So, with tomorrow's culinary throw-down looming large, I'm getting things started. Gotta cook up my sauce, just got done prepping the ribs. Also, as an extra, I'm making Cheese Straws, which I haven't had in, cripes, must be over 20 years, but which I remember my ancient aunts making and me loving. Having never made them before, this is a bit of an experiment, but not much of one, because they're completely flippin' easy.

I actually have two recipes, because Southern families either pass one down, or they pass a lot down. ;)

1:
1/4 lb Cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika

2:
1/2 lb margarine
1/2 lb extra sharp cheese
1 tbsp. water
1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
2 1/2 cups flour

Either way, mix together thoroughly. Roll or cut into straw shapes (a cookie press works wonders here). Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Number 2 has a little more kick then number 1, due to the cayenne, and that's really how it should be done. Unfortunately, I don't have any cayenne. Oops.

Gotta make some potato salad still, and Dianna is doing some fruit/veggie sides. Should be a hell of a Rib-Off, as it turns out that at least two of the four Grill Sergeants are doing a sweeter taste (I'm doing my Peach BBQ Ribs, daemonwise has a more cocoa/cajun thing going on that tastes wunne'ful), and Mike P. is doing a molasses/bourbon thing, so we should have a nice choice of meats. Gonna be good times.

Now, must go check my Cheese Straws, first batch should be almost done, and gotta start the sauce...and still waiting to see if chaosreality shows up for the game tonight...must remember to pack my folding chairs and the fans, and the cooler...things to do, things to do...