Smoke em if ya got em.

This fine holiday finds a whole pork tenderloin on my counter warming to room temperature and waiting on the spice rub yet to be mixed and applied before its final journey into the smoker around noon. I have a maple deadfall branch out back which should provide enough sugar maple to cook several, let alone today’s entrée. Since I’m burning maple I should probably set up a smoke condenser and collect some liquid smoke for the spice cabinet, but I digress.

I mention today’s agenda only because it gives me a chance to reflect. It’s the slow burn sort of task that all else is worked around, laying in a small fire, half hourly temperature checks, monitoring the firebox, laying in soaked wood which makes better smoke and keeps the gasses a little cooler, the chamber a little moister, resisting the temptation of opening the main box especially when it smells so good. It gives time for the mind to slow which allows room for ideas to percolate.

One notion that I’m wrestling with this holiday is the nature of the holiday itself. We are to remember and honor our war dead. A subject worthy of our reflection if more of us would actually take the opportunity, but, the notion that entered my mind yesterday is how many of our war dead are not with us because of the military industrial complex rather than some just cause? Surely precious few in my lifetime, I can think of none really. Nearly 50 years of wars, skirmishes, actions, intercessions justified by the manipulation of the public’s fears and implemented over the objections of mothers.

Thousands of our young men killed, for what? The bottom line of General Electric? Maybe Raytheon? Sperry? General Dynamics?

Yes, I remember and honor those who died, but I’ll be damned if I honor why because it feels like we the people are little more than my cut of pork experiencing the slow burn.

-Hoot

:applause:

How does one collect liquid smoke? I have tons of mesquite on my land and like the flavor of it better than other woods, but I've never done the smoke collection thing.
P.S. I share your sentiments.

Then on top of the chimney place a bundt pan so the smoke flows through the hole in the center of the pan. I use an aluminum throw away and pierce it with bamboo skewers outside to the center. On top of the skewers, goes an inverted stainless bowl of smaller diameter than he bundt pan, which traps the smoke for a moment. Put a bag of ice water on top (the bottom) of the bowl to keep it cold and the smoke condenses on the inside of the bowl and drips into the bundt pan. You can get 3 or four tablespoons in an afternoon.

Be careful when using it, it's strong stuff!

I wish I could say I thought it up, but I have to give credit to Alton Brown and his Good Eats show.

-Hoot

Don't have to collect hickory then. I do like sugar maple.

-Hoot

I am burning because of more than just the stupid justification thing... I am burning because of the crap we are STILL dealing with and the farce that somehow I have to HONOR these atrocities performed in my name...

If ANYone came into my neighborhood and tried to rape my child and held me at gunpoint, you can bet I'd be figuring out how to get them...until and unless I died trying...and then these are the people we are "DEFENDING" ourselves against? in what twisted universe?

so where is the "honor"...? long ago maybe and far away.
Seems like the only thing noble enough to fight or declare 'war' on may have been dragons, because the war & pillaging of the early 10th century was no better than today's behaviors in the huts of Afganistan or the homes of Iraq. And certainly horific things even happened to the natives here during the early colonnial days and skirmishes...

war is never honorable or good or right
and my stomach turns today, that even THIS has been reduced to a sale at macys and an excuse to BUY BUYBUY bbq sauce and briquets and beer...

yay, we partook in milliions of deaths on false pretense...all so we could "honor it" and enjoy our 3 day weekend

you could just honor those who DID die for an honorable cause.

Msongs

You did better than I would have, although I honor all who died, just not all the causes they died for.

-Hoot

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:thumbsup:

:hippie: :evilgrin: :hippie: :evilgrin:

I have seen "purple" that deep before, but not often...

Not as clear though.. oh man if it were legal what a field-day I would have. :evilgrin:

I used my new Orion Cooker to make them.

I rubbed them a day ahead.

They were falling off the bone good.




I always ruminate on Memorial Day.

Another Memorial Day has nearly passed.

-Hoot

Apparently, by having a barbecue in their honor. I'm not American, and it's rather strange to me that memorial day activities seem to involve drinking, shopping, and of course barbecues. Perhaps, instead of wondering what proportion of war deaths are caused by a military industrial complex (although this is a valid question) while tending your firebox, the time might be better spent visiting a cemetary or veteran's home.