Cooking background/training

[pescadero]

Huey:

I have been a life long smoker. But, as you know, it was mostly Salmon/Steelhead and various game like ducks, pheasant, quail etc. I never tried actual "Meat" until joining the SMF. I don't think I even thought much about it. I just knew that I had some equipment sitting there that only got used during a few short seasons of the year. When I got introduced to this site, the lights went on. 'Bingo' There are other things I can be doing the rest of the year.

You and I living in the pacific northwest, has made it a lot of fun. I really like being able to e-mail, IM or even grab the phone and give you a call.

You have given me a lot of good advice and heard me out when I was bouncing ideas off you. Several times you accused me of "Over Thinking" things. You were probably right.

I just wanted to let you know how much you have helped me and how much I appreciate your being there.

Having said all that, I am still not going to cut you any slack. You still have to dig out your gear, so we can go diving soon.

Skip

 

[salmonclubber]

skip

10-4 glad i could help out i do enjoy this stuff

 

[rip]

Bump this one up for the newbies.

 

[bigarm's smokin]

Skip, what a great thing to say about a friend.

I commend you. We often think these things about our friends, but seldom put them into words. Good for you Skip.

I would like to echo your thanks to all those here who I have become close to. (you know who you are.

)

 

[smokeys my pet]

I am pretty much self taught with the aid of cookbooks and wonderful people I have know. As for smokin I have learned almost all I have from the WONDERFUL SMF and the friends here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gramason got me started.

 

[muddy pond]

I started smoking as a hobby 25 yrs ago and finally turned it into a profit making business about 8-9 yrs ago. I came into smoking to help out a friend that was tired of just plain grilling for his parties so we made a smoker out of a couple 50 gal drums and ruined a few pounds of pork the old fashioned way....(blackened)... I am an avid reader and would recommend a good smoking book before just trying to smoke for smokings sake until I came across this fine forum and now I refer all my customers to this site to learn what is needed to smoke.

I am a true trial and error type of learner but now that I have SMF to reference I am actually starting to blossom.

 

[gramason]

No formal training also, Basicly learned soups and basic knowhow in the kitchen from my mother. As far as grilling, I learned on my own from watching other people, and the food chanel. I have a guy at my firehouse that got me on my way with pit beef, ham, turkey. I have some cook books but was never one to follow a recipe, just get some ideas and wing it. Smoking on the other hand, Started messing around with it on my CG before I had a sfb, and then got one. Learned a little from some friends, and the internet. Then I found SMF. I learned some things I was doing wrong, and basicly all of my smoking knowledge from here.

 

[ggnutsc]

No formal training here..... Not unless you count cooking shows on TV.

I started cooking little by little at home as a kid, sometimes helping my mom in the kitchen. Then, when I was 16, I was allowed to go on a camping trip with my older brother and some friends. The catch was that I had to do all of the cooking. Their rule was "Everything had to have beer in in".

As time went by I dabbled in cooking some, but my oldest son was a colicky baby. So when my wife and I got home from work the choice was deal with the screaming kid or make supper. That was almost 17 years ago and I still do the cooking.

Things I read on SMF, the Food Network (I think Alton Brown is pretty cool), have been a real help. I've read some cooking books.

My favorite thing to do is camp cooking. Making something tasty with a minimal mess and using cast iron with a bunch of coals in a pasture is one sign of having mastered the art of cooking.(IMO) Then getting up the next day and making a great breakfast utilizing any leftovers.

Almost anyone can cook in a kitchen, but taking simple food in simple conditions and making it special is what I love to do.

 

[vlap]

I don't know how to cook. Any one have a spare frying pan so I can boil some water.

 

[crewdawg52]

Always enjoyed cooking. No formal class, etc. But I have and still do watch alot of cooking shows. Love to get new ideas and experimenting. And besides, the little mrs can burn a pot of boiling water ( Dawg ducks as fist flies by head).

 

[hawgheaven]

No no no Vlap! Frying pans are my wife's attitude adjusting tool... if I come home with an atitude, WHAMMO! It's all better!