I Know I'm Probably Crazy . . . But I've Never Let That Handicap Stop Me Before, So . . . .

[rabbithutch]

In reading questions posted by folks new to the forum or new to smoking a particular type of meat, I've noticed that the questions tend to raise the same or similar issues.  Yes, I've taken the e-course and plan to do it again soon as it's been 6 months since I last went through it; however, I had the idea that it might be possible to use the power of the computer to organize basic approaches to each type of meat.  Here's what I have in mind.

Create a table listing types and cuts of meat on rows, and processes in columns.  In each cell, there would be one or more hot links to web pages narrow the discussion of issues on that subject or give as complete a series of links to pages as there are different approaches to each process.

Here's a 'straw dog' example of the table with starter columns and rows:

Smoking:

Meat	Brine	Marinate	Rub	Wrap	No Wrap	Wrap @ Temp.	Cooler
Beef:
Brisket
Prime Rib
Pastrami
Jerky
Mutton:
Leg of Lamb
Pork:
Butt
Ribs
Poultry:
Chicken
Duck
Turkey

Each cell would contain links to tutorial pages and or sticky posts and or posts made previously by an experienced smoker.

Of course, the idea could be extended to areas other than smoking meat, but since that's the name of the forum . . .

If you guys will offer up your suggestions for the format and for links to be included, I'll try to do the HTML and submit it to the powers that be.

If you think I'm

  , tell me and I'll just go away, back to my padded cell.  

 

[eman]

Great Idea IMHO.

 

[so ms smoker]

  Sounds like a good way to narrow down the search process. I'm sure the moderators would be interested.

Mike

 

[rtbbq2]

i like it...Great idea!

 

[chef jimmyj]

I think it has potential. The problem I see is Search a common item and you will get over a thousand posts and many will have differences. I have seen people Foil a Butt anywhere from 165 to 185*F and with every liquid imaginable. Not to mention, Spritz or not, Injection or not, Fat cap up, down or removed, 1.5hr/lb, 2hr/lb and temps of 200*F through 300*F. If you reference some thread from a member that joined in 2011 some guy that joined in 2007 with twice the number of posts and a few wins at Competition will be pissed! Yes your idea would be great if you can work out the details. I answered about 30 posts on " To Brine or Not to Brine my Turkey ", the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. That tells me at least 30 guys did not even try a Search or read the previous day or weeks posts in the Poultry Forum. None of us mind bending over backwards to help but it can be disheartening seeing, " What Temp to Smoke a Butt? " over and over again...Thanks for thinking outside the box and trying to make things better...JJ

 

[smokinhusker]

Looks like a great way to start, but I do agree with Cheff JJ's comments, ie making some one mad, etc and yes some people just don't want to search or don't even realize there's a search feature.

 

[smokewagon]

What I would like to see on any forum I attend, is a very detailed sticky on how to use that forum's particular search feature.  On any forum you will have tech savvy people tell old farts like me who's most recent technology purchase was a digital thermometer to "just use the search".  I do use it as much as I can, but can still get a confusing mismash of info when trying to find something.  

 

[ritamcd]

Do you archive any posts ? I know on my site we will go through every few month and put the good posts into a Best of area and the others will be deleted .. Posts that are either repetitive or are no longer valid ..  I mean there is a LOT of of posts on the same topic .. Maybe a Sticky at the top of each area How to Brine a Turkey in the poultry area would help keep some of the repeat posts down a bit .

.

Nice chart and idea

 

[sprky]

I love the idea and it definitely has potential and could be very useful. But I have to agree with Jimmy's comments as well. Even though I don't have a Crystal ball that foresees the future I can see someone getting upset and mad since you didn't reference there post threw the chart. I myself wouldn't get upset, but not everyone is as easy going as I am. One way to determine what posts to reference would be to select a number of posts and have members vote on which they felt were the best and reference say the top 3 or so. Members could also suggest post to be included in the pole. Just an idea there. 

I also agree smokewagon there needs to be a sticky or something like that on how to use the search. I have received PM's asking how to do the search since I mention it in most of my posts in the role call section. The search on this site isn't perfect but it is by far better then some other forums I have used, You just gotta weed threw the results looking for exactly what you want. possibly there is a better search function we could incorporate into the site I don't know. But I know this search is 10X better then the old one. 

 

[jirodriguez]

I think that would be a great chart to have included as the last part of the e-course. That way the people that just finish the course have an immediate starting/referance point, then from there they can branch out to other posts as there skill level and confidence increase.

Great idea!

 

[rabbithutch]

What I would like to see on any forum I attend, is a very detailed sticky on how to use that forum's particular search feature.  On any forum you will have tech savvy people tell old farts like me who's most recent technology purchase was a digital thermometer to "just use the search".  I do use it as much as I can, but can still get a confusing mismash of info when trying to find something.  

It ain't a sticky - maybe the mods will add a "Search Fu" option on the menu bar - but it sure tells you everything you need to know about using the "Search" function here.  It is well written and thorough, IMO.  One thing many people don't try is using quotation marks to make the search for a discreet phrase.  This helps narrow your search a great deal.  Another tip that has worked for me is to do a broad search first - sometimes I limit it by date - then read a little and use what I saw to help me get the search argument down to a narrower phrase, which I put in quotes on the next attempt.  A couple of times through that loop and you usually find what your are looking for.  One last tip, for now, I click the button that reduces my window so that I can have multiple windows displayed at once.  I keep the SMF (or other forum I'm searching) almost full screen by dragging the borders then open a Notepad window that is relatively small.  I can then cut and paste text, links, ideas, or anything else on the notepad.  This gives me more room than the cut and paste function.  Be sure to save it if you want to refer to it later.

HTH

rh

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/a/search-and-advanced-search-tutorial

 

[alblancher]

That's a good link Rabbithutch.  I knew we had good instructions but never did a search for search!

 

[alblancher]

Remember guys that you do not need to be a moderator to do a Wiki.  You may want to get a Wiki started and then we can add to it as the links present themselves.   There should already be good Wikis for most of the links you are trying to build.  I'll help if I can.

 

[rabbithutch]

Now!  If I could just find that 2-cents smiley, all would be right with the world.

Hey, Al, do you know any Padgetts in Slidell?

 

[alblancher]

Name doesn't ring a bell.  Do they have a business in Slidell?

 

[rabbithutch]

Name doesn't ring a bell.  Do they have a business in Slidell?

No.  A fellow I used to work with is from Slidell and I think his parents are still living there, but they would be in their 80s.

 

[sound1]

I use a chart/record form similar to the one shown for just about every smoke. This smoking thing is more of an art than and science, and I am always tweeking the "recipes" to get that ultimate result. Learning from mistakes is a huge part of this process and to me there is nothing worse than pulling off the "best I've ever done" and not remembering what little detail that got me to that point. Surprisingly, knowing what I did when the temperature was X and the wind was Y, has saved me mucho grief and time. And that is just the smoking part of the process.  I know it sounds a bit anal, but some projects such as bacon, hams and sausage can take weeks to complete, I need the documentation to help me remember the finer details.

 

[rabbithutch]

I use a chart/record form similar to the one shown for just about every smoke. This smoking thing is more of an art than and science, and I am always tweeking the "recipes" to get that ultimate result. Learning from mistakes is a huge part of this process and to me there is nothing worse than pulling off the "best I've ever done" and not remembering what little detail that got me to that point. Surprisingly, knowing what I did when the temperature was X and the wind was Y, has saved me mucho grief and time. And that is just the smoking part of the process.  I know it sounds a bit anal, but some projects such as bacon, hams and sausage can take weeks to complete, I need the documentation to help me remember the finer details.

Great idea!  I haven't refined my record keeping to using charts, but I think I will.  I DO keep a looseleaf notebook.  It has a tab for all my tool info sheets (smoker, thermometers, etc.) and tabs for Pork, Beef, Fish, Veggies, Other where I put my handwritten or typed up notes.  I put my marinade and rub recipes under each type of meat but I should probably make a separate section for them.  I also keep non-smoking cooking journaled there.  I do several Italian dishes and old family recipes that are done entirely in the kitchen.  At my age, if it didn't happen 40 years ago I don't remember anything without writing it down.