First cook with charcoal!

Fake Farmer · 07-23-2013, 08:39 AM

Well, this has been a long time coming. I've been using gas using a smoker box for good smoke. Finally got my dark blue performer, made some level ground (i live on a hill basically) and fired up the charcoal! Here's my first cook. This is a bit long, but I wanted to capture the whole thing. Thanks for looking.

Italian sausage with onion and peppers.

Potato wedges seasoned with Season All. Should have used more or maybe herbs like sage.

Finally firing up the performer. Kingsford with 4-5 chunks of apple in there. Gas assist starter kicked on in a second, and we were on our way! Still need to get a chimney starter.

Got the peppers and onions soft and sweet! All marinating in apple cider vinegar, beer and a little sugar.

Then potatos to smoke indirect for about 1-1.5 hours.

Did sausages indirect for about an hour. Could have gone longer but everyone was getting impatient for good eats. Seared them right over coals. Then let them marinate in the peppers.

And finally the plated shot! Was actually surprised that it got a nice smoke ring! My first smoke ring actually. Sausage was great with a crisp pop. Potatos could have been better. I'll have to keep working on them.

aawa · 07-23-2013, 08:47 AM

Great looking food! The potatoes roll them in olive oil (or any oil) and then add seasoning (try a little bit more than you put on there this time around. Rolling them in oil will give them a little bit more of a crispness to it.

I tend to do my potatoes that way and then cooked on a cast iron skillet on the grill, so it gets a nice sear on them.

hamiltont · 07-23-2013, 08:49 AM

Lookin' good. You're off to a good start now and there's no lookin' back... Cheers!!!

Bludawg · 07-23-2013, 08:55 AM

Man that thing is so shinny it was hurtin my eyes till I put my sun glasses on

Hard to beat Sausage & Sweet peppers those look real good

DownHomeQue · 07-23-2013, 09:06 AM

can't beat charcoal/wood smoke flavor compared to gas.. I don't think you will ever go back now! lol Looks Great!

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 07-23-2013, 09:23 AM

Now that wasn't so hard to cook on, was it?

Great looking food.

HankB · 07-23-2013, 09:23 AM

Looks great!

I do my spuds right on the grill too, but I get them a little closer to the heat so they brown up nicely. I also brush with EVOO and sprinkle with some S&P before they go on. (I also do broccoli, carrots, zucchini and just about any other vegetable that way.)

Good start with charcoal!

Smokeat · 07-23-2013, 10:14 AM

While a chimney will save a few bux on propane cannisters, the ease of using that gas starter is addictive. With onboard charcoal storage and pushbutton firestarting, Weber made charcoal grilling almost as easy as gas. I was a 30 year confirmed gasser, for the most part, but that sweet smell of the wood smoke is truly the Siren's song.

Tonybel · 07-23-2013, 06:52 PM

Nicely done my friend!!!

07-23-2013, 08:39 AM	#1
Fake Farmer On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-17-13 Location: Annapolis, MD	First cook with charcoal! Well, this has been a long time coming. I've been using gas using a smoker box for good smoke. Finally got my dark blue performer, made some level ground (i live on a hill basically) and fired up the charcoal! Here's my first cook. This is a bit long, but I wanted to capture the whole thing. Thanks for looking. Italian sausage with onion and peppers. Potato wedges seasoned with Season All. Should have used more or maybe herbs like sage. Finally firing up the performer. Kingsford with 4-5 chunks of apple in there. Gas assist starter kicked on in a second, and we were on our way! Still need to get a chimney starter. Got the peppers and onions soft and sweet! All marinating in apple cider vinegar, beer and a little sugar. Then potatos to smoke indirect for about 1-1.5 hours. Did sausages indirect for about an hour. Could have gone longer but everyone was getting impatient for good eats. Seared them right over coals. Then let them marinate in the peppers. And finally the plated shot! Was actually surprised that it got a nice smoke ring! My first smoke ring actually. Sausage was great with a crisp pop. Potatos could have been better. I'll have to keep working on them.

07-23-2013, 08:47 AM	#2
aawa Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-03-12 Location: Virginia Beach, VA	Great looking food! The potatoes roll them in olive oil (or any oil) and then add seasoning (try a little bit more than you put on there this time around. Rolling them in oil will give them a little bit more of a crispness to it. I tend to do my potatoes that way and then cooked on a cast iron skillet on the grill, so it gets a nice sear on them. __________________ ~Ren~ Fat Kids Club Founding Member

07-23-2013, 08:49 AM	#3
hamiltont is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-24-10 Location: Lincoln, NE Name/Nickname : hamiltont	Lookin' good. You're off to a good start now and there's no lookin' back... Cheers!!! __________________ If Homebrew & BBQ aren't the answer, then you're askin' the wrong questions... Cheers!!!

07-23-2013, 08:55 AM	#4
Bludawg somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-04-09 Location: Jonesboro,Tx	Man that thing is so shinny it was hurtin my eyes till I put my sun glasses on Hard to beat Sausage & Sweet peppers those look real good __________________ I'm a Proxy Vegetarian> Cows eat grass & I eat cows.

07-23-2013, 09:06 AM	#5
DownHomeQue is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-11-12 Location: Jonesboro. AR Name/Nickname : DHQ	can't beat charcoal/wood smoke flavor compared to gas.. I don't think you will ever go back now! lol Looks Great! __________________ [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243527[/URL] 150 Gallon Build (2017) [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148660[/URL] 250 Gallon Offset Build (2012) [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211078[/URL] 600 Gallon Offset Build (2016)

07-23-2013, 09:23 AM	#6
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont	Now that wasn't so hard to cook on, was it? Great looking food. __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-732, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

07-23-2013, 09:23 AM	#7
HankB is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-16-12 Location: Winfield, IL	Looks great! I do my spuds right on the grill too, but I get them a little closer to the heat so they brown up nicely. I also brush with EVOO and sprinkle with some S&P before they go on. (I also do broccoli, carrots, zucchini and just about any other vegetable that way.) Good start with charcoal! __________________ Weber Crazy

07-23-2013, 10:14 AM	#8
Smokeat is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-01-09 Location: IE California	While a chimney will save a few bux on propane cannisters, the ease of using that gas starter is addictive. With onboard charcoal storage and pushbutton firestarting, Weber made charcoal grilling almost as easy as gas. I was a 30 year confirmed gasser, for the most part, but that sweet smell of the wood smoke is truly the Siren's song.

07-23-2013, 06:52 PM	#9
Tonybel Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-29-12 Location: San Berdoo, CA	Nicely done my friend!!! __________________ Primo Grill Oval XL,Weber Summit Charcoal Grill, Pellet Grill and lots of different size Webers