He Scores!!!

This week, I scored a used (2007 model) Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker!!!

I paid $135, including a charcoal chimney and some charcoal and mesquite, which may be a bit too high but cheaper than a new one. I have been looking for one on Craigslist for a while, but this was my lucky week. I can't wait to use it...looks like the weekend will be smoky yet again!

My wife says I am obsessed. So what else is new???

Findlay Market in Cincinnati

I have to try Findlay Market in Cincy one day soon.

Ribeyes - BBQd, not grilled

I always wondered why we never smoked steaks slowly instead of grilling them quickly over a hot flame. So, when my in-laws were in town, I decided it was time for a good experiment. I visited my second favorite meat market (my favorite was closed) and bought five USDA Prime Ribeyes - the best I could find. I set up the smoker with hickory wood and no drip pan. The temp stabilized at around 350 degF when I put the steaks on the top grate, directly over the charcoals and wood but about 2 feet up. Flipped them over after about 10 mins, then again 10 mins after that. Remember that the heat is a long way away, so they weren't getting seared (as intended).

Then, after about 30 mins (which was probably 5-10 mins too long for me), I wrapped them in foil with a couple sprays of apple juice & worcestershire, put in a drip pan to cool the temps down, and put the steaks back on the grill for about an hour. The temps dropped to 230 and held for the rest of the cook.

When I took them off the grill, they were fork tender and hickory smoked. My only complaint was that they may have been a little TOO hickory smoked, which is why I think maybe I should have taken them off 10 mins sooner. I also think I should have used mesquite, but that is an experiment for next time.

All in all, they were the most tender steaks that my wife and I have ever had and I will definitely try that again! (Too bad the picture above does not really do them any justice!)

Twitter profiles worth following

Here are a couple of Twitter profiles worth following (not in any particular order).

Twitter Follows:
SmokeInDaEye (http://twitter.com/SmokeInDaEye)
Anthony Hunter (ISBBQ) (http://twitter.com/isbbq)
BBQ Addict - Jason (http://twitter.com/BBQAddictsJason)
Craig McAdams [Bucky's BBQ] (http://twitter.com/cmcadams)

I KNOW there are a few more, and many, many blogs that I should collect. Another time. Right now, I'm planning the July 4th smoker runs!

Smokin' DEW - The Initial Post

The purpose of this blog is to record the results of my exploits in the backyard (or garage) barbecuing. I expect to do around 20-25 fires a year, each of which I intend to blog about, hopefully with pictures. In addition, I am going to blog about:

* visits to BBQ restaurants
* recipes I want to try (or those I did actually try)
* BBQ book reviews
* other people's stories/blogs/tweets/etc.
* other notes as encountered

Warning: I am not a prolific blogger, so this may fall into periods of inattention. Don't be surprised.