A man has to eat!

[El Jefe]

Dang, I've been in the mood to cook here this past week or so.

Did a mess of BBQ'd chicken wings the other night. These are a real crowd pleaser.



As mentioned did a brisket on Thursday.





Then I got to thinking this morning that I haven't had any pulled pork sammies in a while. So....

Picked up a 7.2 pound picnic and have it brining.



The plan is to put in on early tomorrow. It had best be early cause this thing will need about 15 hours at 225.

[TEN-32]

Lookin good bro. I made meatloaf.

[El Jefe]

Lookin good bro. I made meatloaf.

You have my condolences.

[Richard Simmons]

Looks great Jefferson! I've never done a brisket but after seeing yours I think I'll give it a try. Have you ever corned one? I love BBQ brisket but if I could make a good corned beef brisket that would be da bomb.

[El Jefe]

Looks great Jefferson! I've never done a brisket but after seeing yours I think I'll give it a try. Have you ever corned one? I love BBQ brisket but if I could make a good corned beef brisket that would be da bomb.

No Richard, I haven't. I'd have to do some study to figure out the process. Another thing that would be cool to know how to make would be pastrami. A good, hot pastrami sammich is hard to beat.

[TEN-32]

I've made some corned briskets. Its not hard. You just make a brine with pickling spice, bay leaves, cloves...look around the web until you find a recipe you like. If you have a Foodsaver its helpful. The meat brines for 7 days or so. Then you can smoke (pastrami) or braise (corned beef). One thing to remember is that if you want the classic pink color, you need to use a product like Morton's Tender Quick in your brine.

[El Jefe]

I've made some corned briskets. Its not hard. You just make a brine with pickling spice, bay leaves, cloves...look around the web until you find a recipe you like. If you have a Foodsaver its helpful. The meat brines for 7 days or so. Then you can smoke (pastrami) or braise (corned beef). One thing to remember is that if you want the classic pink color, you need to use a product like Morton's Tender Quick in your brine.

Very interesting. I may have to try my hand at pastrami later this fall.

[El Jefe]

Okay, got started on the pork shoulder at 7:00 this morning. I should have gotten up with the wife, I could have had it cooking about 2 hours earlier, as it was it went in the smoker at 8:30. Ugh, that gives me a finishing time of roughly 11:30 tonight.

I was intending to leave the fat cap on and just score it in a checkerboard pattern, but when I pulled from the brine this morning I decided it was too thick so I trimmed most of it off. I simply should have done that yesterday before it went in the brine.

Anyway, here it is out of the brine, dried off and rubbed with olive oil.



For rub I'm using Kansas City Cowtown "The Squeal" pork rub.




And into the pit she goes.



For smoking wood I'm using a healthy dose of pecan. Its almost identical to hickory but perhaps a little milder. The wife swears she can tell a difference and that pecan is better. Um, okay, dear.

Also, when I put the shoulder on it was sprinkling, now its pouring! Sheesh, hopefully I won't have any issues with my controller.
I've got it pretty well covered up to keep it dry, so we'll see.

[TEN-32]

Makes me all warm and tingly inside.

[El Jefe]

Okay, rain passed through, controller is doing fine and my internal temp is up to 148. Thats a rise of 106 degrees since 8:30 this morning.

Also, I'm happy to report that the Kansas City Chiefs, won 28-2 on opening day, on the road!

[El Jefe]

Well, went to check on the smoker. Its doing well hovering around 225. Internal temp is at 159, so its getting there. Since 8:30 this morning I hadn't opened it up once, but about 10 minutes ago I just had to take a quick peek, looks great!

Did I mention the Chiefs won?

[silentkilla]

Well, went to check on the smoker. Its doing well hovering around 225. Internal temp is at 159, so its getting there. Since 8:30 this morning I hadn't opened it up once, but about 10 minutes ago I just had to take a quick peek, looks great!

Did I mention the Chiefs won?

hell yeah the cheifs won! and ol silent killa's back at it again.... yea yea i know i'll regret it in the morn.

[silentkilla]

settin here listening to a little blue grass and a bunch of hank williams jr and david allen coe

[El Jefe]

settin here listening to a little blue grass and a bunch of hank williams jr and david allen coe

Don't get too carried away, its a school night, son.

[silentkilla]

Don't get too carried away, its a school night, son.

lol, i know brother. don't live but once and i damn sure an't wasting it!

[TEN-32]

LOL @ DAC. Check out Hank III.

[silentkilla]

LOL @ DAC. Check out Hank III.

got all his albums brother!

[El Jefe]

Jesus, took a wrong turn and stumbled in to a fricken trailer court.

[silentkilla]

Jesus, took a wrong turn and stumbled in to a fricken trailer court.

if thats what you think of good southern music..... yeah your in one....

[El Jefe]

Hey, hey, I'm at 180. Not too much more to go.

Sitting here watching the Giants/Cowboys and decided I'd best spark up a Bolivar and have a wee dram of Glenfiddich-12.