Happy July 4th!

It's just past 5am July 4th morning. I just woke up to put a brisket on the smoker. I put a pork butt on last night around 9:30 and hopefully just past noon both will be done. My brother Dan is coming over today for a smoked meat feast. He is cooking something called Blackened Potato Salad (that has to be cooked outside in an iron skillet) and a coconut pie.

We decided to get good meat for this smoke. The brisket came from Harry's ($30) and the butt came from a butcher shop that we have in Acworth ($20). It cost a bit more than the grocery store meat, but it sure looks a lot better - and I am sure it will taste a lot better.

I have a Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker that's suppose to be THE SMOKER - even better than the Green Egg thing. It has always done well, which is good when you have over $50 - $60 of meat on the rack. Every now and then when I do one of these smokes, I think about all the money, work, lack of sleep and realize that Ruth Criss makes a pretty good steak. But do they smoke using wood from oak wine barrel casks (this is my first try) for smoke?

Dana and the kids made the trip back to Louisiana fine. Work was fine too, but pretty quite due to so many be out this week for vacation. I got a lot done Monday and Tuesday - and even though this feels like a weekend in the middle of the week, I am sure Thursday and Friday will allow me to finally clear my "to do" list.

I have to tell you, when I returned to the office on Monday, a white Tyvek suit with a "Radioactive" symbol drawn on it, was hanging on my office door. Now that's funny. I am lucky to be working with some great friends.

I am heading out to check the smoker temp. It has to be just right before I head back to bed. Hope everyone has a great Fourth of July!

Jeff