them too. We've got 2 cats but they're no help.

Weather geusser's are calling for maybe killing frost here tomorrow morning, bout normal time for it here anyway. Cold weather means MRR time for me too, thats the only part of witer I look forward to anymore.

Got some everyday chores to do first off, then it's play time, so, best get to'em.

inch