FEATURED Morning Pops!

LeonDixson said:

Morning Pops and everyone. Happy Friday.

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CouchCoach said:

Indeed and same to you.

I am cranking up the smoker this weekend with some smoked catfish for dinner, smoked trout for salads and smoked salmon to hang out in the fridge and get snacked on. Smoked chicken finished on the grill with chipotle BBQ sauce is on the menu for Sunday. Anytime I can get the smoker and grill involved with the same meat is special. I do that with my ribs.

They like to say we eat with our eyes. Well, I gotta tell ya, that spatchcocked chicken coming off that grill lacquered with that sauce shouldn't be on a platter, it should hang on the wall.

Got some infused liquor going as well, tequila with watermelon, tequila with mango, rum with pineapple and gin with cucumber. The simple life is best enjoyed with complex cocktails.

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LeonDixson said:

Good morning, Pops and all Y'all. Welcome to the Weekend! Coach, what kind of smoker do you have and what fuel do you use. My gas grill is worn out and I'm thinking I want to get a smoker. They can also be used as a regular grill, right?

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ColoCowboy said:

Good Saturday morning Pops and Zoner Friends,

It is a cool, rainy, grumpy day... Perfect for indoor chores and, later, a trip to the hot tub.

@LeonDixson I would also check out the Tecrec smoker. Compares favorably to the Trager but supposedly has a more consistent temperature controller. Personally, I have been a big fan of Weber.

Do any of you have that one family member that, regardless the situation - wedding, funeral, birthday, you name it - makes it all about him or her? It doesn't matter the topic, this individual has either experienced something much worse, much better, bigger, costlier, etc. It is to the point that most of the other family members simply avoid him. And, to make it even more interesting, I have been "nominated" to conduct an intervention with him. Strangely, I can't wait.

Have a great weekend!!

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Runwildboys said:

So you've been given the green light to speak on behalf of everyone he pisses off?...........OH HAPPY DAY!!!!

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ColoCowboy said:

Good Saturday morning Pops and Zoner Friends,

It is a cool, rainy, grumpy day... Perfect for indoor chores and, later, a trip to the hot tub.

@LeonDixson I would also check out the Tecrec smoker. Compares favorably to the Trager but supposedly has a more consistent temperature controller. Personally, I have been a big fan of Weber.

Do any of you have that one family member that, regardless the situation - wedding, funeral, birthday, you name it - makes it all about him or her? It doesn't matter the topic, this individual has either experienced something much worse, much better, bigger, costlier, etc. It is to the point that most of the other family members simply avoid him. And, to make it even more interesting, I have been "nominated" to conduct an intervention with him. Strangely, I can't wait.

Have a great weekend!!

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CouchCoach said:

Leon, there has been never a better time for selection, it all depends on what you want.

I have had every kind of smoker they make, beginning with the old Brinkman charcoal water smoker, an offset wood smoker, chamber smokers with propane, electric and a Big Green Egg that I named Humpty because I tipped him over and all the king's men, well, you know the rest.

I have a Dyna-Glo chamber gas smoker but I do not recommend it because the smoker box is too far away form the burners and have to crank it up to get some smoke going. Shame because the integrity of the chamber is first rate, no smoke from the edges, comes out where intended.

I've also had many gas grills but nothing beats a Weber, just an excellent product with incredible service. My son's 9 year old grill rusted and they sent him an entire new set up and a top, basically a new grill at no charge and no shipping fee. I have the newest Genesis II and while it is pricey, I've burned through so many of these that is actually a bargain.

Weber has recently introduced their Smoke/Fire Grill that is the combination you're asking about. It's a pellet smoker and a grill with their name behind it. Traegor pioneered the pellet smoker but many are making them now and if it's Weber, I am already onboard.

I can get by with my smoker but I am going to check out the Smoke/Fire just because I am a spendthrift when it comes to cooking and food and whiskey and cigars. OK, that covers the self-incriminating confession.....for now. I reserve the right to add things at a later date.

Check out Weber's site for the tour they're making at Lowe's in certain areas with a demo of the Smoke/Fire. It is so new, I haven't talked to anyone that has used one.

The other suggestion I have is to start a thread in the OTZ and ask the posters here about recommendations because there are a lot of grillers/smokers here and you can get some first hand suggestions. Very timely as well because there are quite a few that participate in our time honored tradition of yet another excuse to drink.

One suggestion I do have, unless you want everything coming off with a smoke taste to it, I'd go separate cooking. If I get the Smoke/Fire, I will still use my regular grill for anything I don't want smoked, like my expensive steaks. But that's just me, some like everything smoked. That was a problem I had grilling a steak on my Egg after using it as a smoker. When I think of what I spend with Chicago Steaks, don't want anything but fire touching that steak.

I actually like cooking on a charcoal set up but we're in a perpetual burn ban down here and even the Egg is prohibited since a guy decided to clean out his firebox while using it and started a grass fire that caused 50% of the population of oy little town to be evacuated. The Fire Chief told me "it's not the smoker so much as it's the smoker, if you get my meaning". Some things cannot be idiot proofed.

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ColoCowboy said:

Good morning Pops and Greetings from the hinterlands.

I suppose I was elected to lead the intervention because my "I don't give-a-$&it" factor was the lowest of the affected family members and because I am perceived as the calmest of the bunch... Silly people.

Anyway, a teleconference call is arranged and we'll see what happens. All kidding aside,it is really sad when family relationships devolve in this manner.

So, how was everyone's weekend? It was rainy/snowy here, so we continued with our indoor remodeling. Two out three bathrooms are finished and now we're re-doing the laundry room. Our new washer and dryer arrive today. Never thought I would be this excited about a household appliance.

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ColoCowboy said:

Good morning Pops and Greetings from the hinterlands.

I suppose I was elected to lead the intervention because my "I don't give-a-$&it" factor was the lowest of the affected family members and because I am perceived as the calmest of the bunch... Silly people.

Anyway, a teleconference call is arranged and we'll see what happens. All kidding aside,it is really sad when family relationships devolve in this manner.

So, how was everyone's weekend? It was rainy/snowy here, so we continued with our indoor remodeling. Two out three bathrooms are finished and now we're re-doing the laundry room. Our new washer and dryer arrive today. Never thought I would be this excited about a household appliance.

Click to expand...