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I posted a week or so ago in the wood forum but thought I would post a bit about my self and my background here.
A few weeks ago I purchased my first smoker, a Brinkmann Smoke and Pit from Home Depot. I've been charcoal grilling for 11 years now. I started out with a small charbroil travel type grill (the type that the legs swivel up over the lid to lock it to the bottom), moved up to a Kingsford Kettle grill, then to a larger charcoal grill from Target (the charcoal grate sits on two rods that are bent to form handles so that you can lower and raise the grate).
I've used the kettle and portable grill with hickory and mesquite chips (seperately, not together), usually soaked in water or water and apple juice. I was able to get decent results but long smokes or indirect cooking was impossible. I could never do beer can chicken since none of the grills had enough vertical space to stand the chicken on a can. I usually would just cut the chicken between the breasts and flatten it out in a roaster before applying dry rub and then placing it on the grill (minus the roaster).
In the wood forum I asked about Maple, since we have 6 large maple trees in the backyard. I have a lot of dead limbs (some have already fallen, some need to be cut out before all of the leaves fall). I also have some limbs that need to be pruned out. I also mentioned that I was looking for a source for fruitwood from local orchards, and ended up locating a few.
I have yet to assemble the smoker though, and that goes back to my title. When I purchased the smoker my wife was 37 weeks pregnant with our second child. The following week she ended up getting her c-section date moved up. At 11:57am on Oct 2nd, I became a Daddy again to our second daughter. Two and half days later Mom and Baby came home from the hospital. Between diaper changes, taking care of my wife who is recovering from surgery, taking care of our 9.5 year old, and other assorted chores around the house, I haven't had much time to put the smoker together.
In the meantime though I've been going through the forums, and perusing the meat sections of the local stores in town briefly when I have a chance.
Still trying to decide what my first smoke will be after the curing of the smoker. I've found a source for Apple, Cherry and of course the Maple from the backyard. So I'm thinking a roasting chicken from Sams, or maybe a pork loin.
In my professional life I'm a web developer for the local community college as well as independent computer & graphic designer consultant.
Well that's enough about me, don't want to bore you all.
--
Joe
Northern Ohio
A few weeks ago I purchased my first smoker, a Brinkmann Smoke and Pit from Home Depot. I've been charcoal grilling for 11 years now. I started out with a small charbroil travel type grill (the type that the legs swivel up over the lid to lock it to the bottom), moved up to a Kingsford Kettle grill, then to a larger charcoal grill from Target (the charcoal grate sits on two rods that are bent to form handles so that you can lower and raise the grate).
I've used the kettle and portable grill with hickory and mesquite chips (seperately, not together), usually soaked in water or water and apple juice. I was able to get decent results but long smokes or indirect cooking was impossible. I could never do beer can chicken since none of the grills had enough vertical space to stand the chicken on a can. I usually would just cut the chicken between the breasts and flatten it out in a roaster before applying dry rub and then placing it on the grill (minus the roaster).
In the wood forum I asked about Maple, since we have 6 large maple trees in the backyard. I have a lot of dead limbs (some have already fallen, some need to be cut out before all of the leaves fall). I also have some limbs that need to be pruned out. I also mentioned that I was looking for a source for fruitwood from local orchards, and ended up locating a few.
I have yet to assemble the smoker though, and that goes back to my title. When I purchased the smoker my wife was 37 weeks pregnant with our second child. The following week she ended up getting her c-section date moved up. At 11:57am on Oct 2nd, I became a Daddy again to our second daughter. Two and half days later Mom and Baby came home from the hospital. Between diaper changes, taking care of my wife who is recovering from surgery, taking care of our 9.5 year old, and other assorted chores around the house, I haven't had much time to put the smoker together.
In the meantime though I've been going through the forums, and perusing the meat sections of the local stores in town briefly when I have a chance.
Still trying to decide what my first smoke will be after the curing of the smoker. I've found a source for Apple, Cherry and of course the Maple from the backyard. So I'm thinking a roasting chicken from Sams, or maybe a pork loin.
In my professional life I'm a web developer for the local community college as well as independent computer & graphic designer consultant.
Well that's enough about me, don't want to bore you all.
--
Joe
Northern Ohio
, Joe.
If you can't, you can still make some great grub, just don't let it frustrate you too much. 
" -- 
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