Dispatches from the Creation Wars

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Ribs

Posted by Ed Brayton on May 21, 2005
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Chalk up another prediction for Lynn. I told her the other day that I saw a smoker that I really wanted and came *this* close to buying it, but didn’t. The first thing she said was, “You’ll buy it before long.” Hey, I waited three days! This morning I got to thinking that since I won so much playing poker this week, it’s almost like I’m not really buying it, the other players in my game are buying it for me as a gift, right? Okay, just humor me and say yes. So I went over and bought it this morning.

Actually, I didn’t buy the same smoker that I looked at the other day, I bought a different model. It’s a Smoke Hollow Dual Fuel Smoker, which means I can use either gas or charcoal. I was really torn between this vertical chamber smoker and a Brinkmann offset smoker. Offset smokers are generally considered better, but they’re also a whole lot bigger and they’re really for burning wood. I’ve never used wood as fuel before, and I’d have to do some searching to find a source for the kinds of wood I would use around here (you can’t just throw any old wood in there). So I decided that the vertical chamber smoker was a better idea at this point. It’s more convenient to be able to use gas or charcoal, and it takes up less space.

It’s a good weekend to do it, really. My brother is up helping us put in the new jacuzzi tub and bathroom addition, so I figure I ought to feed him well. The first racks of spare ribs went in about 15 minutes ago and should be ready by dinner time. Bon appetit!

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Comments

  1. #1 Reed A. Cartwright
    May 21, 2005

    My step-father came up with a good recipe for smoked ribs last July Forth. IIRC, the main component was basting them in apple juice every thirty minutes for half the day.

  2. #2 Ed Brayton
    May 21, 2005

    Reed wrote:

    My step-father came up with a good recipe for smoked ribs last July Forth. IIRC, the main component was basting them in apple juice every thirty minutes for half the day.

    That’s pretty normal, actually. I’ve used a lot of different basting sauces. Today I’m using a combination of apple cider and apple cider vinegar. I use a spray bottle rather than basting just because it’s faster and easier.

  3. #3 spyder
    May 21, 2005

    something to chew on while those ribs are smokin.. blessings and good tidings on the new smoker, ed.

    H.F. No. 867, 1st Engrossment – 84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) Posted on Apr 07, 2005

    1.1 A bill for an act
    1.2 relating to education; enacting the American Heritage
    1.3 Education in Minnesota Public Schools Act; proposing
    1.4 coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
    1.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
    1.6 Section 1. [120B.25] [AMERICAN HERITAGE EDUCATION.]
    1.7 (a) School districts shall permit grade-level instruction
    1.8 to ensure students have the opportunity to read and study
    1.9 America’s founding documents that provide an understanding of
    1.10 the principles, character, and world view of America’s founders;
    1.11 including documents that contributed to the foundation or
    1.12 maintenance of America’s representative republican form of
    1.13 limited government, the Bill of Rights, our free-market economic
    1.14 system, and patriotism. Districts shall permit a principal or
    1.15 teacher to appropriately use, read, or post in a public school
    1.16 building, classroom, or at any public school event any excerpts
    1.17 or portions of the original source documents, writings,
    1.18 speeches, proclamations, or records relating to the history,
    1.19 heritage, or foundation of the United States or the state of
    1.20 Minnesota, including, but not limited to:
    1.21 (1) the Mayflower Compact;
    1.22 (2) the Declaration of Independence;
    1.23 (3) the Constitutions of the United States and the state of
    1.24 Minnesota;
    1.25 (4) the Northwest Ordinance of 1787;
    2.1 (5) the Federalist Papers;
    2.2 (6) the Pledge of Allegiance;
    2.3 (7) the national anthem;
    2.4 (8) Washington’s farewell address to the nation;
    2.5 (9) Lincoln’s Gettysburg address;
    2.6 (10) the acts and published records of Congress; and
    2.7 (11) the United States Supreme Court decisions and records.
    2.8 (b) Districts may not censor or restrain instruction in
    2.9 American or Minnesota state history or heritage based on
    2.10 religious references in original source documents, writings,
    2.11 speeches, proclamations, or records described under paragraph
    2.12 (a). These and any other materials must be used for educational
    2.13 purposes and not to establish any religion.
    2.14 (c) Students may voluntarily choose to read, write, share,
    2.15 report, or otherwise study a topic which is religious in nature
    2.16 provided other students are provided with the same opportunity
    2.17 to freely choose a topic.

  4. #4 Phillip J. Birmingham
    May 21, 2005

    Hmmm, sounds like you got a smoker similar to the one I have — it’s a Brinkmann All-In-One, and is set up so you can use it as a propane-fired fryer, propane-fired grill, charcoal grill, propane-fired smoker, or charcoal smoker. I use it and a stainless steel box of wood chips for all of my smoking tasks. I also use the propane burner for making beer.