4 slices of bread, toasted and crumbled
2 cups finely chopped granny smith apple
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon thyme
6 bone-in pork chops (1-inch thick)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon oilIn a small skillet over medium heat, sauté onions in butter until tender. Remove from heat and add the bread crumbles, apples, sage and thyme. Cut a pocket in each chop by making a horizontal cut through the meat almost to the bone. Sprinkle inside and outside with salt and pepper and spoon stuffing loosely into pockets. In a large skillet over high heat, add oil and brown the chops on both sides for 2 minutes each. Place in an ungreased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 145 degrees. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.Click here to return to the table of contents.Axl’s DessertsTurtle Pie1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups crushed pecans
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 deep-dish pie crust
Caramel Glaze (Click here for recipe.)Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add pecans and chocolate chips, then mix well. Pour into pie crust and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and drizzle with Caramel Glaze. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour before slicing.Caramel Glaze4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon saltIn a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add the brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add heavy cream and salt. Bring to a boil and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes before drizzling over turtle pie.Click here to return to the table of contents.Coca-Cola Cake2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 can Coca-Cola
2 sticks butter, melted
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze (Click here for recipe.)Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the first 3 ingredients until combined. In a small bowl, combine cola, melted butter and cocoa. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until blended well. Add in eggs, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Blend until combined, then pour into a 9x13-inch greased baking dish. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and pour Chocolate Glaze over hot cake. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing.Chocolate Glaze1/2 cup Coca-Cola
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugarIn a large bowl, whisk together the Coca-Cola, butter and cocoa. Next, add in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until everything is combined.Click here to return to the table of contents.Dr. Pepper CakeSuzanne Note: This cake came to be when, instead of Coca-Cola in the fridge, all I had was Dr. Pepper. It was an experiment that turned out AMAZING! To make this deliciousness, substitute Dr. Pepper for Coca-Cola and follow Coca-Cola Cake recipe. (Click here for recipe.)KA Note to Suzanne’s Note: I always giggle when I read that Suzanne used the word “deliciousness.” No clue why, I used it too. But with Suzanne, it’s damned cute.Click here to return to the table of contents.Chapter FiveMessin’ with FamilyKATwo weeks later…After visiting with High, Tack, and my babies, I have dinner at Las Delicias with some friends.
This runs long, and I get a text in the middle of it.
A text that contains an order from someone I can’t ignore, but even if I could, I wouldn’t want to.
My plan is to head back to Hotel Teatro to get some shut-eye so I can get up early, have time to get gussied up, and caffeinate before I need to get on the road to drive into the foothills to have breakfast with Tack, Tyra and their boys.
But instead, I head to Colorado Boulevard.
Yeah.
I’m going to Smithie’s.
I’m told my text from him will circumvent the velvet rope outside, and once I find a parking spot in the packed lot and head to the front door, I flash my phone screen to the bouncer and discover it does.
Under the baleful glare of the folks waiting in line, I’m ushered in, and with word from one bouncer to the other which ends with me being passed off from door bouncer to inside bouncer, I’m under escort.
In other words, I’m being marched to the staircase at the side of the strip club, beyond the bar.
A staircase that will lead me up to the office of the big man.
Smithie.
I want to dawdle, though I’m not given a choice.
Things are changing at Smithie’s, and I’ve been hoping I could check it out.
Since that isn’t an option, I take the option open for me and scan the space to see if I can find him.
I do.
Side wall, next to the door to the hall that leads to the bathrooms.
