Maybe this is too much information, but it was recommended that I check in and tell everyone a little about myself.....I'm 37 married with 2 kids, my son Shawn is 16 and a daughter Brittney is 12. I work for a company in S. Louisiana, but I’m a Sheet Metal fabricator at heart. I have a small business/shop that I run part time; basically it’s an as needed type of business. I have a full time job, but if some one call and has something that they need in a hurry I’m always willing to help them and make a few $$$. About 3 years ago, for Christmas, I was the proud recipient of a Cabela’s 1hp meat grinder from my family and friends. Since then I have spent hundreds of hours grinding meat, either with my kids or by myself. Two years ago for Christmas, my son helped me build our smoke house. It’s about 2ft x 2ft x 4ft with 2ft legs that make it stand at 6ft tall (see pictures) and made form 16 gage black iron. We cheated a little, but to help control the heat we used an old fish frying burner to help regulate the heat. I use a stainless steel pan for wood chips (the wife donated, she just don’t know about it) . Due to some of the volunteer (cooking for my son’s school and family we have cooked for anywhere from 50-200 people sometimes) work that we (wife, kids and myself) I have picked up and made many other things that help out meat processing over the years pans, bowl, pots, spoons, ect., but with all that I have. I really enjoy the simple things, my grinder, 10lbs of meat, some seasonings and a few feet of casings…..several hours of time = some good time with the family. There is a running joke in the house that after anything comes off the smoker you have to keep it away from Shawn, he’s been know to eat his weight in smoked meats on more that one occasion….LOL, But all in all I have to say that I have had some great times with the kids grinding, smoking meats and trying new recipes. Theirs been many sausages made that we will never forget. Since we built the smoker we have spent more time playing with different ideals and ways of cooking different meats, fish and vegetables with it.....and as a father, I have enjoyed ever minute of it. Lastly, I would like to tell each and every one of you “HELLO” and hope to have the chance to bounce some ideals and recipes off some of you. I have to say that this is one of the coolest sites that I have found. Thanks
