BBQ Smoker for Wedding Reception

warwick.hoy · #1 08-03-2008, 11:12 AM

I don't mean to gloat, but I've been sharing this with everyone I can. I got great news for the upcoming wedding to my long time GF Amelia, to take place this coming friday.

For a bottle of rum I have procured the services of one of these

Not this one but one a bit bigger and with a little more character. I call it the urban smoker since it sat behind a B&B/Events complex here in town and has a few tags on it

. I'm so stoked. The owner of this fine piece will be joining in the festivities and guiding us on this tasty adventure. I'll be helping with cooking because I love to cook, especially meat.

We are having a really informal wedding and we will probably change to casual attire for the reception. I'm planing on Cornish game hens, messy baby back ribs, sausages, pork butts. Some beef ideas would be great. I thought about standing rib roast (prime rib) but that is pricey. Also BBQ sauce recipes would be great. I prefer NC style, but I want a variety, so I'll have more than one BBQ sauce. I may just source a big jug from the restaurant supply.

I'll probably have a small grill set up as well for burgers, and vegetables. Something tells me you can't smoke corn and peppers. Thoughts?

The wedding is this friday. If any of you TBers have any food items to suggest for this beast of a smoker I'm all ears. We are expecting 30 to 40 people.

fenderhutz · #2 08-03-2008, 11:15 AM

Wrap the veggies in foil and yes, smoke them. Do some blocks of cheese as well.

For the smoker:

Pork Loins, Pork or Beef ribs, chicken, fish, cheese, etc etc. You can put just about any meat in a smoker and make it yummy.

I highly recommend putting a whole pork butt in and smoking it and making pulled pork sammiches.

Smoke some salmon and slice it, serve it on sliced baguettes with a tiny bit of whole grain mustard and capers. Mmmmm.

Smoke some cheese and serve it with just about anything, fruit, meat, crackers.

warwick.hoy · #3 08-03-2008, 11:22 AM

Thanks for reminding me.

Fish....absolutely Salmon!!!! We get great fresh salmon in these parts.

Whole blocks of cheese? Should they be wrapped like the veggies?

The ceremony is at 10:30 am but we are planning on getting an early start. I've been told that Pork butts would take about 8 hours, but I definitely want to do those for Pulled Pork; NC style.

fenderhutz · #4 08-03-2008, 11:23 AM

Some people like placing the fish on planks of cedar, you could do that for the cheese as well. The cheese of course doesn't require a ton of heat, that may be an issue.

NC style BBQ sauce is easy. Buy a gallon of cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, salt, pepper, etc.

* 1 gallon cider vinegar (dump some out of the jug to accommodate the other ingredients) (you can also dilute with some white vinegar, I do not)
* 1 1/2 - 2 cups brown sugar
* 3-4 tablespoons cayenne pepper (I do half Cayenne and half hot pepper flakes)
* 4 tablespoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™), or to taste (I use the Louisiana Crystal Hot Sauce)
* 4 teaspoon salt
* 4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Shake vigorously before each pour.

Marcus Johnson · #5 08-03-2008, 12:03 PM

God, this is going to be a great wedding. Congratulations.

Marcus Johnson · #6 08-03-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Smoke some salmon and slice it, serve it on sliced baguettes with a tiny bit of whole grain mustard and capers. Mmmmm.

+10000000000. As great as all the other stuff sounds, that salmon would make me slap my mama.

Visirale · #7 08-03-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

+10000000000. As great as all the other stuff sounds, that salmon would make me slap my mama.

This is BBQ. That is food for men. Salmon has no place among men.

fenderhutz · #8 08-03-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

This is BBQ. That is food for men. Salmon has no place among men.

Salmon the food - yes

Salmon the color - no

warwick.hoy · #9 08-03-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Some people like placing the fish on planks of cedar, you could do that for the cheese as well. The cheese of course doesn't require a ton of heat, that may be an issue.

NC style BBQ sauce is easy. Buy a gallon of cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, salt, pepper, etc.

* 1 gallon cider vinegar (dump some out of the jug to accommodate the other ingredients) (you can also dilute with some white vinegar, I do not)
* 1 1/2 - 2 cups brown sugar
* 3-4 tablespoons cayenne pepper (I do half Cayenne and half hot pepper flakes)
* 4 tablespoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™), or to taste (I use the Louisiana Crystal Hot Sauce)
* 4 teaspoon salt
* 4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Shake vigorously before each pour.

I'd prolly use Siracha

I've also heard of ketchup being an ingredient for NC BBQ sauce. I think some experimentation is in order. Thanks for the recipe.

I also have a stove top dutch oven (not that kind of dutch oven kids). I'm trying to brainstorm a good use for it. Thoughts?

Also can cedar planks be sourced from a hardware store? Any chemical treatments that I should be concerned about?

We actually saw the smoker in action yesterday for a B-day party.

As for the cheese....I recall that there was a cooler section at the far end of the smoke box.

Thank You so much guys. I'm getting really excited on this thing

fenderhutz · #10 08-03-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I'd prolly use Siracha

I've also heard of ketchup being an ingredient for NC BBQ sauce. I think some experimentation is in order. Thanks for the recipe.

I also have a stove top dutch oven (not that kind of dutch oven kids). I'm trying to brainstorm a good use for it. Thoughts?

Also can cedar planks be sourced from a hardware store? Any chemical treatments that I should be concerned about?

We actually saw the smoker in action yesterday for a B-day party.

As for the cheese....I recall that there was a cooler section at the far end of the smoke box.

Thank You so much guys. I'm getting really excited on this thing

Wal-Mart has food grade cedar planks, so does Home Depot and Lowes in the grilling section.

Dutch Ovens at a BBQ???? BBQ Beans of course!

Sriracha would work fine in place of the hot sauce. I am a Sriracha fan myself.

Marcus Johnson · #11 08-03-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

This is BBQ. That is food for men. Salmon has no place among men.

Don't get me wrong, I love butts as much as the next guy.

fenderphil · #12 08-03-2008, 01:05 PM

bacon wrapped cheese stuffed jalapenos!

crap! theyre on recall!! nevermind!

warwick.hoy · #13 08-03-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Wal-Mart has food grade cedar planks, so does Home Depot and Lowes in the grilling section.

Dutch Ovens at a BBQ???? BBQ Beans of course!

Sriracha would work fine in place of the hot sauce. I am a Sriracha fan myself.

I didn't think of that cause I don't normally eat beans, but that is a great idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderphil

bacon wrapped cheese stuffed jalapenos!

crap! theyre on recall!! nevermind!

I was thinking of some sort of stuffed pepper too. Maybe chorizo stuffed bells.

Thanks for all the great ideas guys.....keep em comin.

Joe Gress · #14 08-03-2008, 01:19 PM

We have a small smoker in our backyard. My favorite is a beef or pork brisket with a dry rub, or a pork butt. The rub goes on a day before, then meat is wrapped in tin foil, then smoked all night long and is done by dinner time the next day. Throughout the day we'll cook jalapeno poppers (smoked poppers are killer!), and add some baked beans on the smoker. German style potato salad, and a nice cold Laughing Lab for sides as well. Oh man it is heaven.

Joe Gress · #15 08-03-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderphil

bacon wrapped cheese stuffed jalapenos!

crap! theyre on recall!! nevermind!

Poppers? Do 'em with a pepper jack and cream cheese blend. And thick cut bacon. And wet the toothpicks before you stick the bacon on, that way they wont burn. You can do chilies too, they are a bit wimpier, but they still taste very good. And don't scrimp on the bacon!

warwick.hoy · #16 08-06-2008, 12:25 AM

Went to the meat store today

http://www.eggersbettermeats.com/

Man, I had never been before. The guys there were very helpful and trimmed some of the stuff I need.

14lbs of Pork Butts
13lbs of Beef Brisket
Two Whole Chickens
about a 1.5 inch thick slab of lean KC Bacon (for the Beans)

Gonna wait till there shipment on Thursday to get the salmon a little fresher. I'm going to do the cedar plank deal. I'm pretty sure I'm going to grill some of the salmon on the planks and smoke the rest for Lox, perhaps a treat to those who stick around to the wee hours and help clean up.

Thanks for all the great suggestions you all. I'm really looking forward to our wedding.