The sun finally felt warm

On Monday I grilled. On our perfect 67 degree Monday, I grilled. The last time my gas grill saw the light of day was late October. Since that time it had been stored away in front of the lawnmower and next to the smoker in the utility shed attached to the garage. It's been a long 4 1/2 months. It seemed longer but after buying a huge family size package of ground beef (what size family needs 6 lbs.?) and knowing that Monday's weather was going to be the kind of early spring warmth that gives teenage boys erections in anticipation of swimsuit season, I saved one pound of ground chuck for the upcoming glorious Monday afternoon.

After speeding home, my nipples tingling in anticipation of the grand event, I pulled the grill from the garage and put it in its proper place on the patio and lit that bad boy.



Welcome to flavor country. These 1/2 lb. beauties that look like a Wendy's burger on steroids borrowed from Barry Bonds were nothing short of delicious. Grilled hamburgers, one of the many summertime treats I've missed. Welcome back spring, welcome back!

Spring is just around the corner for MinnPics as well. Check back frequently to see the seasons change in Minnesota.

Who wants to smoke my meat?

Early last year, I was mildly obsessed about where best to find great barbecue in both the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. Frankly, it was starting to get expensive to drive nearly 100 miles south to Austin to eat with friends and a friend's barbecue restaurant. Don't get me wrong; his restaurant, Piggy Blues BBQ, is heads and tails above anything I've ever eaten. And if you ask me "Why don't you go to Famous Dave's?" I will surely respond by saying "Famous Dave's is to BBQ what Taco Bell is to Mexican food. I'd sooner eat McDonald's for a week."

It was about 13 months ago, thought, that my wife came through big time with a smoker for my birthday. Sure, others would ask for a flat-screen TV or an XBox 360 but mine is the gift that keeps on giving. In fact, it seems to give about once a month.


Saturday was one of those giving days. After testing a cut of pork I grabbed at the cesspool of all supermarkets; Cub Foods; a few months ago in the crock pot in April, I was ready for the smoker.
I'll spare you a lot of the details but I will say that I had the fire going by 11:00 AM and that the dry rub consisting simply of black pepper, chili powder and red pepper flakes stuck nicely to the mustard I slathered on to the pork.

Don't worry, the mustard's flavor vanishes and leaves the dark skin which seals in the flavor and juices. All told, I pulled the roast from the smoker around 6:30 PM after slow roasting over both traditional charcoal and wood lump charcoal at around 250 degrees while adding in a few chunks of Mesquite for smoky flavor.

I am slowly perfecting it and it's becoming a decent substitute for my friend's distant restaurant. What other summer delights should I try? Either on the smoker or the grill.

I'm free

Remember last week as I put the month of March on notice. I was fed up with the most namby-pamby month of all. It can't decide if it wants to be 50 degrees and sunny or 27 degrees and snowy. Well, last Thursday I decided I was done. Spring was officially here and Saturday I made it doubly official by stuffing the long sleeved winter wardrobe in the back closet of the house. That little development means that since Thursday my arms have been free to feel fresh air once again. It means that even though today is forcast to be 35 degrees with 8 inches of snow that my arms, no matter how cold they get, will be free to experience the weather (under cover of my medium-weight jacket) in all its glory.

It also meant that I pulled the smoker out this weekend and cooked up two chickens that were damn tasty. It means that last nevening I made some delicious hamburgers whilst cooking with old school charcoal. Sure, the general look of the landscape is dirty and dingy but to me it's spring. Yes, Spring in good old Minnesota means wildly fluctuating temperatures and the possibility of snow in the oh-so-descriptive "Heavy Snow Warning". And yes, I took down the rest of the Christmas lights yesterday as well and I'm not the last one in the neighborhood to do that so I'm not "that guy".

My unencumbered arms will see y'all later.