Page 9 - DEC2021 Digial Issue: Barbecue News Magazine

Dana “big papa” Hillis
BBQ From Florida
lighthousepointe@ hotmail.com
The holidays are here and it's time to light the fires and make the air smell good! With our wonderful economy food has become a chore to find. Turkeys are at an all time high as well as other foods. Groceries are up 60% and so are fuel prices. This holiday season is going to put pressure on our wallets but all I can do is say a prayer that everyone is safe and healthy and let's all seriously enjoy every minute with our family and friends. Our phone services are still priced about the same, so make sure and call those who can’t make it in person to your yearly gatherings. Catch up with those loved ones any way you can!
We are cooking a whole bunch of Thanksgiving dinners again this year. We found some turkeys and hams at a rea- sonable price but still had to raise our prices a bit. Even with that fact we will still be feeding a lot of people. My fa- vorite part of Thanksgiving is hanging out with family and watching them eat. I have a 17 year-old grandson that is a wrestler and football player and watching this monster eat is special!
We are cooking turkeys, ham, brisket, beef tenderloin, squash casserole, onion casserole, smusshy corn, Janet’s fa- mous corn casserole, the best cranberry sauce ever, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sweet po- tato casserole, smoked deviled eggs, Big Papa cole slaw and several breads. I am sure I forgot something but now I am hungry!
Thanksgiving has always been a feast in our family. I re- member many big meals in Tennessee at my grand- mother's. I also remember my dad sitting on our porch with an old grill and a small cooler. He believed to make a moist turkey you had to baste it a lot. He added a touch of beer to the broth and I swear it was the best I ever had. One year he had stepped away from the grill for a minute and a stray cat made a daring attempt to get some turkey. Watching my dad duel with that cat was funny. He squirted it with the turkey baster and chased it off. He did take some leftovers and fed the old cat. I swear the only time that cat came around was when my dad fired up his old grill!
My mom grew up with her first cousin Sharon and they
were raised like sisters. My Aunt Sherry is the sweetest, most loveable human being alive. She lives in Michigan and is coming down to Orlando to stay with my cousin Wendy so this will allow us to spend some time with them over the holidays. I am thankful she will make the trip and I am hoping she just stays. I hope she enjoys her trip!
When we sit at the dinner table I love hearing my son's fuss over who Janet spoils the most. She makes green bean casserole for Shane, she makes squash casserole for Vonn, smooshy corn for Cadin, and chocolate chip cookies for Paul. Last year Cadin was accused of having mom hide him some special mountain dew drinks in the refrigerator. Cadin told Shane they were not hidden they were on the top shelf and Shane was not tall enough to see the top shelf! The wrestling match was on! It did not last long cause they had both eaten way to0 much!
From our family to yours, we hope you all enjoy your holi- days as much as you ever have. Here's to a safe and healthy holiday to everyone! Thank you to Woods n Water and the Barbecue News Magazine for letting me tell my tales all these years. Good luck to all the competitors cooking all over the country and we are looking forward to competing again in 2022 and seeing if we remember how!
Cook people BBQ, it makes them happy! Dana “big papa” Hillis
DECEMBER 2021
BarbecueNews.com - 9
Thanksgiving BBQ!
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