Ready to take it to the next level

[scouterdan]

My name is Dan and I live El Dorado, Kansas. I have been smoking meats for several years now, but it has not been anything special. It has not been bad, but nothing over the top. I am ready to take it over the top and have decided to join this forum to help me achieve that goal.

Currently, I have a horizontal barrel shaped smoker that I purchased at the big box store years ago. I fire it with wood, mostly apple and peach as I have friends that let me prune their trees, and charcoal. It has served me well over the years, but I want more.

I picked up an old refridgerator for free the other day. I am not sure the manufacturer or date, but it is probably a 1940s model. I will be starting the build on it soon. I am thinking of adding a firebox on the side and adding an electric element to the bottom. I am anxious to explore the build section of this forum to get some tips and inspiration.

I am hoping to find some good recipes for great marinades or rubs here as well. I want to make jerky, sausages, brautwurst, etc. Let's not for get smoked cheese. I love to cook outdoors and it is time to step up my game.

Besides my smokers, my backyard contains a gas grill, 36" flat griddle, deep fryer, 40" tv with bluray player and surround sound, and an above ground pool. I have to find a replacement for my kegerator(old one died at the end of last summer) and a fireplace with pizza oven and a hammock rig is in the plans for this summer. As you can see, I try to live in my backyard as much as possible. Currently, the backyard is in a makeover phase so it is in complete chaos at the moment.

I look forward to seeing what others are doing!

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome to SMF!

All I gotta say is if your living in your backyard now.

You are definitely addicted to smoking.

My son is in Wamego, KS and I think he would love to see your backyard!

Would really like to see some photo's of your backyard!

Al

 

[joe black]

Welcome from SC, Dan. It sounds like you've got most everything under control with your various means of cooking. It's good to have you here on this great site. All you have to do is ask and there are lots of really good folks who will share their ideas and tips. Just keep reading.

When you get ready to get really serious and the weather is a little nicer, just let me know and I will check out your hammock and taste all of your cooks. If I don't think that they measure up, I'll bring them back home with me and dispose of them at no cost to you.

Good luck and keep smokin', Joe:grilling_smilie:

 

[scouterdan]

SmokinAl - Thanks for the welcome. My backyard is in shambles at the moment. We are adding to the patio, pouring a concrete pad for the pool to sit on, residing the sheds (and maybe the house) and generally cleaning up a few areas. I will post pics when it starts resembling my yard again. Wamego is about 1.5 hours North of me, but your son is welcome to come down sometime if he likes.

Joe - Thank you for the welcome, also. I do enjoy cooking outdoors. Kind of comes with being a scouter. My son and I are always trying to find a better recipe and a better way to cook it. We cook on my propane equipment almost daily when the weather cooperates and sometimes when it doesn't. We also tryout different dutchoven recipes and once in a while we will cook on our backpacking stoves just to try a new product or recipe. Once in a while we let my wife cook in the house. The hammocks are the best way to sleep on the trail. We enjoy them so much that we are installing some hitching posts this year. Come on over anytime and have a cold beverage and some good eats. It looks as if it will be a bit of a drive, though.

 

[joe black]

Thanks for the invite, Dan. It would be quite a drive, but we hope to someday visit all of the BBQ capitols, Memphis, Kansas City and St. Louis. So maybe we can get together. We can share some scouter stories. My son is an Eagle Scout and his Eagle was presented to him by Gerald Ford. He went to 2 national jamborees and I had the good fortune of being a Scoutmaster for a troop in 1985.

Good smokin' and stay in touch, Joe

 

[gary s]

  Good afternoon and welcome to the forum, from a nice sunny day here in East Texas, and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about  everything.

Gary