Salmon

Unknown

Just returned from a month in Alaska and had some Silver Salmon that I caught shipped home. Have never really cared for salmon much, but while in Alaska, had some smoked salmon that both the wife and I enjoyed very much. Our guide gave me his recipe and the only thing is, he used cottonwood. We live in central Florida and I don't think we have cottoneood here nor do I think it is available (at least I haven't seen it). Any ideas where I might obtain some OR any suggestions on subsitutes?[p]When I try the recipes and if they are good, I'll post them.[p]Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Prof Dan

noletrain,[p]It's all good. I've done salmon with oak, ash, hickory, and even mesquite. The only trick is not to overcook -- I do salmon fillets, about an inch and a half thick, at 250 for 45 minutes. Juicy and smokey!

bigmikej

noletrain,
don't know about smoked salmon, but try this recipe. It is awesome!
[ul][li]Dizzy Pig Salmon[/ul]

Pakak

He suggested using cottonwood? I've never heard of it being a preferred wood to burn for anything. It's very soft and pithy, making very poor firewood. There's an abundance here, where I live, and no one I know uses it for firewood. Fallen trees are generally hauled to the dump. I'd be very interested in hearing anyone with a different experience.

StumpBaby

noletrain,[p]I ain't never heard of cottonwood...but luckily for me..I gots gramma to help out..when I needs to understand somethin. Even though grammas cranium is shaped all funny and what not, she still knows more than momma..I think maybe mommas giant round cranium is just for show (A asked poppa bout this once..and he tol me mommas family originally came from the jungles..where they gots them big snakes what can swallow folks whole..and over time...mommas family..bein as smart as they was..least the ones what didn't disappear.. grew these big old craniums to stop the snakes from wantin to eat them..bein as they looked like they'd never be able to swaller em at all. Mommas kinfolk finally had to leave the jungle on accounta all the other folks was mad that they was smart and gone and grown them big heads..and was never eatin..so they runned em out. Poor momma ..it aint her fault them other folks..was not smart like mommas kin..and couldn't grow no large craniums..but it sure does splain a lot of things what didn't make sense to me before..like when momma said our large craniums was a curse..and like when we go to the zoo and momma stares..all glassy eyed and what not.. at the rain forest exhibit).[p]Gramma tol me bout that cottonwood..turns out poppa used to get some..and it sounds like maybe poppa didn't really like it..cause from what gramma said..he was always tryin to hide it..so's folks wouldn't see it..then he'd get rid of it when nobody was lookin...but from what gramma said..only momma would know if'n it's good for smoking or not. I think maybe gramma isn't what poppa calls too long for this world..cause sometimes..she just starts laughin like you read about..over nothin at all..till it sounds like she's gaggin on a weasel or somethin. [p]Gramma said that when it was cotton pickin season, the whole family used to go round and help them farmers pick their cottons. Before they went..the kinfolk would be wonderin if this was the year poppa wouldn't come back with that ugly cottonwood. Every year..at this one particular farm....poppa would go out in the fields with one of the farmers daughters..and he musta done some real bad pickin..cause gramma said when poppa would come outta the fields..all that girl had given him was some..what the kinfolks started callin ... cottonwood. That wood musn't be good..cause gramma said all the kinfolk would be out in the fields..pretendin to pick cotton..their eyes on poppa..anxiously wait to see if'n poppa came out with that wood or not..and if'n he did..they'd all be disapointed...and would pretend not to notice. That cottonwood sounds like nuttin but trouble..cause from what gramma said..poppa was mad as all get out to come outta the fields with that there cottonwood..but he kept goin back for more each year. I think he wanted to prove to that girl what a good picker he really could be..poppas real persistant when he wants to prove somethin.. that's fer sure. [p]Till one year...poppa..finally came out without that wood..and gramma says he sure musta felt good not to bring out that wood..cause..he was grinnin from ear to ear..proud as a peacock..and on this day..the kinfolks what were waitin.. dropped their cottotn..and started cheerin and whoopin like you read about. Gramma says the look on grampas face was one hundred percent pride..prolly cause poppa had finally done some real good pickin. [p]Ahh..the life of a Stump...[p]StumpBaby

Unknown

Pakak,He didn't use it for the heat, just the smoke. He said it was normally very wet. He smoked it over night.

JSlot

ROFLAPIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![p]Jim

Pakak

noletrain,[p]Well, I've smelled it burning too. IMO it's not the best smelling wood I've ever smelled, especially if wet/green. Course, you have to stop and think ... there were a lot of Indians in this area 125+ years ago or so. THEY probably used cottonwood to cook with and make jerky, don't you spose? Other than cottonwood, the practically the only other native wood is some type of pine.