Wide Awake hit the battlefield again Saturday March 3rd for a reenactment shoot of the Battle of Shiloh at Big River Ranch in Lexington, Missouri. While most battle logistics were left to our fearless leaders, Shane and Ed, the “fuel” to keep this army advancing required a battle plan of its own. Dave and I had 70 troops to feed and a very specific menu to plan. Requirements: Meat! Who has time for vegetables in the heat of battle? Beer! Libations are a staple for keeping up morale among the men. Caffeine! With a call time of 6:00 a.m. and a 10-hour day of shooting ahead of them, our boys were going to need a little energy boost! We had Friday night dinner, and Saturday breakfast and lunch to execute. We were just the professionals to do it!
Dave went to work expertly slow cooking pork butt and loins, adding his special concoction of BBQ sauce, Cola, and beer.
Shopping list in hand, Amanda and I ventured to Sam’s Club. We filled two carts with all the fixings including gallons of potato salad, baked beans, chili, hot dogs, buns, and beer. After just barely fitting all the goods in the SUV, we were off to feed the Army!
After arriving at Kitchen Headquarters, the real work began! First task; beer on ice. Check! Next: Put on the pulled-pork dinner buffet. Check! With the troops fed and “watered,” we had one meal down. Two to go!
5:45 a.m., Saturday. We’re back on the scene. The men get their fill of coffee, cereal, and cinnamon rolls, and report for duty, as well as their close-ups on the battlefield at 7:00 a.m. Back at kitchen headquarters, Dave and I begin lunch preparation. On the menu: chili dogs, and lots of them! 200 hot dogs, and 432 ounces of chili and beans heats up in the oven. A coffee transport is established, and the men are never without a hot cup in hand. By 11:30 a.m., the lunch buffet is on, and the chili dogs are flying!
We keep the coffee brewing till wrap, but have the kitchen spotless long before. The kitchen crew, or E.K.T.F (Elite Kitchen Task Force) as I like to refer to us, have successfully completed our mission. The army is fed!
EKTF performed flawlessly, and without a whimper (that I could detect, anyway)! I was VERY impressed with the timeliness and the cleanliness. Ant to top it all off, the grub was muy delicioso!
Thanks for all your hard work! If you didn’t receive proper thanks at the time, I’m giving it to you guys now!!
THANK YOU!!
Dan Hadley
The food was great! Warm food in the belly was needed to brave those cold winds. You did a great job.
Matt and Justin