25 Wedding Anniversary

[biguglysmoker]

Hi all having a hard time choosing what I want to cook. My wife and I will be married 25 year on June 17. We are planning a party but not sure what to make. At first I was thinking of a couple Briskets, couple Pork Butts/Shoulders, and 8 or so slabs of Baby Backs. Then do to the fact I have my new Smoker all most done and it is big enough to cook a 100lb pig we talked about that. The smoker is made from a 100 gallon air tank. It's 65 inches long (not counting the fire box) and 24 inches around. It's a reverse offset. Now I'm thinking of doing a small pig @50lbs and the briskets and ribs. Guess the big things is she is worried if the pig doesn't turn out we wont have anything to feed all the guests. Wish me luck, would be the first whole pig and the first big cook in the new smoker. Do plan on doing a couple smaller test cooks in it before then.

 

[noboundaries]

Congrats on the 25 years!!!!!! Great sounding build too.

Sounds like your wife might be more comfortable and less stressed on your day of celebration with the familiar butts/shoulders/briskets/BBs, but I absolutely understand the temptation to try a whole pig on the new smoker.  Don't know if this fits any of your friends but I've known more than a few folks who won't eat anything if they can recognize the animal (I married one, the eater, not the animal).  They love pork ribs but lose their appetite and want to gag when they see the whole animal. Weird.   

Whatever you choose I'm sure you'll smoke it to perfection.  Enjoy your day and the rare milestone together.

 

[forluvofsmoke]

Your 25th Anniversary would be a great time to break yourself in on whole hog, and can be an impressive presentation for a party as well...as mentioned, depends on the crowd. You can always part-out the hog after the smoke, before presentation. On the flip side, doing things you're more accustomed to would be a safer bet, although not much can really go wrong with whole hog...just keep your chamber temps up nice and steady and be patient, 'cuz it's a l--o--n--g smoke, right?

Definitely make some time to season and have a nice maiden voyage with the new rig...find out how it likes to run and plan your party accordingly. Whatever you choose to smoke, make it good ride. Sounds like a challenge that I'd be game for. Good luck and GREAT smokes to ya!!!

Eric

 

[foamheart]

It is her Anniversary too don't stress her out in the kitchen. Remember how you worried about the butt on your first attempt of pulled pork? That's how a whole hog is. Its really about the easiest thing in the world to cook and all you do is leave it alone.

But maybe the whole hog should be saved for when you have completely finished and tested the new pit and you know it . So maybe your birthday?

Why not look at a Couchon-du-Lait? A small milk feed (suckling) pig. It wouldn't take so long to cook, it would be a small part of the feast, and it would still be a novelty item. Could set it in the middle of the serving table. They are pretty light weight, remember to wedge the mouth open during cooking for the apple later, also tin foil the ears and tail in the beginning.

 

[chef jimmyj]

Welcome to the SMF Family and Congrats on hittin' 25. Mrs. J and I will be married 26 years on June 25. First question is...How many people? Next, how much meat are you planning?...JJ

 

[gary s]

Hello and welcome from East Texas, Congrats on #25, I love to see your smoker, also be sure and post pictures of your hog and brisket smoke,

Allow plenty of time, don't rush it and you will be fine

Gary S

 

[biguglysmoker]

Thanks all for the congrats and helpful info on the cook. Seems the only issue I will have is keeping her happy on that day LOL. We are still trying to plan the whole thing and see just how many people will be there. Might just have to wait til the time gets closer and then figure out what to make. Never had a complaint about anything I've smoked yet so guess whatever we do it will end up ok. Hope to post pics of the smoker here soon. Still doing some finishing on it. Guess I better hurry with that she wants to have the party on the 28 of June. Would do a birthday cook but it's 2 week before that. If I don't smoke a pig now I'm sure I will soon. Can't believe she is letting have the smoker at home. The last time she saw it she asked where I was keeping that. Then last weekend we built a patio to put it on. The unit is about 9 feet long with the tongue on. I made it towable and the tongue can be removed if  one pin. Only pictures I have now are on my phone may have to log on from that and see if I can get some posted. Thanks Again all and keep Smoking LOW AND SLOW.

 

[GaryHibbert]

Hey

Welcome to the Smoking  forum.   You’ll find great , friendly people here, all more than willing to answer any question you may have.  Just ask and you’ll get about 10 different answers—all right.  LOL.   Don’t forget to post qviews.  Congrats on 25 years

Gary