Hello! complete newbie from north central Texas

Welcome to the forums!  Glad you joined us.  This is the best place I know for sharing ideas on smoking, grilling, curing, etc.  When you can't find the answer you're looking for by browsing the threads/forums, just ask and someone here will surely have the answer.

Some really good beginner reading is found in Jeff's 5 day basic e-course:  http://www.smoking-meat.com/smoking-basics-ecourse.

I've never heard that about wood cut in the summer... never witnessed that from my own experience, but perhaps others will weigh in on that issue.

Good luck and have fun!

Red

Welcome...and follow SeenRed's advice and sign up for Jeff's 5-day e course...it will answer a lot of your questions right there. On the wood...never heard that.

:welcome1:to SMF!!! We're happy you joined us! We have over 50,000 members now who just love to share what they know. You've come to the best place on the net to learn and share everything Q!!!

merrybookwyrm said:

 
Thank you, SeenRed and Smoke Break.  I'll start with the 5 day e-course.  I have an indoor smoker and a hibachi to play with right now.  Last stoopid question-- yaupon can be used to make tea.  Has it ever been used to smoke food?!   My wood source just threw in an offer for yaupon branches! lol.

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The berries of the yaupon cause sickness and vomiting...while the leaves, after drying, are used for tea. I'm not sure about the branches, or wood part of the Yaupon. I don't think that I would risk my family getting ill by trying it...not when risk and food are in the same sentence.

to SMF!  We are so glad you joined us! Would you mind updating your profile to show the other SMF members where you are located?  Might meet a few neighbors!

We love to see pictures of what you are cooking (or what we call q-views here at SMF).  To "upload the q-views" just follow the directions here and it will be easier. If you are using a cell phone, an IPad or a kindle, go to the main SMF page and click the Mobile button. Will make the uploads a bit faster too.

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If you need any help roaming around the forums....just holler!  Happy to help out!

Kat