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caradoc

Fire Starter
Original poster
May 7, 2014
39
10
Greetings from Hawaii!

I'm brand new to smoking here.  I love cooking, and some grilling, but never took the dive into smoking.  Been wanting to try it but seemed like a bit too much work and expense for something I'm not sure would be a huge hit with the family.  But memories of tailgating and childhood BBQ linger on...

Anyway, a guy I know was raving about this MES he just bought and how plug n' play it was I finally said what the hell, and I have a MES 40 coming on Friday.  Wife was not happy, but I'll convince her :)

Of course, I have absolutely no idea what I'm getting into.  I'm assuming there will be an instruction manual on how to run the thing.  Signed up for the e-course here.  Starting to browse the forums.  Worried a bit about the first run though.  Especially since I need to get some stuff that the wife and kids will eat.  I don't think the kids have ever had BBQ anything (ages 9 and 4) and while the wife will occasionally get some ribs at outback, she's not into BBQ (or spicy, and she's just very particular about her tastes).  Personally, I love it, but I primarily cook to the audience.  Lately the kids have been getting more adventurous in their tastes though, so she's starting to learn to deal with me cooking other kine stuff now that she's finally outnumbered. 

Any thoughts on what would be a mild "introductory" start to the smoking adventure?  If things come out too strong I kind of run the risk of everyone getting their mind set against this if their first experience is bad, so I'm thinking I need a safe starter.  I know my older daughter can handle the flavor from liquid smoke (that kind of how people do kalua pork and cabbage here, in the slow cooker with just Hawaiian salt and liquid smoke, and we both love that, though the wife is not really a huge fan) but she's stubborn when she gets it in her head she isn't going to like something.  I was thinking some kind of pork ribs? 

Thanks in advance
 
Greetings from the big isle! I'd recommend for a first smoke chicken with kiawe wood. Very simple and you'll swear you're eating Huli Huli!

Soon you'll be on the lookout for waiwi wood, strawberry guava, it's a invasive tree that grows everywhere! It has a very mild smoke flavor, suppose to be similar to apple wood. I wouldn't smoke beef with it but pork, chicken or salmon it's excellent.

A hui hou...
 
Hello and welcome from East Texas. I agree, start with chicken, cheep, easy and forgiving. Since everyone will be new to the smoking, I would go pretty light on the smoke flavor, You can also throw on some sausage, it's always good. After a few times you will more comfortable with your smoker and what you are smoking, It gets very addictive. I am a Charcoal and Wood guy, but plenty of electric smokers on here, My friend Bearcarver is a great source of information on electric smokers and recipes, give him a shout or send a PM, I am sure he can get you started off right.

Gary S
 
Hey

Welcome to the Smoking  forum.   You’ll find great , friendly people here, all more than willing to answer any question you may have.  Just ask and you’ll get about 10 different answers—all right.  LOL.   Don’t forget to post qviews.

Gary
 
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