New member from Connecticut

[jburbs38]

Hi All,

I joined a little while back and have been trolling the boards since. Wow I have learned a lot! I My name is Jeff and I am 55 years old and live in southeastern Connecticut. I have never smoked anything before, for that matter I'm not much of a cook either. My wife unfortunately passed away earlier this year. She cooked everything for my son (26 years old) and Daughter (23 years old) and I. She was a great cook, and didn't allow me anywhere near "her" kitchen. So I have embarked on a mission to learn how to cook, so that maybe just maybe I could add at least that back into my "kids" lives. They where devastated by her passing, and one of the things they have missed the most is dinner time with us and her great meals. Ordering out just isn't cutting it, and that is about my skill level. I love smoked meats and BBQ and started thinking maybe I could get me one those electric smokers and some how magically make something delicious. Well that is how I found your forum. Damn, you guys make it seem so easy. The step by step recipes with "QView" is almost like a Smoking for Dummies book. I think I can do this!

I am presently out of town on business, but should be home in another week or two and plan on buying an MES 30, probably the Bluetooth model. On my patio out back I have an outdoor heater that I use. I have actually sat out there with friends in December and January and been comfortable, so the smoker should be good through the winter. I plan on starting small, maybe some appetizer stuff for football Sunday, and grow from there.

I thank you all for this amazing forum. You all just might be able to teach this old dog some new tricks, and make a cook out of me. My son Jeremy and daughter Samantha are rooting for you!

 

[donegotfat]

Hello and welcome to SMF.

Sorry to hear about your wife's passing.

This site is WONDERFUL when it comes to the step by step (and q-view) I mean who doesn't love pictures to go with the steps for the cook.

I have seen many members here speak of there MES, so I would think you will be making some great food in no time.

I did my first cook on my new smoker after reading a bunch of topics here and it was very helpful My first try turned out great! I am sure I will have bad cooks, but luckily my first was perfect according to my family, so it gave me enough gumption to keep trying and doing new foods.

Be sure to show us some of your cooks and include them great pictures so we can lick out lips and dream of eating it

 

[wbf610]

Welcome! I'm new here like you. I say just jump in, both feet, no testing the waters. I got my first smoker a few months ago, read some things here, and smoked myself, family, and neighbors some dinner. Very little leftovers afterwards. It's not hard to learn. If I can put out edible meats, you can too!! Start a new tradition with the kids and you can all learn together to honor your wife.

The one thing I will say about starting out is, figure out what smoker you want, and consider going a little bigger. I'm happy with mine, but sure wish I had some extra space for more meats, and am considering getting another one already!! It's addictive. I had plans to smoke once a month, now I would smoke every day if I could.

Cheers!

 

[mdgirlinfl]

Hi Jeff.
I am so sorry for your loss. I can't fathom it.

Welcome! I am new to smoking as well and I too have the MES30. No Bluetooth or fancy window. I do have a Bluetooth multi probe temp/thermometer. The MES30 makes much of smoking easy. I also have the cold smoke attachment. It also works well for long hot smokes so you don't have to feed it every hour.

The folks here are fantastic! We all have had "failures" too And in the event you have yours, these guys will help you figure out what went wrong and have you back on track and all three of you will be eating good!

-Cindy

My background is decent in cooking. But I worked in baking and pastry. So if I can be of any help, give me a shout!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wbf610]

If you haven't done so, get the 5 day course!

 

[jburbs38]

Thank you all for your kind words. I do have the e-course and am going through it. Although very slowly, because when I'm on the road like I am now I'm working 12 hours a day 7 days a week. I'll have more time when I get out of here and get home. I can't  wait to get things going and have my first smoke. My son and daughter are luke warm to the idea, they just haven't had a lot of smoked meat to know how delicious it can be. They will come around, I am sure of it.

Jeff

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome to the forum Jeff!

You will be smoking up a storm in no time!

I bet Jeremy & Samantha will be asking, "Hey Dad, can you smoke something tonight for dinner, please!"

Plenty of folks on here to help you get started!

Al

 

[unclebubbas bbq]

Jeff sorry for your loss and welcome. I'm from Rocky Hill, CT. Make you kids some baby back ribs or pulled pork and they will be a little more than luke warm to the idea. There are so many great articles and recipes on here it will make your head spin, don't be afraid to ask questions as well, some great folks here that will give you good advise.

In June Mohegan Sun hosts a BBQ contest, go check it out you won't be sorry, New London also has one in August.

Good Luck and Welcome

Dave

 

[mdboatbum]

Welcome aboard Jeff! Sorry about the loss of your wife.
I started smoking right about the time I joined this site as well. I guess it's been 3 or 4 years now. The most important piece of advice I can give you, having learned it the hard way myself, is to get a good probe thermometer (either a remote unit like the Maverick ET732-33, or an instant read like the Lavatool or Thermapen) and monitor the internal temperature of whatever you're cooking. If you hit the proper internal temperature, you really can't go wrong.
Also, as a new cook, always be mindful of food safety. Look online for a primer on the basics. Basically keep everything clean and make sure meats stay at refrigerator temperatures until you start cooking them.
You may want to check with the public school system to see if they offer any adult cooking classes. Since you're going to be fending for yourself, it's not a bad idea to learn the basics. As much as we'd like to, man cannot live on BBQ alone.
Good luck and don't be shy about asking questions around here. Folks here are friendly and always willing to help.

 

[jburbs38]

 
Jeff sorry for your loss and welcome. I'm from Rocky Hill, CT. Make you kids some baby back ribs or pulled pork and they will be a little more than luke warm to the idea. There are so many great articles and recipes on here it will make your head spin, don't be afraid to ask questions as well, some great folks here that will give you good advise.

In June Mohegan Sun hosts a BBQ contest, go check it out you won't be sorry, New London also has one in August.

Good Luck and Welcome

Dave

Thank You Dave, I live just outside of Norwich so the Mohegan Sun is about 10 minutes from my house I will definitely look into the BBQ contest in June, sounds like fun.

Welcome aboard Jeff! Sorry about the loss of your wife.
I started smoking right about the time I joined this site as well. I guess it's been 3 or 4 years now. The most important piece of advice I can give you, having learned it the hard way myself, is to get a good probe thermometer (either a remote unit like the Maverick ET732-33, or an instant read like the Lavatool or Thermapen) and monitor the internal temperature of whatever you're cooking. If you hit the proper internal temperature, you really can't go wrong.
Also, as a new cook, always be mindful of food safety. Look online for a primer on the basics. Basically keep everything clean and make sure meats stay at refrigerator temperatures until you start cooking them.
You may want to check with the public school system to see if they offer any adult cooking classes. Since you're going to be fending for yourself, it's not a bad idea to learn the basics. As much as we'd like to, man cannot live on BBQ alone.
Good luck and don't be shy about asking questions around here. Folks here are friendly and always willing to help.

Thank you Mdb, I have been looking at Thermometers. Trying to decide between the Maverick and the new Thermoworks Smoke that Jeff is promoting. I will probably be ordering one of those shortly!

 

[pyro513]

"Thank You Dave, I live just outside of Norwich so the Mohegan Sun is about 10 minutes from my house I will definitely look into the BBQ contest in June, sounds like fun."

Hi Jeff 

 I'm real glad I'm not that close. I'm in Manchester. Just picked up a barrel and some parts to make a "UDS" myself. a couple more things and I'll be ready to go myself. Good luck and best wishes to you and I'll keep in touch with my progress also.

Dale

 

[mdboatbum]

For my money, the extra $40 for the Smoke over the maverick is a no brainer. The maverick units, while very good in most respects, aren't in the same league as the Thermoworks line. The Maverick probes are notoriously fragile and the accuracy is a step below that of the Thermoworks. In addition, my ET 732 lasted a little under 3 years before it died completely. My first probe went bad in maybe 6 months. Just over a year in, the connection between the transmitter and receiver became unreliable to the point that it was unusable.
Design wise, the Maverick is unnecessarily fiddly to program alarms and timers. I'm a reasonably capable person and can figure most things out without reading the manual. Not so with the Maverick. Every time I wanted to use the alarm I had to dig out the manual. The timer? Never even bothered.
So, my $60 remote thermo with timer and alarms became, in practice, a leave in thermometer that I can get at the grocery store for $20.
Like most things, spend a little more on a quality unit once, or spend much more replacing "budget" merchandise over time.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[gearjammer]

Hi Jeff, welcome to you.

Sorry for the loss of your wife.

Congratulations on your decision to buy 

that shiny new smoker.

Lots of folks on here use the MES, I think you will love it.

All of the above is good advice, but there is one thing

I didn't see mentioned and that is patience,

smoking will teach you PATIENCE.

It's not a fast thing for the most part.

"when you're lookin', you ain't cookin' ".

Remember, pictures of your smokes are good things.

Have FUN.

  Ed