My Wife gave a LBGE for Christmas

Hmmm ... first post on the 25th ... today is the 30th ... OMG, that's five days without a cook.  Virginity in a big green egg is not a good thing ... honest ... cook something ... anything ... please.

No plate setter yet, so how about a hamburger ... inexpensive and yet very good on the egg. 

Calibrate your dome thermometer ... @lousubcap posted some great links above for how to do that.  Fill the egg to the top of the fire bowl ... don't be stingy.  Light it off in the center (no lighter fluid) close the lid when you see a few small flames.  Give the dome temp until about 200 degrees before you start closing down the daisy wheel and the bottom vent.  Since most early temp mistakes are from getting behind the curve - darn thing heats up faster than you think - error on the side of closing down the vents early ... real early ... even before you think you should close them down.  You're probably looking for a end point around an 1/8 inch open on the bottom vent and the petals open on the daisy wheel ... control temps with the bottom vent.  The dome temp should settle out in the 300 to 400 degree range.  Watch and see if it stays steady for 15 minutes or so and the smoke turns clear or light blue.  That should be good for direct cooking of hamburgers.  If you want a little wider cooking window, raise the grate to the felt line with bricks or beer/soda cans.  If the temp gets away from you ... no problem ... close the vents and walk away ... you just learned some good info about starting your egg.

Oh yes, don't try to cook the hamburgers with the lid up ... the fire will get away from you.  Good luck.

My wife just survived 4 days with my mother. Two of which were spent in the car. She's awesome. Yours is a close second! Welcome to the forum. Just about every dumb question has been asked, many by me. Have fun and ask away!

Mil yes. FIL, hell no.

Lmao john. Family is fun. :-q