Lemon Basil Chicken on the Big Green Egg

Yesterday I was searching for a way to use some of the basil that I needed to harvest from our garden.  When I searched for a low fat basil chicken recipe, the first three results pointed to a Lemon Basil Chicken recipe on a blog called Eat Yourself Skinny.  Here is the link to the recipe: http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2011/03/lemon-basil-chicken.html.

I followed the recipe just as it is, but instead made it on the big green egg using the plate setter and cast iron grate.  Let me tell you that chicken was superb, juicy like no other I assume due to the brining.  Anyway it’s a simple recipe using household items plus some basil and a lemon.  I also used some basil to top some tomatoes.  mm good!

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New Big Green Egg Table

Several years ago Martha gave me a Big Green Egg for Fathers Day.  I felt unworthy then and still do now, but it’s a really amazing tool, and until this point has lived in a “nest” with fold down arms.  For my 40th birthday Martha sort of gave me a new Big Green Egg table for it to live in.  The reason I said sort of was because I had to call the guy and order it, go pick it up, and stain/seal it before I could use it.

A buddy of hers gave her a link on craigslist of a company in Auburn Ga that makes these unfinished cypress tables for the Big Green Egg.  I pulled it up, found the one I liked on their website www.CypressGrillTables.com, and placed my order around 8:30 on a Thursday morning.  It took me about 45 minutes from Buckhead to drive to their shop which is located off of Highway 316 on the way to Athens.  I got there at 10:30, loaded up the table, in and out in five minutes or less.

Here is a picture of the unfinished table in my man room ready to get stained:

To get it finished I went to Ace Hardware on Roswell Road as they are all knowledgeable in the Big Green Egg arena.  They pointed out everything I would need to go from what I had, to the finished product.  I decided that I wanted it to be a darker color to offset the beating it will take over it’s lifetime, burn marks, dents, scratches etc.  I used MINWAX Wood Finish (Special Walnut 224) which gave it a nice rich brown color.  I applied one coat of that and let it dry overnight.

After the stain dried I put on the first coat of the sealer which is MINWAX Helmsman Spar Urethane.  It is a clear semi-gloss water based sealant.  Now this had to be applied 3 times all over the table which took a few days to get through.  The can actually says 4 coats are needed for exterior use but I went with the guys recommendation at Ace and did three.

The final touch was to go to Lowes and buy some robe hooks that might go on your bathroom door.  They are an oil rubbed bronze and look great with the table.

    

Here are a few pictures of how it turned out.  I could not be any happier with the results.

Thanks for reading.

Carson Matthews

My First Beer Can Chicken

Tonight I made a beer can chicken for the first time on the Big Green Egg.  I’ve been on a grilling hiatus since December 31st.  For some reason that I’m not aware of I have been taking a break…  Glad to be back.  I used several BGE toys for the first time including the sittin’ chicken, iGrill and some of my new tools that I got for Christmas.  It was pretty easy; I simply rubbed the chicken with lemon pepper from the Fresh Market, filled the sittin’ chicken with a beer, put the chicken on top and stuffed the neck with some quartered onions.  I cooked it on the Big Green Egg for about an hour and a half at 375 give or take.

The iGrill was awesome and totally eliminated the need to open the egg while it was cooking.  My phone went off when the temperature was 170 degrees and we were done.  It was simple and the taste was amazing.  I was not expecting the boys to eat it, but they devoured it!  When we were done at the table they both went to the counter and picked the chicken apart until it was gone.  The chicken cost $7.94 at the Fresh Market… now that’s money well spent.

 This was a very simple recipe as I didn’t want to get too involved the first time through, but the flavor was right on with so little effort.  There are more extravagant rubs that will probably make it even better, and you have to think a different beer could enhance the flavor as well.  We shall see.

FMLS Joins the Photo Revolution

Over the past year FMLS (First Multiple Listing Service) has been updating it’s systems and moving to a new platform called Fusion.  For someone like me who loves technology, this has been great fun.  They have made everything simpler, smarter and way more effective.  The one thing that I thought was falling between the cracks was the photo management.  I literally spent an hour arranging my photos for a new listing once, which is absurd when you consider all of the different places we can upload photos, and how easy it can be.  Today I went in to upload some new spring photos for a listing of mine and what do you know?  It’s awesome!!

 

The new system lets you upload multiple photos at a time and arrange them instantly by dragging them in the order you prefer.  It also has cache names for the images like Master Bedroom, Front Yard, Living Room etc…

As I’m typing this it seems ancient to be saying how great these changes are, but I couldn’t be happier to see them finally arrive.  If photos sell houses, it needs to be easy to put them out there.

Way to go FMLS!

Impression From Tuesday Caravan – Safe

SecureLogicOnline

Today I saw a listing and was stopped in my tracks by two silver built-in boxes in the walls.  After seeing the first one in a room off the master bedroom I assumed it was a safe, then saw another at the top of the basement stairs.  I didn’t immediately realize what they were for, and am still not totally sure, but at least I know what they are.  They are Secure Logic wall vaults.  They come with either a keypad or biometric feature which reads your fingerprint, and cost $399 & $479 respectively.  The doors are recessed and gravity operated so there is no swinging out.  The doors open in less than two seconds giving you instant access to your valueables or guns…which I’m thinking is what the ones I saw today were used for.  The vaults were tested by the US Dept of Justice and deemed safe to store a loaded firearm. 

Here is a link to view and purchase a wall vault http://www.securelogiconline.com/index.php/products/wall-vault

What I liked about them and what got my attention was how sleek they were and how flush they were with the wall.  Not that you want to show off a safe, but if you need your stuff quickly, this is a great option.

 

A Store’s Reaction to In-Store Product Review Research

Today I went into a local ‘tech’ store to get a new TV to replace ours that got zapped by a recent lighting storm.  I went in with my Galaxy Tablet so I could do some research on whatever model I found before making the purchase.  Before I could get it pulled up on CNET, a gentleman in slacks and a button down shirt approached me and proceeded to give me the full rundown on the TV I was looking at in addition to information on my other options.  Funny enough, he owned the same TV and had a fabulous personal review for me.

I inquired about the availability, told him I had other shopping to do, and he said he would track me down once he had the answers.  Minutes later a clerk in “standard” attire approached me and helped me through the rest of the process.  He was very nice and helpful, but noticeably at a different pay level and 20 years younger.

I couldn’t help but think throughout the process that they didn’t want me in there doing research on their products before making my purchase.  It makes total sense and from a retail standpoint, what could be worse?  Consumer comes in, picks out a product, scans it with their mobile device, realizes it’s cheaper down the street and proceeds to walk out of your store and buy it elsewhere.

I imagine this is on the minds of the powers that be within retail stores everywhere.  The approach taken today was spot on with me.  I’m a sucker for customer service and when treated right, you’ve got my business.

Swimming at Chastain Pool

Last weekend we took our new GoPro out for a spin at Chastain Pool. We had a lot of fun trying it out and getting some underwater footage.

 

Carson Matthews

Thanksgiving Turkey Preparation Timelapse Video

Here is a iPhone 6 timelapse video of our Thanksgiving turkey preparation on Thanksgiving morning. After this it went into the Big Green Egg for several hours and came out perfect!

Timelapse Compilation of Sunrise and Weather

Here is a video compilation of time-lapse videos out of our front window. Our house faces East so we get great sunrises and a consistent look at clouds and storms moving through.

Sunset over the Chattahoochee River

Here is a picture of the sun tonight as it began setting over the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. This shot was taken from the East Palisades Trail of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area looking west to Cobb Parkway as it crossed the Hooch.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8

70mm f/8.0 5 frames processed in Photomatix and Lightroom

Saturday Down South

Saturday Down South