I like this time at night on HBT

[Leadgolem]

Did a brisket, baked beans, homemade BBQ sauce and veggies (carrots & broccoli). The left over brisket will go into chili

It was brought to my attention that brisket is analogous to pork belly. My next project will be to make beef bacon from brisket. I have no idea if this is brilliant or totally insane... Sounds like a lot of my projects/recipes.

 

[Jukas]

It was brought to my attention that brisket is analogous to pork belly. My next project will be to make beef bacon from brisket. I have no idea if this is brilliant or totally insane... Sounds like a lot of my projects/recipes.

I'm not a butcher, but that would really surprise me. Brisket is a cut from the chest area of the cow and is a very tough cut of meat unless you cook it "low & slow" and allow all the connective tissue to break down and tenderize the meat.

I could be completely wrong, but I don't think it would make good beef bacon.

 

[Leadgolem]

I'm not a butcher, but that would really surprise me. Brisket is a cut from the chest area of the cow and is a very tough cut of meat unless you cook it "low & slow" and allow all the connective tissue to break down and tenderize the meat.

I could be completely wrong, but I don't think it would make good beef bacon.

Brisket is usually cooked low and slow so that all the collagen that has developed from the working of the muscle renders into gelatin. That takes both time and heat. Pork belly doesn't have nearly as much connective tissue so it doesn't usually require the same kind of long cooking. The plan is actually to use a long smoking process and see if I can get the meat warm enough to render the collagen, without burning or drying it out excessively. The fat content of the brisket should help with that.

The other phase of the experiment is to trim and pan fry a couple strips of brisket like you would bacon. The idea being to see if the high collagen content is made less of an issue by cutting the meat into thin strips. Sort of a philly cheese steak approach.

I expect yummy pretty much no matter what, though I could end up with very tasty shoe leather.

 

[OkashiiBrew]

Beer, it's whats for dinner! Get home late, don't want to wake the family.

 

[Airborneguy]

I'm finishing out my week on the desk on this very cold night. Just had a monster burger, cleaning out the bowels, then I plan on smoking a nice tasty cigar. I gotta say I am really getting used to being a boss.

 

[Ostomo517]

Havin a Hopslam with beef tongue I braised all day and homemade tortillas, damn I love IPAs with spicy food!

 

[Dan]

The electric company installed new meters a while back and all the sudden even though I'm using half the power I was two years ago at this time of year my current bill was nearly twice as much. I was livid. Chilling now to some "Wonderful Chill Out Music (Arabic and India Balance Mix) by Tekiu" Not something I usually listen to. Tried some Gregorian chant but it creeped me out.

 

[Airborneguy]

I used to have Gregorian Chant on my iPod but I deleted it. I just never found myself in the mood for it. What I am in the mood for right now is this nice cigar I'm smoking. Yeah...

 

[Dan]

Do you get to smoke at your desk?

 

[Airborneguy]

No they banned smoking in all city buildings awhile ago. Even the basement is probably a no-go but since its just for parking no one bothers us about it. When I first came on, SGTs used to smoke behind the desk.

 

[Varmintman]

Well it seems like the forum is working faster now. Man I gave up on it last night it was moving so slow. I guess I have no room to complain since I am not a paying member

Airborne:

I love a nice cigar but I have to tell you I pretty much stop smoking them during the winter. Just to cold to go outside and smoke and I do not smoke in the house. Do not know why just the way I am I guess.

 

[BobbiLynn]

I started freaking out a little about the site being slow, started printing off some info... just in case!! I have plans, big plans!! Must have info.... Site seems good today though!!

 

[Varmintman]

Heck Bobbi you stirred up a hornets nest with your 10 dollar brew thread. I was really enjoying it I was.

That thread kind of opened up my eyes to the differing costs of ingredients around the country. I guess I am pretty lucky to live where I do

 

[Airborneguy]

I very very rarely smoke outside in the winter either. It's 12 right now, which for us is well below normal. When its in the high 30's, I'll sometimes smoke outside. I also don't smoke in the house, my wife would probably leave me over that!

 

[Varmintman]

Winter time we have a beer and cigar night every Friday and luckily we have it in a garage that has a wood stove in it. I will smoke a nice cigar then.

Last week it was -24 I think when I brewed. Pretty much standard for this time of year. I am starting to look forward though to some warmer weather now though. I just checked the temp right now and it is 9 degrees. Pretty much a heat wave

 

[emjay]

Heck Bobbi you stirred up a hornets nest with your 10 dollar brew thread. I was really enjoying it I was.

That thread kind of opened up my eyes to the differing costs of ingredients around the country. I guess I am pretty lucky to live where I do

Interesting. With bulk hops, group buys for grain, and reused yeast, I can make 5 gallons of, say, a pilsener for under $5.

 

[Varmintman]

Interesting. With bulk hops, group buys for grain, and reused yeast, I can make 5 gallons of, say, a pilsener for under $5.

I am right at ten bucks for Biermunchers 3c or the recipe I altered for it.

I am surrounded by tons of two row barley and can get all I want for pretty much free. Been trying to get the malting down to where I am consistent but that is not a easy thing. Once I get a system down though sheesh I could make beer for about nothing if I grow my own hops

 

[BobbiLynn]

Heck Bobbi you stirred up a hornets nest with your 10 dollar brew thread. I was really enjoying it I was.

That thread kind of opened up my eyes to the differing costs of ingredients around the country. I guess I am pretty lucky to live where I do

I am going to try your recipe with the instant rice and grits. I love rice, I love grits, I love beer!! Money's tight!! Gotta do what you can!! Cost is the reason I have not upped production, keep nearly running out of beer. I will fix this problem. More beer, less money.

I don't really smoke much in the winter either, 31.8 degrees when I got up at 5 this morning. Too cold to sit on the porch. 32.4 now... trying to get the fire going on the woodburning stove, the electric heat keeps coming on, I can hear the sound of it draining my wallet.

 

[Varmintman]

I am going to try your recipe with the instant rice and grits. I love rice, I love grits, I love beer!! Money's tight!! Gotta do what you can!! Cost is the reason I have not upped production, keep nearly running out of beer. I will fix this problem. More beer, less money.

I don't really smoke much in the winter either, 31.8 degrees when I got up at 5 this morning. Too cold to sit on the porch. 32.4 now... trying to get the fire going on the woodburning stove, the electric heat keeps coming on, I can hear the sound of it draining my wallet.

Well I kind of stole the idea from Biermuncher for that recipe and tweaked it for my taste. Thanks Biermuncher

I keep on looking at my woodpile and wondering if it is going to make it the winter. Man I hope so or I hope it lasts long enough that I can get some more out of sherwood. Jan is our coldest month and things should be warming up soon or so I hope. I am getting cabin fever and want to get outside and start doing stuff

 

[BobbiLynn]

Well I kind of stole the idea from Biermuncher for that recipe and tweaked it for my taste. Thanks Biermuncher

I keep on looking at my woodpile and wondering if it is going to make it the winter. Man I hope so or I hope it lasts long enough that I can get some more out of sherwood. Jan is our coldest month and things should be warming up soon or so I hope. I am getting cabin fever and want to get outside and start doing stuff

I hear ya, chain slipped on my chainsaw, worn out, need to replace it. Down to chopping the big warped logs. Just keep whacking at it until it eventually splits, but at least, once you get the fire going good, it burns a long time.

Can't wait for spring, start tilling up the gardens.

 

[passedpawn]

Haha, I have the opposite problem with firewood. I've got about a full cord in the woods behind my house, but it almost never gets cold enough here to have a fire. Even in the winter when we get cold nights, the house is still warm from the day. Much of the wood is over a year old, so it burns very quickly.

 

[Lushife]

Do you get to smoke at your desk?

You get the death penalty for that.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I cant smoke at my desk, but on varied occassions I fume.

 

[Varmintman]

Haha, I have the opposite problem with firewood. I've got about a full cord in the woods behind my house, but it almost never gets cold enough here to have a fire. Even in the winter when we get cold nights, the house is still warm from the day. Much of the wood is over a year old, so it burns very quickly.

It takes 6 or 8 cord a year here if it is not to cold. But the summers are just great and not to hot We pay for it though with some cold weather in the winter.

Even though I have access to all the firewood I want from a planted farm I just love going up into the hills and getting firewood in the fall. Hard work doing it but just getting up into the high country makes it worthwhile to me.

 

[Varmintman]

I hear ya, chain slipped on my chainsaw, worn out, need to replace it. Down to chopping the big warped logs. Just keep whacking at it until it eventually splits, but at least, once you get the fire going good, it burns a long time.

Can't wait for spring, start tilling up the gardens.

I think my poor wife is going to go crazy here. This is her first winter ever and she is just amazed at how much things shut down or that we even go out into the cold. She has lived in the tropics her whole life where they can grow veggies twice a year and then came up here where you have to be careful what you plant and hope you harvest it before it gets to cold.

 

[Lushife]

My father is a groundskeeper so we get all the firewood we need for free. We also go out after big storms and cut up what we find.

 

[Varmintman]

Oh bother. I buggered my back up a few days ago and my wife wants me to stay in a chair on the hot pad. About the only way I am going to get into the forum today I think is if I sneak it like I was looking at porn or something.

 

[BobbiLynn]

My father is a groundskeeper so we get all the firewood we need for free. We also go out after big storms and cut up what we find.

I don't pay for firewood either. About 2 years ago a tornado ran straight through the property, cut down a clear path. Tops of the trees twisted right off, laying on the ground. It wasn't funny but we had a guy we hired out working when it happened. He was clinging to a magnolia tree, feet flying out from under him. We were all huddled in the main house, wanted to go help him. Just praying he kept hanging on. He was holding a large hand held plow in one hand, other arm wrapped around the tree. We asked him later why he didn't drop the plow, he said that the extra weight of it was the only thing keeping him from flying away.

 

[Lushife]

I don't pay for firewood either. About 2 years ago a tornado ran straight through the property, cut down a clear path. Tops of the trees twisted right off, laying on the ground. It wasn't funny but we had a guy we hired out working when it happened. He was clinging to a magnolia tree, feet flying out from under him. We were all huddled in the main house, wanted to go help him. Just praying he kept hanging on. He was holding a large hand held plow in one hand, other arm wrapped around the tree. We asked him later why he didn't drop the plow, he said that the extra weight of it was the only thing keeping him from flying away.

Wow, that's crazy. I didn't think you would need firewood in Florida.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Wow, that's crazy. I didn't think you would need firewood in Florida.

North Florida, last night it got down to 30 degrees.