His most recent project: a smoker. No, he's not violating the Word of Wisdom (although it may encourage us to eat meat more than just "sparingly"). He found a foodie blog for engineers that showed how to build a ceramic smoker for less than a hundred bucks (compared to $800 for a big green egg) using terracotta flower pots and a hot plate. He seemed very excited about this construction project, so I only laughed quietly to myself when he brought home all the supplies. I laughed a little less quietly and not entirely to myself when I discovered that he could have purchased an electric smoker for the same price as the supplies for the one he was building himself. Apparently, there is some satisfaction to be had in making something yourself...
He started by getting out all the tools he possibly could. Okay, maybe just the power drill and set of masonry drill bits, but it seemed like a lot of tools.
Then he drilled holes in the bottom of a 14" flower pot (for the hot plate connectors to go through). It made the weirdest ringing noise. I'm sure that our neighbors hate us.
Next up, he had to take the hot plate apart and rewire it so the element was inside the pot and the controls outside the pot.
Like so.
Then you add a cast-iron wood chip holder box (where you put hickory wood or mesquite wood or apple wood, depending on how you would like to flavor your meat) and a grill thingy for the meat to sit on.
Put a lid on it, and the smoker is done. I'd like to point out, that Justin is standing in his official "summit" pose. I think he's pretty proud of his handy work.
And when he pulled this hickory smoked chicken out of that thing, I must admit that I was pretty proud of him too. (We'd also like to give a special thanks to Em and Dan for the Chuck Norris t-shirt.)
Next up, he had to take the hot plate apart and rewire it so the element was inside the pot and the controls outside the pot.
Like so.
Then you add a cast-iron wood chip holder box (where you put hickory wood or mesquite wood or apple wood, depending on how you would like to flavor your meat) and a grill thingy for the meat to sit on.
Put a lid on it, and the smoker is done. I'd like to point out, that Justin is standing in his official "summit" pose. I think he's pretty proud of his handy work.
And when he pulled this hickory smoked chicken out of that thing, I must admit that I was pretty proud of him too. (We'd also like to give a special thanks to Em and Dan for the Chuck Norris t-shirt.)
And what was I doing all this time? I was making a lovely Quiche Lorraine for dinner. It was exceedingly delicious.
Mmmm... Bacon...
Mmmm... Bacon...
13 comments:
I have to correct some errors in the above post. First, the smoker cost $60 to make. Granted the metal electric smoker cost $60 as well, but it was metal. Metal is not as good as ceramic at holding the heat in. (Plus as can be seen from the "summit" pose, which is only used for very special occasions, I am proud of my smoker.) Second, using the right tools makes a lot of difference. I had that thing going in less than two hours.
Everyone should make one of these. The chicken tasted like BBQ should and the pork butt that has been in there since 7 this morning (yes, I woke up early on sunday to start bbq for a post conference meal) I hope will be just as good when it is done at 5. The bonus is that our courtyard and house smell amazing. Everyone should make one!
Not only do the courtyard and house smell amazing (if your goal is for your house to smell like hickory smoke)...Justin himself smells like a meaty-smokey dream come true.
Justin Scott is a MACHINE!! Would that all men were like unto Justin Scott, the very gates of hell would quake and the powers of the devil would be rebuffed...
I'm assuming my "lightning strike me now" pose.
This post reminds me of the time Justin gave a talk in church and started talking about the properties of various nonstick pans and everyone starting giggling and he couldn't figure out why... :P
But, congratulations. I have full faith the pork butt smoker is just as amazing as an $800 egg. Can you like, glaze it and personalize it and paint cool stuff on it?
You could probably paint the outside, but I kind of like it the way it is. No decorative art work for this smoker.
Every time I hear about another one of Justin's antics (how do you spell that) I think how we married very different people...and how I wouldn't mind if Chad liked to do some of the things Justin likes to do! But congrats on the smoker. That is very random yet exciting...
Wow, Your baby boy is eating highclass food.
Congrats on the smoker. You two are a great team.
Yummy quiche. Do you guys want to cook when you get here? Go Justin!
you guys are amazing. we're proud to call the scotts our friends.
Love the Chuck Norris tshirt. Very impressed w/your quiche and Justin's smoker. You two are very very impressive.
Yummy yummy! Both the chicken and the quiche!
I enjoyed the article about your dad in the church news recently. I only wish that in addition to describing his office, they could have said he had mismatched shoes on or something really fun and completely Cole-ish!
Hope you're feeling well!
Justin... should I just start calling you "Alton" instead? Well done! If only I still lived in VA so I could partake of the smokey goodness. :)
wow... impressive! Both of you. When we go back east - we are coming to dinner at your house!!
You are both culinary masters. Way to take it up a notch!
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