Back in November of 2012 my wife and daughter were scheduled to do a weekend out of town event. I was home with my 6 year old son. I remember him enjoying ribs at a restaurant (Famous Dave's). So I figured I would spend our time together making ribs and then going to see minor league hockey (during the strike so there were some younger NHL players involved).
I had never cooked ribs before, so I turned to the internet and found Last Meal Ribs. Which lead to reading about Memphis Dust, which at that time still had salt in the recipe. I read about setting up my gas grill for indirect cooking, using a water pan, learned that I wasn't cooking up in the dome of the grill and would need a thermometer on the grate (but I didn't spring for digital at this time). I bought a Weber smoker box, I followed the recipe as closely as I could. And was relatively successful. Taste was great, texture was good. I remember being so impressed with the detail of amazingribs.com. I also new I could improve on my cook over time. The temp varied more than I would have hoped (wood in smoker box would catch fire, temps would rise I put out the fire and temps would fall. Regardless, it was fun. My son enjoyed the ribs. He felt special that I was making them for him. We had a great night at the game.
From that point on, amazingribs.com became a go to site for all things outdoor cooking, with Alton Brown for indoors. I think what I liked most about the site was the science of cooking that I enjoy in Good Eats. And at this point, I get much more joy from cooking outdoors, so it is now my go to site for cooking.
Fast forward a bit to the following June, and I was ready for my first cook on my Big Poppa Smokers Drum. First cook was for my son's 7th birthday.
A few years down the road, with a little luck, one garbage day right after father's day I thought to myself, I'll bet someone with a new grill will be throwing out and old one. And sure enough within 5 minutes I drive by a 22" kettle at the curb. Used it a couple of times and decided the wind in my yard required an ask catcher. I managed to pick up a red special edition for $99 on clearance. Sold the freebie so it only cost me $70 out of pocket.
Amazingribs helped me learn how to use this well enough that my confidence was pretty close to what I felt with my Genesis that I had been cooking on for over 20 years if you include my earlier edition and my dad's before that.
Luck strikes again as I was driving on a winding road with my now high school aged daughter and I see what looks like a Trager next to a garbage can. I come to a quick stop, hop out and see it is a Pit Boss. I wasn't familiar with the brand, and it looked pretty dirty (was used as a charcoal cooker) so I figured it was broken and this was their attempt at still using it for something. I figured what the heck. She helped me load it in the truck. I got it home did a little research and a cousin told me it was probably just a jammed auger. Sure enough, that was the only issue. Cleared the jam, cleaned it up and fired it up.
Of course first cook...
My luck hasn't run out yet. I check the Facebook market place and miss out on most of the amazing deals. But was second in line for a green performer, the same 2007 green as my Genesis. The first guy doesn't show. I'm offered a $55 performer. Pretty dirty, well used and well loved by the guy moving to a condo that doesn't allow it. And believe it or not, less than five minutes away from my house. By this time I have purchased what amazingribs.com described as the single best accessory for the kettle, a slow'n sear. So I'm eager to use it on this new to me and freshly cleaned up performer.
I can't say the first cook was last meal ribs this time, but kettle fried chicken. Saw too many posts about this in a Facebook group to not give it a try.
​​​​​​Over the years since first finding amazingribs.com a lot has changed in my life, we now have 5 kids up from 2. Moved from a Western Chicago suburb to a Southwest suburb. The kids keep us on our toes and with this many kids it helps to keep my hobbies things that can be done at home and serve a purpose, like eating.
Amazing ribs has helped make outdoor cooking a fun and successful hobby that helps put good food in my family's belly.
Jeremy
In my possession at this time:
1. Weber Genesis E320
2. Weber Performer
3. Weber 22.5 Special Edition Red Kettle
4. Weber 22.5 Premium Kettle (in my possession at this time applies to this one, $20 for a dirty kettle missing front leg. Cleaned and standing ready to sell).
5. Weber Smokey Joe 14"
6. Pit Boss Pellet Smoker (Garbage day find, had a broken auger, and owner tried using it as a charcoal grill, just needed a good cleaning and to be un-jammed and is now working great.
7. Big Poppa Smokers EDS (55 Drum Smoker, built from a kit BPS sells)
8. A drum in my shed that is drilled out but not painted, intention is to make it look like R2-D2.
Wanted to buy...
26" Kettle, would be nice to not crowd my 22 when cooking for my family of 7.
Considering but waiting a bit, Weber Smoke-Fire.
If I do get this I would sell the Pit Boss. Also would consider selling the genesis if it would replace what I tend to use my gas for, quick weeknight cooks and pizza.
I had never cooked ribs before, so I turned to the internet and found Last Meal Ribs. Which lead to reading about Memphis Dust, which at that time still had salt in the recipe. I read about setting up my gas grill for indirect cooking, using a water pan, learned that I wasn't cooking up in the dome of the grill and would need a thermometer on the grate (but I didn't spring for digital at this time). I bought a Weber smoker box, I followed the recipe as closely as I could. And was relatively successful. Taste was great, texture was good. I remember being so impressed with the detail of amazingribs.com. I also new I could improve on my cook over time. The temp varied more than I would have hoped (wood in smoker box would catch fire, temps would rise I put out the fire and temps would fall. Regardless, it was fun. My son enjoyed the ribs. He felt special that I was making them for him. We had a great night at the game.
From that point on, amazingribs.com became a go to site for all things outdoor cooking, with Alton Brown for indoors. I think what I liked most about the site was the science of cooking that I enjoy in Good Eats. And at this point, I get much more joy from cooking outdoors, so it is now my go to site for cooking.
Fast forward a bit to the following June, and I was ready for my first cook on my Big Poppa Smokers Drum. First cook was for my son's 7th birthday.
A few years down the road, with a little luck, one garbage day right after father's day I thought to myself, I'll bet someone with a new grill will be throwing out and old one. And sure enough within 5 minutes I drive by a 22" kettle at the curb. Used it a couple of times and decided the wind in my yard required an ask catcher. I managed to pick up a red special edition for $99 on clearance. Sold the freebie so it only cost me $70 out of pocket.
Amazingribs helped me learn how to use this well enough that my confidence was pretty close to what I felt with my Genesis that I had been cooking on for over 20 years if you include my earlier edition and my dad's before that.
Luck strikes again as I was driving on a winding road with my now high school aged daughter and I see what looks like a Trager next to a garbage can. I come to a quick stop, hop out and see it is a Pit Boss. I wasn't familiar with the brand, and it looked pretty dirty (was used as a charcoal cooker) so I figured it was broken and this was their attempt at still using it for something. I figured what the heck. She helped me load it in the truck. I got it home did a little research and a cousin told me it was probably just a jammed auger. Sure enough, that was the only issue. Cleared the jam, cleaned it up and fired it up.
Of course first cook...
My luck hasn't run out yet. I check the Facebook market place and miss out on most of the amazing deals. But was second in line for a green performer, the same 2007 green as my Genesis. The first guy doesn't show. I'm offered a $55 performer. Pretty dirty, well used and well loved by the guy moving to a condo that doesn't allow it. And believe it or not, less than five minutes away from my house. By this time I have purchased what amazingribs.com described as the single best accessory for the kettle, a slow'n sear. So I'm eager to use it on this new to me and freshly cleaned up performer.
I can't say the first cook was last meal ribs this time, but kettle fried chicken. Saw too many posts about this in a Facebook group to not give it a try.
​​​​​​Over the years since first finding amazingribs.com a lot has changed in my life, we now have 5 kids up from 2. Moved from a Western Chicago suburb to a Southwest suburb. The kids keep us on our toes and with this many kids it helps to keep my hobbies things that can be done at home and serve a purpose, like eating.
Amazing ribs has helped make outdoor cooking a fun and successful hobby that helps put good food in my family's belly.
Jeremy
In my possession at this time:
1. Weber Genesis E320
2. Weber Performer
3. Weber 22.5 Special Edition Red Kettle
4. Weber 22.5 Premium Kettle (in my possession at this time applies to this one, $20 for a dirty kettle missing front leg. Cleaned and standing ready to sell).
5. Weber Smokey Joe 14"
6. Pit Boss Pellet Smoker (Garbage day find, had a broken auger, and owner tried using it as a charcoal grill, just needed a good cleaning and to be un-jammed and is now working great.
7. Big Poppa Smokers EDS (55 Drum Smoker, built from a kit BPS sells)
8. A drum in my shed that is drilled out but not painted, intention is to make it look like R2-D2.
Wanted to buy...
26" Kettle, would be nice to not crowd my 22 when cooking for my family of 7.
Considering but waiting a bit, Weber Smoke-Fire.
If I do get this I would sell the Pit Boss. Also would consider selling the genesis if it would replace what I tend to use my gas for, quick weeknight cooks and pizza.
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