Skip to main content

Adventures in Catering: Martinez Style


I know it's been kind of quiet in the West Texas Mama blog world.....things have been busy - playing nurse, work at the paying gig, getting kids ready for school, etc.  But, this weekend provided WTM with an experience that must be documented for posterity's sake.

El Hubbo's skills with smoking briskets is becoming more historic with the passage of time.  A friend of ours from church asked us to help him "feed a few folks" for a dove hunt.  No big deal, a couple briskets, maybe some beans, potato salad.  "Something easy."

"No problem!" we said.  And, in deed, in our optimism, we felt this would be simple.  Then, the numbers started growing.....and growing......and growing.   We would potentially be feeding 75 people.  This had turned from a small, backyard cookout to a major catering operation!

In a sick, somewhat masochistic way, the planning of such a thing is something I love.  I break out the calculator, put the headings in my spreadsheet, and start the price comparisons.  I troll websites looking for information on serving sizes, check all the store websites for sales, etc.  I am a number nerd.  El Hubbo utilizes a more laissez-faire approach:  day before he started to think about the stuff he might need.  This is why he needs me in his life.

Our entire dining room became the Op Center for this project, as we started accumulating supplies:  Rotel, 20 lbs of dry pinto beans, season mixes (we have secret recipes we mix in bulk), bowls, picnic packs, paper plates, BBQ sauce ingredients, pounds of onions, jalapeños, a 42-Qt pot to cook the 20 lbs of pinto beans, 500 ft roll of aluminum foil, etc, etc.

We were to go to the ranch on Friday night, where El Hubbo would start the all-night brisket smoking process.  It was raining, which added to the adventure component of our first catering gig.  There were 17 folks scattered amongst two houses.....one of the homes was built on the property in 1915, and had a stove that I am estimating at approximately 60+ years of age.  But, don't let age fool you, that old gal could still cook!


We served breakfast:  Huevos Rancheros with homemade bacon tortillas....topped with homemade salsa (courtesy of sous chef Jake), fresh cilantro and queso fresco.

The men wandered about periodically attempting to shoot some dove, and when that failed, shoot clay pigeons over the canyon.  The girls had a "hen party".  The kids ran wild, convinced some of the younger adults to take them four-wheeling, and had a great time just being kids in the country.  It was wet and drizzly, but nice and cool, which was welcome after a hot Texas summer.

People rolled in all day, and by 4:30, we had almost fifty folks who had braved the weather.  The food was good, the company was great, and we all had a good time.

The brains behind the event:


Country kids:





Beautiful scenery:



Muddy rescue operation:


Friends and Fun:







Babies were popular entertainment:




Chowing down:






Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sometimes, Life Ain't Fair

I generally try to keep my blog relatively light-hearted.  I poke fun at myself and my loved ones because I think it helps to keep perspective.  Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously, and we just need a reminder that life is pretty good in the grand scheme of things. But sometimes, life ain't fair. What follows is an honest, heart-felt post.  It will not be easy to read at times.  Consider yourself warned.  There are no such things as safe spaces in my world. Few outside of an FFA or 4H program understand "why" we show livestock.   Sadly, the concept of raising livestock, having any kind of inkling or understanding of how and where one's food comes from (besides the grocery store) is foreign to most, even some of you who follow this blog.  (I love you anyway, but sometimes I worry about you.) There is a fascination with our lifestyle, and I generally become the defacto ag teacher in work meetings as I explain what my kids were doing in rece...

Uno Lampino

 El Hubbo started the conversation with "Now, promise you won't kill him." That immediately got my attention.   "He broke one of your lamps when he came in the house with the weed eater.  Like beyond repair." I asked, "Why was he bringing the weed eater through the house?" "Well, he cleaned it up and he feels bad," El Hubbo said.  "I thought I should call and give you warning.  We've spent so much time and money getting him to this point....." "Ugh."  I hung up. Upon my arrival home, I saw the lampshade on the counter.  Then I saw the boy child.  I grabbed him in a big hug.  "Your daddy called and told me you wanted to take me lamp shopping.  That is so sweet of you!" He looked a bit bewildered but relieved that I had not immediately gone for the jugular.  "Uh, yeah, ok." "I'm so excited that I'm getting new lamps for the living room!" "Wait?  Lamps?  Don't you mean 'l...

Simple Kid

I know I have been a little remiss in my posting duties, please forgive me!  (As I am sure you can relate to how busy a time of year this becomes for us all!)  Here's a short, but sweet one: So, yesterday I pick up my offspring from the daycare, just as I do every day after work, whether I want to or not.  (Most of the time I do want to - MOST of the time.)  Jake crawls into the car, and we begin our daily ritual - How was your day?  Fine.  Did you learn anything good today?  No.  What did you eat for lunch?  I don't remember.  Did you get into trouble?  (sheepish look)  Well did you?  A little.  Define "A little." You get the drift. Jake then asks about having a snack when he gets home.  I respond, "Sure!  How about some slimy goat boogers with spider hair sprinkled on top?"  (We're all about nutrition and being open to trying new things.  Ok, not really.) "EWWWW!  Those are insects!"...