Chicken with my first Q-view

[themidniteryder]

I recently picked up a half cord or Orange wood, and seeing as how I will be using it to smoke my first ever turkey for Christmas, I thought I better do a test run with it to see how it acts. A couple nights ago I burned a few splits in the fire pit to "test for heat and smoke content". Alright you caught me, it was really just a chance to stand around the fire with a cold one. Anyway, here's whats cookin' for supper:

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• themidniteryder
• Dec 12, 2012

1 Cornish Game Hen and 3 Chicken quarters (?). All were marinated with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The hen and 1 quarter got a rub that I don't remember exactly what all was in it, I know Lemon Pepper, Onion salt, Granulated Garlic, Old Bay and I think some White Mustard Powder. The other 2 quarters rubbed with my basic all purpose rub: Kosher Salt, Turbinado sugar, a touch of Brown sugar, Mild Chili Powder, Paprika, Ground Cumin, Granulated Garlic, Black Pepper, White Pepper, a touch of Ground Cinnamon, and a touch of Old Bay. Chickens are taking a nap in the refrigerator right now, I will wake them up in a couple of hours, sprinkle a little more rub on them and send them to their destiny.

Now if you read my recent short roll call introduction you know I have never ate my own chicken. I guess if I want to eat tonight I am gonna have to. I will be back when I throw them on the grate.

Edit: I see as a newbie I can start a thread but any of my replies have to be approved by a mod. Don't worry, I didn't get lost. I will still post updates and I am sure a Mod will be along shortly and approve them.

 

[hambone1950]

I have no doubt this is gonna be excellent.. The orange wood sounds like a cool touch. I can't find your roll call post , so how come you don't eat your own chicken? .....and just curious . What kind of pit do you use?

 

[themidniteryder]

Roll Call should answer both questions: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/131859/my-ummm-short-intro I should add this will be my first Cornish Game Hen, I have done the quarters before. I figured the CGH was kind of a mini turkey, so this will be a mini test.
 

 

[themidniteryder]

Whole bird went on @4pm, quarters @4:30. They should be ready just about the time they are done.

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• themidniteryder
• Dec 12, 2012

 

[themidniteryder]

5:30, a shuffle and the first spritz and a flip of the CGH. Keeping the smoker about 260-275 degrees, the meat is @ 145 IT right now. Normally I spritz with the tried and true apple juice, but my last couple big smokes I decided to be different and tried....are you ready for it??...Triple Sec. Yes you read that right. Triple Sec, the stuff margaritas are made with. It seems to work out well, and next time I may try Apple Pucker, or a Peach schnapps. Or go upscale with Grand Marnier.

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• themidniteryder
• Dec 12, 2012

I think I timed it right putting the quarters on a 1/2 hour later as all 4 pieces have the same IT within 5 degrees.

 

[diesel]

All were marinated with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

What a great idea!  I am all over that.

Aaron.

 

[themidniteryder]

What a great idea!  I am all over that.

Aaron.

I think I usually pick up Wishbone brand. Whatever it is, it has the spices floating in it and is kinda thick. The wife picked this one up and it is thinner with no floaties. I think I like the thicker one better.

 

[themidniteryder]

Other than popping the skin due to lack of light when i pulled them, they were awesome. I gotta get more temp probes so I can stick them and leave it in for the entire cook. It's a crime to poke one of these and have to watch the juice keep running out! I should mention here I am pretty much a no sauce'r. I figure if you want sauce, you can put it on yourself in the portion and flavor you want.

On the platter:

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• themidniteryder
• Dec 12, 2012

And on my plate:

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• themidniteryder
• Dec 12, 2012

 Look at that juice that ran out.Sides were Blue Lake green beans cooked with bacon, a pasta salad and dinner rolls. No desert as we knew we wouldn't have room for any.

 

[themidniteryder]

It actually tasted better than it looked.As i said before, I don't eat chicken but I sucked the bone clean on this one.
 

 

[kathrynn]

Where is my plate? :drool
Sounds delicious! I prefer dry instead of sauce too. Do have a homemade sauce for folks that like them.

 

[themidniteryder]

Where is my plate?

Sounds delicious! I prefer dry instead of sauce too. Do have a homemade sauce for folks that like them.

I am not happy with the look, but then again i don't care as long as they taste good. I will have to find a pic of my thighs as they come out looking better. That it got dark and my floodlight burned out so i was using the cell phone flashlight to cook by LOL

 

[stevensondrive]

What was your total cook time for the chicken??

They sure look good :drool

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I love doing Cornish game hens! Your smoke looks good!

 

[themidniteryder]

What was your total cook time for the chicken??
They sure look good

CGH was on for 2hr 45 min, chicken quarters for 2hr 15min. had one heat spike about halfway through, then at the end I cranked the heat up to around 315-320 to crispen the skin a little. That was probably a factor in popping the skin. This was just a test run on a half cord I recently picked up to get a feel for how it burns before trying my first Turkey. Last years cord was drier and smaller, and easier to control the heat, but you had to really watch it or get boiling white smoke. I got the where I could look at a stick and know to toss it as it would be a boiler. Last nights wood was harder to control temp but nice thin blue smoke. I will split it up smaller and that will make it easier to control temp next time.

 

[themidniteryder]

I love doing Cornish game hens! Your smoke looks good!

Thanks, I am glad some of ya'll think it looks good. I guess if I want to go for looks I gotta get on the sauce. The wife usually does the Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey on the Weber Kettle with just charcoal, indirect heat. occasionally she will do stuffed CGH to be different. i though it was a cool idea as each guest gets their own stuffed bird, most will eat half their bird and take the other half home, leaving us with less leftovers to get tired of eating.

 

[smokinhusker]

Looks great! I just smoked two whole roasters and made chicken salad!