Okay, before I go any further, I need to show you what is happening all over North Texas.
See, I told you we've had no winter. Now our poor trees are so confused they're budding all over the place. And March isn't even here yet.
Crazy, I tell ya.
Back before Christmas, I came home one day to find this HUGE present beside the Christmas tree. I mean it stood over four foot high and it was heavy. Since I wasn't the one who'd wrapped it, I had a pretty good idea it was for me. I looked at my husband and said, "You got me a gun safe?"
Two curiosity-filled weeks later, I opened said gift to discover this.
An electric smoker.
Oh, be still my heart. This was so much more exciting than a gun safe. No more worrying about stoking the fire (though I still like that method, too). I simply set the temperature, how long I want it to cook, add the wood chips and call it good.
And since it's so easy, I can throw my meat on in the morning or afternoon and eat it for dinner.
Like this.
On this day, I decided to smoke some bone-in chicken breasts. I love them smoked because they come out so juicy and tender with oodles and oodles of flavor.
I just season them with whatever tickles my fancy. In this case, it was my usual meat seasoning that consists of salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
Put them into my preheated smoker.
BTW, I used mesquite wood chips. So good.
(I forgot to take the pic right away, so this after about an hour, hence the drips)
And six hours later, this is what you've got.
I served it with a salad and some deviled eggs.
Easy, peasy.
The best part about this smoked chicken, is that you can make extra to eat later or use in soups, casseroles, whatever. That smokey flavor gives those dishes just a little extra punch.
Yep, I'd call my smoker the gift that keeps on giving. Not to mention one others can benefit from.
Now it's your turn. Are you a smoker?
I mean the meat variety. What are some of your favorites?
Hi Mindy, What a great gift and one Santa benefits from as well. chuckle. I don't smoke meat at home, but when we camp in Canada, mosts of the campgrounds in fishing areas have smoke houses. We go fishing and then smoke the fish. Great fun. Although one time when in British Columbia, we had our fish in the smoke house and someone else put fish in and stoked the fire and burnt the whole smokehouse down. yikes. We lost all that fish. sigh. So an electric smoker must be heaven. smile
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness. I'd hate to be the one responsible for that fire.
DeleteSandra, you just sparked a memory. I remember my dad taking me fishing at some stocked place when I was a kid. Trout fishing. Then we had my haul smoked. Best fish I'd ever tasted. I don't think I've had smoked fish since. Of course, that was in northern Michigan, not too far from Canada. Which tells me that smoked fish must be a northern thing. Especially areas where there are a lot of lakes.
Okay, now I'm thinking a road trip is in order.
Go for it Mindy. You'll love it. And fresh trout smoked is really a treat. In Michigan though you have walleye and Norther Pike don't you? Those are just plain tasty no matter how you cook them.
DeleteThey have those in the larger lakes, but there's a lot of trout, too.
DeleteWow! A smoke house! That sounds very fun.
DeleteLOL -- I didn't even know there was such a thing as a smoker. Not something that comes up in vegetarian/vegan circles these days. Bwahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteAre you vegan Kav? I've had smoked cheese that is yummy. However, not sure if they smoke it or just put smoke flavoring in the cheese. Anybody know?
DeleteHmm... How about some smoked eggplant, Kav? I'm game if you are. =)
DeleteOhhhh, smoked gouda is my favorite!! And what about smoked tofu?
DeleteSorry. Even smoked, I don't want tofu. ;)
DeleteI want one. This is on my bucket list. Now I REALLY want one.
ReplyDeleteMindy, is that a Masterbuilt? I'm going to have to sock some pennies away, and maybe some quiet money, too! You know, the foldable kind.... I kept thinking we could build a smoker, but we're clueless people.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad to admit.
You will love it, Ruthy. Yes, it is a Masterbuilt. Hubby was so proud. Said he'd been watching the ads leading up to Christmas. He'd intended to get a smaller one, but when he went to one store, they had the larger for the same price. Well, when he got to the counter, it wasn't the same price, but $100 more. So he told them that wasn't what the sign said. They checked it and gave it to him for the lower price. He was so proud of himself. I couldn't tell if he was more excited about the gift or his shopping prowess. :P
DeleteBTW, the 40 in is what he got me and I believe he managed to get it for less than $200. Check the sporting goods and outdoor stores.
DeleteWill do, because that's almost half price for that one! Go hubby!!!!!
DeleteOh wow, you just made me drool! That looks sooo yummy! I didn't even know they made such a thing. I may have to look for one!
ReplyDeleteMissy, I assume you're drooling over the chicken, because that would just be weird if you were drooling over the smoker. :P
DeleteThey make smaller versions, too. I want to say someone once told me they had one that sat on their kitchen counter, but I can't imagine that. It would smoke up the house whenever you opened it.
Well that answers my question. I guess it's not meant for city-dwellers.
DeleteI drool over the smokers in our local Cabelas. I just need to get my family interested in fishing and hunting to I can justify buying one. :)
ReplyDeleteThe closest I get is drying food. A little mesquite seasoning on some beef and you've got a jerky to die for. We never buy commercial jerky anymore.
Your hubby's buying prowess is commendable! It pays to be in the right place at the right time. :)
I love Cabelas, Jan! Though I bet this smoker would cost a lot more there.
DeleteWe've only done jerky in the oven, so we don't make it very often. That said, hubby got a dehydrator from one of the kids for Christmas and is eager to try it out.
Wow, that looks good!!! Smoked salmon is my only experience with smoked food. (I don't think my love of smoked gouda cheese counts.) We don't have a smoker, but a family friend does. He's also a great fisherman, and there's nothing tastier than his fresh caught salmon, smoked until it's dry and flakey. Yum!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Carol, it seems that you can find all kids of smoked products nowadays. Some simply add smoke flavoring, though there are others you can't really do that with. Like the smoke-flavored salts. I might have to see if I can actually make that.
DeleteWe're all about the smoked salmon here. My brother in law catches and smokes his own salmon when it's in season, then gives us 10-15 lbs every year. It's funny when I hear about it being a delicacy in some places because it's practically a staple here. Of course, two of my kids hate smoked salmon, even on cream cheese and bagels but I love it.
DeleteAwesome gift. I smoke chicken, fish and more in a stovetop smoker. It is a domed type pan and you can do a whole chicken in 60/90 minutes. Salmon and corn on the cob are crest too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a Nordic Ware
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a stovetop smoker, Jill. How cool is that? What do you use to add the smoke flavor?
DeleteOkay, so Jill's comment has me curious. I would guess I could use a stove top smoker even though I said it wasn't for those of us in the city. Go figure. I bet my husband would love it.
ReplyDeleteSounds perfect for you, Mary Cate. You need to give it a whirl.
DeleteHAHAHA! I totally laughed at the gun safe! I would have guessed that, too. Or maybe a mini fridge for near my desk, hahahaha. I have no idea. That is too funny. I had a big mystery box, too, and it turned out to be a big crock pot to replace the on I cracked. I also received a large Purex glass dish to replace the one I broke. And a mouse to... yes, replace the one I broke. I joked that it was the Christmas of "replacing the items I broke".
ReplyDeleteOf course there were other sweet items, but like the smoker, I loved the crock pot! I'm all about making meals easy!
Yes, as I was reading, Mary Jane, I was thinking, "I detect a trend." The best part of that, though, is that they noticed. Mine would just expect me to replace it. That is, unless I complained--frequently.
DeleteBeing surprised is always nice, though.
Wouldn't this be lovely for salmon. On cedar.
ReplyDeleteSure would, Tina. I'd definitely have to research that first, though. Wouldn't want to mess up a perfectly good salmon filet.
Delete