I believe it was Mama Asid from Mama Asid's Entrepod Asked about ceramic cookers. I do not have any personal experience with them. I do know that a lot of the competition cooks use them for cooking their chicken.
In the past I have used 3 Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM) cookers in competition. They are "bullet" smokers like the ceramic cookers like the Big Green Egg or Komodo. Unlike the ceramic cookers the WSM has to be insulated from the wind. A barbecue friend of mine Ray Lampe aka Dr BBQ uses the BGE as his main competition cooker.
Currently I am using the Fast Eddy Cooker (FEC100) made by CookShack. Its not that I didn't like the WSMs because I do. However, on the competition circuit, after two or three days, picking the WSMs up and putting them in the trailer along with tables, chairs, canopies, etc got to be a chore. The FEC stays in the trailer. BTW the FEC100 is a pellet cooker. It uses food grade cooking pellets in place of charcoal to generate cooking heat.
I have not been paid for any of the endorsements of the above cookers or web sites. The opinion are my own.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
CancerSucksChicago BBQ Team
The Dudette (Pat) and I just spent an enjoyable weekend at a barbecue cooking class taught by Scottie Johnson and Mike Wozniak. Scottie is the head cook of the CancerSucksChicago.com BBQ Team. Mike Wozniak is the head cook of the Quau (pronounced Q-Wow) BBQ Team.
Scottie started the class by giving us his background in competition barbecue. Then he went into the sad reason on how he named his BBQ team. His wife Corliss died from cancer 7 years ago this month, leaving him with 2 young daughters. On the eve of his winning the Jack Daniels World Invitational BBQ contest his Father died from cancer. Through out the years, Scottie has dedicated his free time to raising awareness and money for cancer research.
Mike is a perennial top 10 cook in the Kansas City Barbecue Society team standings. A few years ago Mike tied for team of the year with Mike Davis of Lotta Bull BBQ Team. Unfortunately KCBS says there can be only one number 1. So Quau lost to Lotta Bull.
The object of this class was to raise money for cancer research, share information to help everyone cook better, network and have fun. I believe the class achieved all its objectives and then some.
Friday evening started with us being served dinner by Uncle Bubs Barbecue in Westmont. The food was great! As we ate Scottie showed us how to trim briskets and pork butts. I did learn a different way to trim pork. Then Mike and Scottie talked to us about chicken and its preparation. Scottie showed us his trimming of pork ribs. The class ended Friday evening about 10pm with Scottie putting the briskets and pork butts in his FEC100 cooker.
The morning began at about 6:30am with it snowing. Scottie showed us how he wraps his briskets and butts. Then Mike took over the class and show us his custom "Quau" cooker. It is one slick cooker. Then he worked on chicken and Cornish hens.
Mike and Scottie tried to do the class in "contest" time. They gave everyone in attendance the feel and flair of contest timing. Not everyone attending the class were contest cooks. There were some amateur or backyard cooks.
Knowledge, fun and food was shared by all. By the way, this class raised over $13,000 for cancer research.
Scottie started the class by giving us his background in competition barbecue. Then he went into the sad reason on how he named his BBQ team. His wife Corliss died from cancer 7 years ago this month, leaving him with 2 young daughters. On the eve of his winning the Jack Daniels World Invitational BBQ contest his Father died from cancer. Through out the years, Scottie has dedicated his free time to raising awareness and money for cancer research.
Mike is a perennial top 10 cook in the Kansas City Barbecue Society team standings. A few years ago Mike tied for team of the year with Mike Davis of Lotta Bull BBQ Team. Unfortunately KCBS says there can be only one number 1. So Quau lost to Lotta Bull.
The object of this class was to raise money for cancer research, share information to help everyone cook better, network and have fun. I believe the class achieved all its objectives and then some.
Friday evening started with us being served dinner by Uncle Bubs Barbecue in Westmont. The food was great! As we ate Scottie showed us how to trim briskets and pork butts. I did learn a different way to trim pork. Then Mike and Scottie talked to us about chicken and its preparation. Scottie showed us his trimming of pork ribs. The class ended Friday evening about 10pm with Scottie putting the briskets and pork butts in his FEC100 cooker.
The morning began at about 6:30am with it snowing. Scottie showed us how he wraps his briskets and butts. Then Mike took over the class and show us his custom "Quau" cooker. It is one slick cooker. Then he worked on chicken and Cornish hens.
Mike and Scottie tried to do the class in "contest" time. They gave everyone in attendance the feel and flair of contest timing. Not everyone attending the class were contest cooks. There were some amateur or backyard cooks.
Knowledge, fun and food was shared by all. By the way, this class raised over $13,000 for cancer research.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Winter Burn 2010 Results
Well gang, the old Dude didn't fare to well at the Winter Burn. The best I did was 7th place in pork. There were 17 teams out in the bowling alley parking lot. There were 18 paid teams but one team had to back out at the last minute. BTW, this was the 5th year for the Winter Burn.
Winners...
Over all
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> Mike Rib BBQ
Sausage
1> Porkrastinators
2> Butt Smokers
3> Smoke Rings
Chicken
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> KRE Smokers
Ribs
1> Mike Rib BBQ
2> Won't Get Smoke Again
3> KRE Smokers
Pork
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> Ma & Pa Kettle
Now we have to look at our scores and see what needs to be changed. We experimented with different recipes and sauces this time out. Back yard contests like this is the perfect time to try out new recipes and sauces.
Winners...
Over all
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> Mike Rib BBQ
Sausage
1> Porkrastinators
2> Butt Smokers
3> Smoke Rings
Chicken
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> KRE Smokers
Ribs
1> Mike Rib BBQ
2> Won't Get Smoke Again
3> KRE Smokers
Pork
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> Ma & Pa Kettle
Now we have to look at our scores and see what needs to be changed. We experimented with different recipes and sauces this time out. Back yard contests like this is the perfect time to try out new recipes and sauces.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Winter Burn 2010
You've probably have watched the countdown clock above and wondered, "What the heck is a Winter Burn 2010?" Well... Winter burn is a one day barbecue contest between old and new friends in a bowling alley parking lot. More of a bragging rights thing.
For the last several years backyard and professional barbecue cooks get together to cure their cabin fever and to raise money for N.O.A.H.
This year we will be 12 to 17 teams cooking sausage, chicken, pork ribs and pork loin/tenderloin. There will also be a peoples choice chili contest. Whew! That's a lot going on in one day.
The teams will be arriving about 6am and the first turn in will be at 1:30pm and every half hour thereafter. If you want to talk barbecue, come early. If you want to taste some bodacious, and some not so bodacious, barbecue come closer to 1:30pm.
February 14th (Yes, Valentine's Day)
River Rand Bowl
194 S River Road
Des Plaines IL 60016
Phone: 847/299-1001
For the last several years backyard and professional barbecue cooks get together to cure their cabin fever and to raise money for N.O.A.H.
This year we will be 12 to 17 teams cooking sausage, chicken, pork ribs and pork loin/tenderloin. There will also be a peoples choice chili contest. Whew! That's a lot going on in one day.
The teams will be arriving about 6am and the first turn in will be at 1:30pm and every half hour thereafter. If you want to talk barbecue, come early. If you want to taste some bodacious, and some not so bodacious, barbecue come closer to 1:30pm.
February 14th (Yes, Valentine's Day)
River Rand Bowl
194 S River Road
Des Plaines IL 60016
Phone: 847/299-1001
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Official totals are in!
As the heading says the Official 2009 Totals by the Kansas City Barbecue Society are in. They keep track of over 4,600 member teams in KCBS sanctioned contest.
Over all we are number 288! I think that is pretty darn good considering we did only 7 contests in 2009. Some teams have cooked in more than 30 contest and your standings are based on your 10 bests contest. So all things considered we didn't do to bad.
Individual categories..
Brisket... 170
Ribs... 267
Chicken... 282
Pork Shoulder... 380
To your right you'll see the Pickled Pig Power Rankings. The Pickled Pig keeps track of all teams participating in contests. KCBS keeps track of member teams only.
Over all we are number 288! I think that is pretty darn good considering we did only 7 contests in 2009. Some teams have cooked in more than 30 contest and your standings are based on your 10 bests contest. So all things considered we didn't do to bad.
Individual categories..
Brisket... 170
Ribs... 267
Chicken... 282
Pork Shoulder... 380
To your right you'll see the Pickled Pig Power Rankings. The Pickled Pig keeps track of all teams participating in contests. KCBS keeps track of member teams only.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wing Things
The super bowl is coming soon! The posse is coming over to watch the game and what are you going to serve? Are you going to a Super Bowl Tailgate Party and need something quick and easy?
How about doing wing? They are simple, easy and not too expensive.
Simple Sweet & Tangy Wings
ingredients
3.5 pound chicken wings (about 25) tips removed
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (to taste)
Preparation
1. Mix everything except wings in a bowl. Reserving 1/4 cup
2. Add wings and toss to coat well, leave sit 15 to 20 minutes
3. Grill over a medium low 2 zone fire, covered 25 - 30 minutes turning every so often. If wings appear to be over cooking (read burning) move to cool side of the fire.
4. Baste with reserved marinade during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Note: If you don't have a grill, you may cook these in your broiler.
Grill temperatures can be judged by holding your hand about 2 inches about the grill grate.
* Very hot: You can hold your hand at grill level only 1 to 2 seconds.
* Hot: You can hold your hand at grill level only 2 to 3 seconds.
* Medium-hot: You can hold your hand at grill level only 3 to 4 seconds.
* Medium: You can hold your hand at grill level only 4 to 5 seconds.
* Medium-low: You can hold your hand at grill level only 5 to 6 seconds.
* Low: You can hold your hand at grill level only 6 to 7 seconds.
How about doing wing? They are simple, easy and not too expensive.
Simple Sweet & Tangy Wings
ingredients
3.5 pound chicken wings (about 25) tips removed
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (to taste)
Preparation
1. Mix everything except wings in a bowl. Reserving 1/4 cup
2. Add wings and toss to coat well, leave sit 15 to 20 minutes
3. Grill over a medium low 2 zone fire, covered 25 - 30 minutes turning every so often. If wings appear to be over cooking (read burning) move to cool side of the fire.
4. Baste with reserved marinade during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Note: If you don't have a grill, you may cook these in your broiler.
Grill temperatures can be judged by holding your hand about 2 inches about the grill grate.
* Very hot: You can hold your hand at grill level only 1 to 2 seconds.
* Hot: You can hold your hand at grill level only 2 to 3 seconds.
* Medium-hot: You can hold your hand at grill level only 3 to 4 seconds.
* Medium: You can hold your hand at grill level only 4 to 5 seconds.
* Medium-low: You can hold your hand at grill level only 5 to 6 seconds.
* Low: You can hold your hand at grill level only 6 to 7 seconds.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Thank A Soldier (long post)
I got an email from Dave Murphy at Thank A Soldier Network. Dave is in Calgary Canada and he started ThankASoldier.net to thank the men and women in military service. He wants to let them know that we support them. We may or may not support the war but we support them for doing their jobs. Since he says it better than I can I'll post his email here. If you can please donate some of your time and send a picture. He is not asking for money.
Begin
So The Gratitude Project has been getting some amazing response so far but I've gotten a lot of emails and messages on Facebook and Twitter from people asking how they can help well here it is.
What would be great is if could go to your local newspaper, radio or TV stations and click on the "Contact Us" link, if they have a web form fill it out and below you will find our official press release and what I am asking you to do is copy and paste it to an email (or web form) with the full message aside from this part.
If you do this can you email info@thankasoldier.net and let me know who you've sent it to or leave a comment on this bulletin,
Thanks
DON'T FORGET TO CLICK HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCDseAUV6oc
AND WATCH THE VIDEO! l:)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy and paste the below to your local papers, radio & tv stations sites
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am forwarding you this on behalf of Thankasoldier.net and the gratitude project for further information please see the contact information below the press release.
Thank You
(Insert your name)
Thankasoldier.net is very excited to announce The Gratitude Project, a series of YouTube videos showing a collage of images from supporters of our men and women in uniform from all countries of the coalition. Thank A Soldier started as a ‘Cause’ page on Facebook and in just over a year has surpassed 3.4 Million members from all over the world.
Too often you hear “If you support the troops, you support the war”, but this couldn’t be further from the truth, it is about our men and women from all branches of the force and from all allied nations doing their job. This project is for our troops assisting with disaster relief in Haiti, assisting with the fight against piracy in Somalia, on guard here at home ready to go when needed.
We have received tremendous support with this project too, most recently Rock Legend Gene Simmons and his wife; Shannon Tweed submitted a photo holding a "Thank You" sign with Gene saluting. Other organizations that support our troops in various ways have come onboard as well, such as Operation Gratitude and Hero to Hero USA & Canada.
Showing gratitude to our men and women doesn't cost a penny. All you have to do is take a photo that says "Thank You" and people can interpret that however they wish. Once you take the photo we ask that you send it to thankyou@thankasoldier.net and it will be featured in the video.
We have received photos from all over the world, United States, Canada,Britain, Australia, and even Argentina and Turkey, truly amazing! Also as a nice surprise, we have received over 40 photos from Soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq who have heard about this project and are sending us "Thank You for the support" photos.
Our promotional video on YouTube had over 7000 views the first week and its picking up steam fast, to view the video search YouTube for "The Gratitude Project - Presented by Thank A Soldier" or go to the direct
link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCDseAUV6oc
Brief history of my Support Our Troops efforts:
2007 - Tim Horton’s for our troops was started and have sent over 40,000 cups of free coffee to soldiers
2007 - Operation Pen Pal launched and to date have paired over 7000 people with soldiers as pen pals
2008 - Petitioned to Canada post for a support our troops stamp and it was released in Oct 2009
2008 - Support & networking site launched for families of military personal
2009 - Thank A Soldier cause launched and has 3.4 Million members to date
2009 - www.thankasoldlier.net designed and donated by Chris Shave of mister six studios
2009 - Thankasoldier.net remains advertising free & donation free
2010 - The Gratitude Project Launched
For more details contact: info@thankasoldier.net
Dave Murphy - Creator and Founder of Thankasoldier.net
Calgary, Alberta CANADA
Begin
So The Gratitude Project has been getting some amazing response so far but I've gotten a lot of emails and messages on Facebook and Twitter from people asking how they can help well here it is.
What would be great is if could go to your local newspaper, radio or TV stations and click on the "Contact Us" link, if they have a web form fill it out and below you will find our official press release and what I am asking you to do is copy and paste it to an email (or web form) with the full message aside from this part.
If you do this can you email info@thankasoldier.net and let me know who you've sent it to or leave a comment on this bulletin,
Thanks
DON'T FORGET TO CLICK HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCDseAUV6oc
AND WATCH THE VIDEO! l:)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy and paste the below to your local papers, radio & tv stations sites
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am forwarding you this on behalf of Thankasoldier.net and the gratitude project for further information please see the contact information below the press release.
Thank You
(Insert your name)
Thankasoldier.net is very excited to announce The Gratitude Project, a series of YouTube videos showing a collage of images from supporters of our men and women in uniform from all countries of the coalition. Thank A Soldier started as a ‘Cause’ page on Facebook and in just over a year has surpassed 3.4 Million members from all over the world.
Too often you hear “If you support the troops, you support the war”, but this couldn’t be further from the truth, it is about our men and women from all branches of the force and from all allied nations doing their job. This project is for our troops assisting with disaster relief in Haiti, assisting with the fight against piracy in Somalia, on guard here at home ready to go when needed.
We have received tremendous support with this project too, most recently Rock Legend Gene Simmons and his wife; Shannon Tweed submitted a photo holding a "Thank You" sign with Gene saluting. Other organizations that support our troops in various ways have come onboard as well, such as Operation Gratitude and Hero to Hero USA & Canada.
Showing gratitude to our men and women doesn't cost a penny. All you have to do is take a photo that says "Thank You" and people can interpret that however they wish. Once you take the photo we ask that you send it to thankyou@thankasoldier.net and it will be featured in the video.
We have received photos from all over the world, United States, Canada,Britain, Australia, and even Argentina and Turkey, truly amazing! Also as a nice surprise, we have received over 40 photos from Soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq who have heard about this project and are sending us "Thank You for the support" photos.
Our promotional video on YouTube had over 7000 views the first week and its picking up steam fast, to view the video search YouTube for "The Gratitude Project - Presented by Thank A Soldier" or go to the direct
link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCDseAUV6oc
Brief history of my Support Our Troops efforts:
2007 - Tim Horton’s for our troops was started and have sent over 40,000 cups of free coffee to soldiers
2007 - Operation Pen Pal launched and to date have paired over 7000 people with soldiers as pen pals
2008 - Petitioned to Canada post for a support our troops stamp and it was released in Oct 2009
2008 - Support & networking site launched for families of military personal
2009 - Thank A Soldier cause launched and has 3.4 Million members to date
2009 - www.thankasoldlier.net designed and donated by Chris Shave of mister six studios
2009 - Thankasoldier.net remains advertising free & donation free
2010 - The Gratitude Project Launched
For more details contact: info@thankasoldier.net
Dave Murphy - Creator and Founder of Thankasoldier.net
Calgary, Alberta CANADA
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