Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Big cook planned for this weekend - Wish me luck

NC_Egghead
NC_Egghead Posts: 786
in EggHead Forum
I'm an alumni advisor for my fraternity and have offered to feed the undergrads this weekend. I've been getting different head counts so I settled on around 42 lbs of pork shoulder. I'm also making 3 batches of Potato-Mac, a double batch of baked beans, slaw for a crowd, brownies, and will also have Kings Hawaiian rolls. On top of that, it just so happens that I have some pork belly that's been cured for 7 days and will be going into the XL tonight for a cold smoke. Couldn't have timed it better with the way the weather has cooled off; temps expected to be in the upper 40's tonight. Going to give it a couple more hours for the pellicle to form. 

Sprinkled with black pepper, maple sugar and some bourbon smoked sugar. I test fried a couple slices and it wasn't too salty, but tasted really, really good. The brothers aren't going to get any of this! Plan is to cold smoke this tonight, then wrap and refrigerate for a day or 2 to let the smoke even out before I slice it up.

Here's the XL all cleaned out and ready to go for the cold smoke tonight, then the butts on Saturday am. 


I have groceries all over the house and my fridge is packed but it's going to be worth it.



Boiled a a dozen russet potatoes for the mac tonight and letting them cool over night so they won't fall apart when I cut them up. 

More to come as it develops...
Charlotte, NC

XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • johnkitchens
    johnkitchens Posts: 5,234
    Man this is going to be awesome! I can't wait for more pics! 

    Louisville, GA - 2 Large BGE's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    The pellicle is important.  You clearly are ready to rock and roll!
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FWRealtor
    FWRealtor Posts: 57
    Man, what a feast! Sounds incredible. Good luck! 
    Big Green Egg Owner since 2012
    Fort Worth ,Texas
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • johnnyp
    johnnyp Posts: 3,932
    Good luck!  
    XL & MM BGE, 36" Blackstone - Newport News, VA
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,444
    I wish I could be there. 
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    Belly went on at O-Dark-Hundred. Sorry, no pictures since there's a fairly decent rain falling and it looks like it's here to stay for a while. Plan is to let it smoke until 8 or 9 AM. Hopefully rain will be done by then too. Lots to do tomorrow...
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hokie_Smoker
    Hokie_Smoker Posts: 662
    You know I live just next door to Charlotte and never was a Greek. Can a 41 year old visit for a pledge this weekend?

    _________________________________________________________________________________________

    Johnson, Navin R... Sounds like a typical bastard.

     

    Belmont, NC

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • THEBuckeye
    THEBuckeye Posts: 4,232
    I'd sure call you My Brother! 
    New Albany, Ohio 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jupiter Jim
    Jupiter Jim Posts: 3,351
    It's going to be a real treat for those that attend, Oh we are only 2 hours away!

    I'm only hungry when I'm awake!

    Okeechobee FL. Winter

    West Jefferson NC Summer

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    That's a monster cook! Good luck and appears you have all bases covered.  
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
    Instagram
    Facebook
    My Photography Site
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OneNole03
    OneNole03 Posts: 93
    Talk about a feast! 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    Wow....and in the rain too. All the ingredients for success there my friend. Lucky students.
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,310
    You know you make me want to SHOUT!

    Seriously, good luck.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    So I woke up this morning to this:

    Bummer, smoke went out last night. Not exactly sure why since I had S/W cap and bottom vent wide open. Maybe someone with more experience with one of these can explain better. I'm re-lighting at both ends and will be back to smoking soon. 
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    Rub is all proportioned out. I like to make separate batches so I know how much each butt should get. 

    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,444
    You are a BGE machine. Good luck my friend.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    Been a busy afternoon. Got 2 batches of potato-Mac made. The brownies made and trimmed and rubbed 2 of the 5 butts. 

    Here's one batch of potato-mac:

    Up close:


    Pan of brownies:



    Gonna take a little break and finish the last 3 butts later this evening. Also still need to make the vinegar based sauce. 
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gamecockeggman
    Gamecockeggman Posts: 1,340
    Hey.. Just between us...how much reefer you put in them brownies =)
    Go Gamecocks!!!
    1 XL, 1 MM
    Smoking in Aiken South Carolina
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    I'm not telling!  ;)
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beachsmoke
    beachsmoke Posts: 644
    I will bring the kegs and fake Id looks like a good time
    Large egg panhandle of florida
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    Gamecockeggman said:
    Hey.. Just between us...how much reefer you put in them brownies =)
    You beat me to that one. 
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    edited May 2016
    NC_Egghead said:
    So I woke up this morning to this:

    Bummer, smoke went out last night. Not exactly sure why since I had S/W cap and bottom vent wide open. Maybe someone with more experience with one of these can explain better. I'm re-lighting at both ends and will be back to smoking soon. 
    This has been a known issue with the pellets.  A few ways to avoid a burnout.

    1.  Pound(in a bag) the pellets to a sawdust consistency.

    2.  Use Todd's A-maz-N dust or smokinlicious dust, avoiding pellets period.

    Use the remaining pellets you have, and stock up on dust.  We like to use them in the egg like wood chips for a bbq smoke.
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    I hope it all went well, sure it did.  Great cook brother, sleep well.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    beachsmoke said:
    I will bring the kegs and fake Id looks like a good time
    When I was in school kegs were a common occurrence. Now, it's a $1000.00 fine per keg for any frat caught with such, on or off campus. The administration is trying to dissuade wholesale drinking. They know it goes on, just trying to make it a little harder to have so much free flowing alcohol at one time, in one place. I get what the intent is. Trust me, I did a lot of stupid things before drunk driving was brought to everyone's attention. Sometimes I wonder why/ how I'm still here. It's a way different atmosphere on campus now, than it was over 35 yrs ago. 
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786

    Focker said:
    NC_Egghead said:
    So I woke up this morning to this:

    Bummer, smoke went out last night. Not exactly sure why since I had S/W cap and bottom vent wide open. Maybe someone with more experience with one of these can explain better. I'm re-lighting at both ends and will be back to smoking soon. 
    This has been a known issue with the pellets.  A few ways to avoid a burnout.

    1.  Pound(in a bag) the pellets to a sawdust consistency.

    2.  Use Todd's A-maz-N dust or smokinlicious dust, avoiding pellets period.

    Use the remaining pellets you have, and stock up on dust.  We like to use them in the egg like wood chips for a bbq smoke.
    Thanks @Focker! Glad to know it wasn't anything I did. This was my first time using the amazn so wasn't quite sure what to expect. Learned a valuable lesson that I can't leave it unattended over night. When I re-lit at both ends, it burned the way it was supposed to. 
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786

    bgebrent said:
    I hope it all went well, sure it did.  Great cook brother, sleep well.
    Thanks @bgebrent, I've got an early morning, for sure. 
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    NC_Egghead said:

    bgebrent said:
    I hope it all went well, sure it did.  Great cook brother, sleep well.
    Thanks @bgebrent, I've got an early morning, for sure. 
    For an epic cook.  Have fun with it brother!
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    edited May 2016
    Good Morning Campers!

    Egg is currently stabilizing and butts have been re-rubbed. Here's a little something to go with your morning coffee:



    Slaw and and beans to put together today while these are cooking...
    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NC_Egghead
    NC_Egghead Posts: 786
    Butts on @ 0600



    Hoping to to keep her somewhere between 275 and 300. Probably closer to 300. There's a lot of cold meat in there so it may be a while before the temp stabilizes. 


    Breakfast of champions:


    Charlotte, NC

    XL BGE, WSM, Weber Genesis 2, Weber Kettle
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • johnmitchell
    johnmitchell Posts: 7,414
    Everything looks awesome.. Enjoy your cook and have a great day..
    Greensboro North Carolina
    When in doubt Accelerate....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories