Welcome to the SMF Family...I have a Niece named Brooklyn. On Birch Wood here is what the boys have to say...
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/129711/smoking-with-birch-wood and
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/231598/birch-wood
Anything you can think of try the Search Function, it is probably there...
Building stuff is not my thing but Recipes I Got!...JJ
Char Siu... Chinese Roast Pork
1/2C Soy Sauce , low sodium(Kikkoman Green cap)
1/2C Brown Sugar
1/2C Shaoxing Wine* or Mirin
1/2C Hoisin sauce, Koon Chun* is best.
1/2tsp 5 Spice Powder or more to taste
1T Grated fresh Ginger
1tsp Minced fresh Garlic
1tsp Sesame Oil
1T Red Food Coloring (optional)
Makes about 2 Cups, enough for 8Lbs of either Pork Butt and Loin or 2 full racks of Ribs.
Items with an " * " are available at a Chinese Market. The rest and an el cheapo Hoisin is available at your local Mega Mart.
Marinate the pork for at least 24 Hours and 48 is better. Make sure to turn the meat in the marinade frequently to get the best result..
The Chinese Roast Hot and Fast...350*F for 3 inch thick slices or Pork Butt. Approximately 2 Hours or to 160*F and rest and 140*F for Loin (Too lean to go higher)
For Low and Slow...Smoke at 225*F to 250*F to an internal temp of 150*F for Butt to be Sliced, and 130*F for Loin. Then finish, both types of pork, the last 10*F on a hot Grill then rest.
In American Chinese Restaurants this is made in gas ovens but in China they cook over WOOD so mild smoke would be authentic here.
You can BOIL the Marinade with the De-Fatted meat dripping for a great sauce, thicken with a little cornstarch and water.
This recipe is great on RIBS Too!
Spiedie Marinade/Sauce
1/2Cup Olive Oil
2Cup Red Wine Vinegar
1/2Cup Worcestershire
2T Minced Garlic
1/2tsp Dry Basil
1tsp Dry Oregano
2tsp Dry Parsley
1/2tsp Gran. Garlic
1tsp Gran Onion
1/2tsp Red Pepper Flake
1T Salt
1T Sugar
2tsp Black Pepper
1Cup Red Wine
Combine all, Mix well and Divide in half to use for Marinade and Sandwich Sauce.
Makes about 3Cups total.
Cut 4-5Lbs Meat, any, in 1 inch cubes. Add 1/2 the Marinade/Sauce and Marinate for at least 24 hours or up to 3 days.
Place on Skewers and Grill to desired doneness.
Serve on Italian Bread with additional Sauce.
Carolina Q Dust
1/2C Sugar in the Raw (Turbinado)
2T Sweet Paprika (Hungarian)
1T Kosher Salt
1T Chili Powder
1T Granulated Garlic
1T Granulated Onion
1T Mustard Powder
1T Grnd. Black Pepper
1T Grnd. White Pepper
1tsp Cayenne Pepper, or more as desired.
1tsp Grd. Cumin
1tsp Dry Thyme, rubbed
Makes about 1 Cup. This has some Heat from the the jar but mellows when Smoked. If too Hot, reduce the Black, White and Cayenne Pepper.
Apply your desired amount of Dust to the meat, wrap in plastic and rest in the refrigerator overnight.or longer. The day of the smoke, pull the meat out, add more Dust and go into your pre-heated Smoker.
Here is a Brine and Rub that is a Favorite with members of my Family. I like Apple and/or Hickory with Chicken or Turkey. We determine doneness by measuring the Internal Temp (IT) in the thickest part of the Breast and Thigh, 165* and 175*F respectively. For a One Step Smoke with Crispy Skin the birds have to be smoked at a temp of 300-325°F. You can figure about 15 minutes per pound to reach the desired IT. Electric smokers usually only go to 275°F. With these you will be smoking at the most common temp range of 225-275°F. You can figure on about 25 minutes per pound cook time + or - 5 minutes depending what part of the range you choose. Usually the skin will not crisp so if the skin is not Crisp enough when the IT is 145*F in the Breast, put the Bird in a 425*F Oven to finish cooking to 165* and Crisp the Skin...JJ
Families Favorite Brine
1/2C Kosher Salt
2T Paprika
2T Gran. Garlic
2T Gran. Onion
2T Dry Thyme
2T Black Pepper
1C Vinegar (Any)
1-11/2Gal Cold Water to cover Chix
1/2C Brown Sugar, Optional
1T Red Pepper Flake Optional
Mix well and Soak the Bird over night or up to 24 Hours.
Remove the Chix, rinse if desired and pat dry with paper towels.
Place in an open container in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours for the Skin to dry.
This will give a crispier skin when Smokng or Roasting...
Bubba Chix Rub
1/2C Raw Sugar
2T Paprika (I use Smoked if I'm just Grilling)
1T Cayenne
1T Gran. Garlic
1T Gran. Onion
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Wht Pepper
1tsp Allspice
1tsp Bell's Poultry Seasoning or Thyme
Mix well. You can put directly on the skin or mix with Butter, Oil or Bacon Grease and rub on and under the Skin.
Reduce Cayenne to 1 teaspoon if less heat is desired. Add 1T Kosher Salt if the bird is not Brined.
Mild but Wild Chix Rub
1/4C Raw Sugar
2T Paprika (I use Smoked if I'm just Grilling)
1T Gran. Garlic
1T Gran. Onion
2tsp Bell's Poultry Seasoning or other
1tsp Ground Coriander Seed (2-3tsp Whole seed, fresh ground)
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Mustard Powder
1tsp Allspice
1/2tsp Cumin
Optional: 1T Kosher Salt
* Leave out if you Brined the Bird!
Mix well. You can put directly on the skin or mix with Butter, Oil or Bacon Grease and rub on and under the Skin.
Apple Pork Brine
2-12oz.Cans Apple Juice Concentrate
1C Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4C Molasses
1/4C Mustard
1/2C Kosher Salt
2T Pickling Spice (optional)
1T Sage, rubbed
1Gal Water
Combine all and Brine the meat at least over night, 24-48 hours would be better.
Mild Bubba Q Rub (All Purpose)
1/2C Sugar in the Raw (Turbinado)
2T Sweet Paprika (Hungarian)
1T Kosher Salt
1T Chili Powder* (contains some Cumin and Oregano) Ancho Chile is same without cumin, oregano etc.
1T Granulated Garlic
1T Granulated Onion
1tsp Black Pepper, more if you like
1/2tsp Grnd Allspice
For more heat add Cayenne or Chipotle Pwd to taste, start with 1/2tsp and go from there. Makes about 1 Cup
Apply your desired amount of Rub to the meat, wrap in plastic and rest in the refrigerator over night.or longer. The day of the smoke, pull the meat out, add more Rub and go into your pre-heated Smoker...
Note*...Some Chili Powders can be pretty Hot. McCormick and Spice Island are Mild...
Cajun Rib Tickler
1C Tubinado or Dried Brown Sugar*
1/4C Paprika**
2T Kosher Salt
2T Garlic Powder
2T Onion Powder
2T Mustard Powder
2T Chili Powder
2tsp Black Pepper
1-2tsp Cayenne
2tsp Dry Oregano
2tsp Dry Thyme
2tsp Cry Celery Flakes
1tsp Celery Seed
Grind the Oregano, Thyme, Celery Flake and Seed. Mix all and store in air tight container, up to 3 months...
Notes...* Leave out the Sugar for a
Cajun Blackening Spice. Spinkle a lot or a little, on whatever meat, dip in melted Butter or Olive oil and saute in a very hot pan until cooked to your desired IT.
** If you wish you can use Smoked Paprika in the recipe. This will give a seasoning that will add some "Smokey flavor" to Grilled, Sauteed, Fried or Roasted meat, not just stuff you smoke.
Mix and store in an air tight container...JJ
Chipot-i-le Desert Dust
1/2C Sugar in the Raw (Turbinado)
2T Sweet Paprika (Hungarian)
2T Chipotle Powder
1T Kosher Salt
1T Chili Powder (contains some Cumin and Oregano) Ancho Chile is same without cumin, oregano etc.
1T Granulated Garlic
1T Granulated Onion
1T Cocoa Powder
1tsp Black Pepper, more if you like
1tsp Thyme
1tsp Oregano
1/2tsp Grnd Allspice
Makes about 1Cup.
Run for the Border Rub
One for the Chili Heads!
2T Kosher Salt
2T Ancho Chile Powder
1T Chipotle Powder
1T Oregano, Mexican is preferred
1T Gran Garlic
1T Gran Onion
1T Black Pepper
1T Cayenne
1-2tsp Gnd Cumin
1tsp Cocoa Powder
1/2tsp Cinnamon
Optional:
2T Turbinado Sugar (Sugar in the Raw)
Makes 3/4 to 1Cup Rub.
This stuff is HOT and full flavored with touch of Smokiness. Feel free to adjust the heat to your taste by playing with the amount of Chipotle and Cayenne Powder. All the ingredients are available at the Grocery Store. This stuff will also Kick Butt as the seasoning in a batch of Chili, leave out the Sugar...JJ
This is a popular recipe I have done with Pork, Brisket or just Hamburger. Depending on what I have on hand I will mix the meats...
Coffee Q Rub
1/2C Sugar in the Raw (Turbinado)
2T Sweet Paprika (Hungarian)
2T Fine Ground Coffee
1T Kosher Salt
1T Chili Powder (contains some Cumin and Oregano) Ancho Chile is same without cumin, oregano etc.
1T Granulated Garlic
1T Granulated Onion
1T Black Pepper, more if you like
1tsp Ground Coriander
1tsp Ground Dill Seed
1/2tsp Grnd Allspice
Cayenne or Chipotle Pwd to taste, start with 1/2tsp and go from there.
Bubba Beef Rub
Good on anything Beef. Burgers and Steaks too!
2T Turbinado Sugar
2T Kosher Salt
2T Black Peppercorns
1T Coriander Seed
1T Dill Seed
1T Dry Minced Onion
1T Dry Minced Garlic
1T Dry Lemon Peel (optional)
1tsp Allspice Berries
1tsp Dry Thyme Leaves
3 Bay Leaves, crumbled
1-2ea Dry Whole Chipotle Chiles, stems and seeds removed or 1tsp Chipotle Powder.
Add Cayenne if more heat is desired.
All Spices are Whole and are toasted in a dry pan over Medium heat until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. The Garlic and Onion do not need to be toasted.
Let the Spices cool then Grind in a cheapo Coffee Grinder until slightly less than Coarse. Mix with the Salt and Sugar. Store in an air tight container. Makes about a Half cup...JJ
And to Wash it all down...
This ain't Smoked but sure does go Great with Q!...
Smokin' Great SANGRIA!
In a Pitcher large enough to hold a Gallon plus Fruit, combine...
1C Brandy or more...cheapo E&J, Christian Bros.
1C Triple Sec...orange liqueur.
2C Apple Juice or Cider
2C Orange Juice...Fresh or Simply Orange
1-2 Sliced Oranges...Lemons and Limes, Optional.
1-2 Diced Apples
2 1/2Qt Red Wine...Riunite Lambrusco is my fav.
*NOTE* You will use most of the 3 Liter Bottle. Or if you have room, dump it all!
Additionally, if you choose a really Dry Red Wine, you may need to add a bit of Sugar. The Lambrusco is on the sweet side so no additional sugar is needed.
Mix well and CHILL WELL...I stick it in the Freezer for an hour or more.
"CAUTION" This goes down smooth and will kick your BUTT!
DRINK RESPONSIBLY....Please!?!
Have Fun!...JJ
