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THX to lowercasebill & Latest Dealings With Mini

Judy Mayberry
Judy Mayberry Posts: 2,015
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
It started with taking grandsons to a high-class steakhouse for an 18th birthday...it was the moans and groans of delight from them over the mesquite-grilled beef that made me do this. (Grilled at 700°...I asked.)

I had mesquite at home that I never used, so I prepared the Mini with Royal Oak a bit below the fire ring. I used Weber starter cubes in three places and lit it.

I used lowercasebill's instructions for scalloped potatoes, slicing Yukon Golds thinly on the Kyocera slicer I already had, pouring whipping cream (NOT heavy whipping cream) in, then a layer of potatoes, sliced garlic, salt and pepper, and repeating till the baker was full.

IMG_0079.jpg

It was a ferociously windy day and the Mini wouldn't stay lit! Finally I used the Mapp torch over the entire surface of the lump and that did it. For the first time I was able to adjust the bottom and top vents to maintain a moderate 350°--what a triumph!

IMG_0082.jpg

The potatoes took 1 hour 10 minutes to cook. The temp had dropped to 300° by that time and the lump had just about totally burned up!

IMG_0083.jpg

I added a few handfuls of lump and Mapped them to death and stuck in some mesquite, so I could cook the ribeye (sitting in olive oil, minced garlic, and fresh rosemary). In just a few minutes the lump was glowing and ready, so I threw the steak right on the coals.

IMG_0084.jpg

When it was seared I put the grid back on, closed the lid and let it roast till it was 130° internal.

Two conclusions reached:

First, if I'm going to cook something for more than a short time, I'm going back to the Small. This is USA Royal Oak and I've noticed before how fast the wood burns up in the Mini, like Cowboy does any time. I never had this problem with the Small or the Large. I've mastered 350° but it's taken weeks. It's a lot of time and twiddling just to do that, and I prefer the dependability of the Small.

Second, lowercasebill's free-form directions on the scalloped potatoes at

http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=1042937&catid=1

resulted in the most delicious--indescribable, really--creamy potato dish ever. The cream reduced to a thick sauce encasing the potatoes. I will never ever measure for this dish.

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Judy in San Diego

Comments

  • cookn biker
    cookn biker Posts: 13,407
    What a great meal Judy! Nicely done.
    Molly
    Colorado Springs
    "Loney Queen"
    "Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it."
    Bill Bradley; American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, former U.S. Senator from New Jersey
    LBGE, MBGE, SBGE , MiniBGE and a Mini Mini BGE
  • eenie meenie
    eenie meenie Posts: 4,394
    Judy, the caveman steak with scalloped potatoes looks absolutely divine. :)
  • troutman
    troutman Posts: 498
    Beautiful meal and message, Judy. Glad to see all is well with you.

    There, I posted something again. You get the first one in a while, thanks for just being you. Whew.
  • Judy Mayberry
    Judy Mayberry Posts: 2,015
    Oh, Scott, how great to hear from you again. You don't know how often I think of you.

    "Whew" yourself.
    Judy in San Diego
  • Judy Mayberry
    Judy Mayberry Posts: 2,015
    Praise from you is very nice indeed.
    Judy in San Diego
  • Judy Mayberry
    Judy Mayberry Posts: 2,015
    The Rebecca Dressing on the vegetables wasn't bad either!
    Judy in San Diego
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    Judy what a meal, wow....
    Have you tested the temp? I use the mini all the time for that kind of cooks and not running our of lump?
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • Judy Mayberry
    Judy Mayberry Posts: 2,015
    No, I just received the thermometer a few days ago, and since I've never had a Tel-Tru that didn't test perfect, I didn't bother. But it's the time, 70 minutes, that bothered me. You can see that the potato dish wasn't scorched, and it really looked like you'd expect a dish like that to look when properly baked.

    So tell me how full you load the lump and how long it lasts you, and at what temps.
    Judy in San Diego
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    A little past the firebox. Can't tell you times and temps, just not a problem like you are talking about.
    You are correct, if temp problem the dish would be burnt.
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • cookn biker
    cookn biker Posts: 13,407
    When I cook on my mini, I always fill er up with lump. I'd also suggest calabrating that new tel tru. Might be as simple as that to solve your mini issues. Good luck!
    Molly
    Colorado Springs
    "Loney Queen"
    "Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it."
    Bill Bradley; American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, former U.S. Senator from New Jersey
    LBGE, MBGE, SBGE , MiniBGE and a Mini Mini BGE
  • troutman
    troutman Posts: 498
    Each of those nice thoughts is appreciated, though it may not seem that way at the time.

    Bless yore pea-picking heart. I may be around a while to weigh in on the significant matters at hand, be it galvanized vs. zinc or just the relative merits of gasket composition.

    Then again, maybe not, but it finally seems to be leaning towards the "being around" idea.

    Attitude is everything. That is my story and I'm sticking to it. Nuff said hearabouts, if'n you know what I mean.
  • Hoss
    Hoss Posts: 14,600
    Miss Judy,that is one YUMMEE lookin meal! :)
  • Pork Butt Mike
    Pork Butt Mike Posts: 2,584
    Judy I am with you on this one also. I had the mini and it's cute for sure, but I love my small. So I sold my mini and picked up another small to go with my collection. The new small I picked up now stays with the RV so it travels every where we go now. Good Eats
  • rsmdale
    rsmdale Posts: 2,472
    jUDY THAT IS A GREAT LOOKING MEAL!! I love to use the mini when I am cooking for just a few.The potatoes look really creamy!


    GOOD EATS AND GOOD FRIENDS



    DALE