Dinner Served In A Trough

My comments about eating from a trough have necessitated further explanation. I do apologize for leaving everyone in the dark about this. Actually, we took about forty pictures and all of 'em came out looking something like this:

Wait! Wha's goin' on? Wha's happenin' with Blogger? I don't have access to putting pictures up, anymore! Help! Help! My blog is closin' in on me! Anybody know how to get back to where I can post pictures? I've lost most of my blogger capabilities.

Oh, mayaaaannn! I'm sorry; back to the trough dinner. I really have lost a lot of access on my blog and I don't know how to get it back, but I'll try and 'splain the trough situation.

If you didn't read my last post and have no idea what I'm talking about, you can read it here: I Ate From A Trough!

Imagine a long wooden box, without a top; about 12 feet long, one foot high and one foot wide. The box is lined on the inside with aluminum foil. Now, imagine someone taking a huge pot full of food and spreading it inside the box. To some degree, they then separated the different foods that were all cooked together; potatoes here, then corn, carrots, cabbage, etc.

As in some kitchens, people were assigned to dish the foods from the trough, into each person's plate, according to what they wanted or didn't want of the mixture. The chuck wagon was nearby and more food was being cooked, Cream Can Style. The cream cans were the very same type where milk is stored on a farm. They're huge and they were used to cook lots and lotsa' food. I believe a dozen cream cans full of food were cooked for the crowd.

Now, although my pictures are far from good, I was gonna' post at least a couple of 'em. However, Blogger has taken away my ability to post pictures. I hope that my description of the trough has helped you understand what fun it was to be served in such a manner. Sure wish you coulda' been there. You woulda' loved it.

Until the next time, keep a hug on.

~ Yaya

I Ate From A Trough!

I love living in Smalltown America. Contrary to popular belief, there is so much to do. No, I am not inundated with farm chores, nor have I been overwhelmed by boredom.

Quite the contrary, in fact. As a writer, I have benefitted in many more ways than I could have possibly imagined. Now, I have the time to write that I never had before and I am finding that ideas and opportunities abound at every turn.

Take, for instance, the fun that my good hubby-buddy and I were involved in yesterday. Who knew that eating from a trough could be such an amazing experience? Yes, you heard me correctly; we ate from a trough.

Okay, lemme' back up and 'splain. There was a Cowboy Cook-Off in one of the nearby towns. I hafta' admit that I was a little concerned when I heard that the food would be dumped into a trough for everyone to feed from.

Have you ever eaten food that was cooked in a Cream Can? You know those big ol' cans that farmers use to pour fresh milk into? Well, that was just the beginning. My guess is that cooking in this manner was prob'ly first discovered by those who traveled in wagons. Everything on the menu goes into the cream can and the lid is placed on top. Then the can is placed over an open flame. As far as I can tell, its just another form of Dutch Oven Cooking and it is remarkable!

As I stood in line... a very long line, I might add... waiting to eat from said trough, I worried about little things like, "Have the cooks taken cleanliness into consideration?" and "Was this trough ever used by cattle or hogs?"

Naturally, I was thrilled to discover that the trough had been especially built for people and it was freshly-lined with aluminum foil. *whew* Thank goodness!

My next feeling of relief came when the food was served up by a line of people who had been involved in the cooking. No one else was allowed to dip-in and take what they picked through. I repeat, "Whew!"

If you have never had the opportunity to eat Cream Can Cooking from a trough, I urge you to rush right out and find the nearest Cowboy Chef you can. You will not be disappointed. The food is absolutely unbelievable. Then, you can share your experience of eating from a trough and watch the eyebrows raise.

Until the next time, keep a hug on.

~ Yaya