I got my new (used - new to me) cookshack 250 hooked up yesterday. I disconnected the receptacle for the large window a/c and wired in a plug for the cookshack. Don't need ac this time of year anyway. I cleand the inside of the unit, removed the racks and tried to clean them to pristie, to no avail. I decided I only needed two racks to start anyway, so I cleaned them for now. The others would have to wait, I've got smoking to do.
The only wood I could find at the Home Depot store was mesquite and hickory, so I decided on the hickory to season with. Put some in and cranked it up. It's late afternoon and I'm thinking it will be 8 pm before this 4 hour seasoning is done, man I need to cook something! I had bought some beef ribs and a 9.5 lb. pork butt at the store while in town getting the electrical stuff - both were on sale. I can't wait till 8 pm to put the ribs in..... surely it wouldn't hurt to throw them in half way through the initial seasoning...... five hours later ....Mmmmmmmm cookshack beef ribs at midnight! Awesome!
Now it's the following morning, the weather man predicted a light frost for this morning maybe 31 degrees. I'm up and ready to put that butt in the cookshack, it's been sitting in seasoning in the fridge since last night. I look at my little indoor/outdoor thermometer and it says 24 degrees! I know for some of you easterners that isn't very cold, but for us Central Cal guys thats cold. The pipes are wrapped, but must've missed somewhere because there is no water coming out of the ol kitchen faucet. Now the mind starts working:
Barbecue....... Pipes......
Barbecue....... Pipes......
Barbecue........Pipes......
The scales of priority are tipping back and forth. I mean the damages is done right? I probably won't find any broken pipes till it warms up anyway. I took a shower last night, and the wife is already gone to work after leaving a note about now water. Who needs water anyway? The butt is wrapped in foil, I could probably open it an flip it on the rack without touching the meat - don't need to wash my hands for a couple hours, right?
Needless to say the cookshack is fired up, the butt is on, smoke is rising, and I'm sitting here next to the fireplace sharing this strange feeling I have inside, while waiting for any sign of a waterspout erupting outside! I have this strange urge to go outside and set a chair in front of the cookshack and just watch it smoke! But reason kicks in and I know the 12 to 15 hours minimum for a butt this size as I've learned about on this great forum would make MY butt hurt sitting that long.
So, here I sit sharing my newfound obsession with a bunch of great folks I've never met before...... hoping I will find solace in the fact that there are others out there who share this same affliction. BARBECUE ON MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS! This newbie is hooked!
I have hundreds of questions but have found thousands of answers on this forum. Thanks so much for all the help. This is a great resource.
Waiting and watching for that first butt!
Jack
P.S. - my login says "hayman" because I grow hay, my name is Jack - guess you figured that out by now. God bless, happy queing!
Original Post
It's almost 11 am pacific time, I checked the smoker - doing great, checked the kitchen faucet - it's running again, checked outside - no gyser of water, ate two cold ribs from last nigths "seasoning session" for brunch.... Life is GOOOOOOOOOOD!