OK, time to check in from beautiful Vacaville.Hello Friends. First off, I had a change in plan. When the contest was first announced, I said I'd send picks from my tailgate at the Oakland Coliseum. But, when I realized today was NFL Week One, I decided to forsake the A's game for a full day orgy of televised football (& some baseball), food and drink. I invited a few friends over and tried to remember to take pictures.
I think you guys call them turds. I call 'em poppers...
![](https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10644878_10202448295150388_2916000773288485453_n.jpg?oh=5fce240d04b4865183da5ef6415606cf&oe=54A1350C)
After slicing lengthwise, I gut the membranes and seeds, then replace with a few seeds on each side. Then I fill with Jimmy Dean Sage on one side, cream cheese on the other...
Wrap with half slice of bacon, secure with toothpick...
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10612542_10202448295110387_8777552451210676285_n.jpg?oh=00f2bd918ff4acbdf11f38632711783c&oe=54A79664&__gda__=1419043186_c70fde3bbf941ba2874697e8e1393961)
Pretty, huh?
My "main event" today is a couple racks of St, Louis style ribs. Here they are, all rubbed up...
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10609646_10202446675069887_3210595540958540140_n.jpg?oh=6e2dca8d99bf85a3a0c16b0e6ba8ef54&oe=548912A7&__gda__=1418258162_587557076271c709d911bdb8b083a423)
A couple shots after about 45 minutes on the grill...
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1604780_10202448295070386_1053091392784519604_n.jpg?oh=13d3fc8add38f1ef54d062433e1b9fdf&oe=548B7A11&__gda__=1418302331_1a9d15d005c612ce856ce388e0b5cd45)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10665865_10202448295230390_7589640875664919743_n.jpg?oh=b75007f3b02658d4e6439801902fadff&oe=549935E1&__gda__=1419675060_85b99749cdd4285ad640ce4ab3df9c63)
Time for a beer...
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10559806_10202449236653925_6816859485919255783_n.jpg?oh=1873c870a079d12f267260a942502439&oe=5483E2A0&__gda__=1418100725_a3c36a1c9c9110a12e916e46825a0aa7)
About three hours in, ready for a light coat of sauce...
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10687034_10202449236693926_2787637149925174485_n.jpg?oh=be0c804573334e5dc9d5d93fe9b12fbd&oe=5490018D&__gda__=1419253208_fafe88db41ecbde28c290fa026e40622)
...and about 15 minutes later...
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10593202_10202449236773928_7674586476685024289_n.jpg?oh=3cdac5cf5de19be8b57af238a0b155a7&oe=54998535&__gda__=1418840867_40761ed08c396e3703d1bca3dcf6180a)
I make what I call "Tailgate Taters". I use Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced in half and, after painting with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and a bit of cayenne pepper. They sit in a bit of apple juice and cook for a hour +. Love getting the dripping of whatever else I'm cooking on the Tailgate Taters. Here's, the poppers, the bacon adds some great flavor.
![](https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10552454_10202449236613924_3185316500534482197_n.jpg?oh=252825415be804cc0b38b231ae7f2dfa&oe=54A48B43)
Man does not live by ribs and poppers alone. British Bangers, Polish sausage, and chicken/garlic sausages. Again, loving the drip into the Taters.
![](https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10646951_10202449237533947_1751871946699449370_n.jpg?oh=106bcd2d54fda7ac41d7f6f4cbc3a929&oe=5491E864)
Mmmmmm. Corn.
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1601135_10202449236733927_1900086761885454833_n.jpg?oh=e877db5019b1d2b19e87adcab342cf86&oe=54840617&__gda__=1418845998_a133d6e83ab72b4fca5aa3ee74a1398f)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10632570_10202449239814004_1424994659929757298_n.jpg?oh=b07634ce8648f1ae451edb8a1079725c&oe=548D5387&__gda__=1418833874_ce441c0d241c652548de6100b95c9b4b)
...but not just corn...Elote!
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10628329_10202449460139512_4336002084496727315_n.jpg?oh=f1d7eb99f8f2cc3ab0944a3d0356bb2c&oe=5484B37C&__gda__=1419313514_f8357d9cb5844de739e1e55e0dac8ba0)
Love me some poppers
![](https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10177399_10202449239854005_8198260836466252234_n.jpg?oh=9176a6419b35217f2c46bc770ff5b838&oe=549117CC)
Tailgate Taters, plated. After about 70 minutes, I pulled the pan from under the grill and finsh them over the coals.
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10689851_10202449239734002_8547087834735501704_n.jpg?oh=d30446d7eb0a45c9e91e5a3779f5591b&oe=549BE7F5&__gda__=1418625696_32a271c672f1cf5cf8209ccf14fb5f75)
Cool condiment holder?
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10646714_10202449239894006_2402711825311408347_n.jpg?oh=eede9c5af4374c43e3fc451396928195&oe=54991578&__gda__=1418070382_7fa8316eedaca22ce3a8f798acd5b33f)
The ribs turned out pretty great. Say hi to most of my grills in the background.
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10647069_10202449239774003_5363080642698734351_n.jpg?oh=538f7d0ad8fad02179c9eb91a685c465&oe=54A48F3E&__gda__=1420311848_be2332f69ba7558d7b089befd75c285d)
I hope everyone had a great day. Lots of (as planned) food, fun and drink here today.