Failed Pizza, Pretty Good Ribs and Awesome Wings


 

Aaron Legge

TVWBB Fan
Friday after work I had a few pints to wind down the week, which might have not been the best choice as it greatly impacted my attempt at grilled pizza. Things looked like they were going to go well:

100_1390_thumb.jpg


However in my haste to get it ready I put the hot coals under the charcoal rack instead of on top and there was no airflow getting to the coals. I tried to remedy that mid cook and tore up the pizza crust pretty bad. I had to finish it on the gas grill and it wasn’t pretty. Certainly not photo worthy.

In an effort to redeem myself I invited friends over for dinner Saturday night and promised some amazing beef ribs.

I rubbed the ribs with WIllie’s One-Derful Rub that I used on my brisket.

100_1391_thumb.jpg


The ribs went on the smoker at 1:30, planned to give them 5 to 5.5 hours at 250 or less.

100_1392_thumb.jpg
100_1393_thumb.jpg


In an effort to get to know my cooker better (even if I’ve already been dropping a lot of not so subtle hints that Santa should bring me a Weber Smokey Mountain) I hooked both thermometers up to test temperature differences between the upper and lower rack. I had the water pan in, empty and foiled.

100_1394_thumb.jpg


This was early in the cook as it was just coming up to temperature. On the left is the lower rack and on the right is higher rack. I didn’t have more than 20-25 degree variance between the two racks.

Once our guests arrived I put some Orange Sriracha Wings on the charcoal grill

100_1395_thumb.jpg


The wings were seasoned with lemon pepper and seasoning salt and cooked over indirect heat for an hour and a half.

100_1396_thumb.jpg


They were basted a few times with the Orange Marmalade Sriracha Glaze and finished over direct heat for a minute or two each side.

100_1398_thumb.jpg


The wings were AWESOME! Sticky,sweet with a nice little hit of heat. I saved my leftover glaze and will be trying it on chicken legs later this week.

After six hours the ribs came off the smoker.

100_1399_thumb.jpg


The rub was a little too heavy for my taste but the ribs were cooked perfectly.
100_1400_thumb.jpg


Lessons learned:

1) Have a workplan for grilling in place BEFORE having beers

2) Beef ribs don’t need a lot of rub. These would have been great with just S&P and some chili powder.
 
with every cook you lern something new.

Aslong as your guests was happy it sounds like a great cook
icon_smile.gif
 
Oh man, shame about that pizza - looked like a great start. I'm guessing however it finished out it tasted pretty good. What's not to like about any of the ingredients? Your review on the ribs - that was my first thought when I looked at the initial photo (too much rub) but that's personal preference anyway and sounds like you're getting closer to that, and by what you said, you know how to get to "done" which is even more important IMHO early on. The wings? Looks like you nailed that part.

Combo cooks like this are tough to time and figure out and get everything right. You gave yourself a hard task and I think you leveraged the whole thing well for future cooks. It's supposed be fun and I think you're attitude says you hit that as well.

Don't stop - but by the sounds of your post, you are probably one of the "lost boys" now anyway.... what's not to like about fire and smoke? It's who we are
icon_cool.gif
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by r benash:
Don't stop - but by the sounds of your post, you are probably one of the "lost boys" now anyway.... what's not to like about fire and smoke? It's who we are
icon_cool.gif
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement Ray. I'm definitely hooked and won't be giving up anytime soon.
 
You're doing it all wrong.you don't bbq excellent looking food like that and then try to get a WSM. Start burning you food man.
icon_biggrin.gif

Nice job Aaron,Look like you had some good meat on those ribs.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Chuck Dugas:
You're doing it all wrong.you don't bbq excellent looking food like that and then try to get a WSM. Start burning you food man.
icon_biggrin.gif

Nice job Aaron,Look like you had some good meat on those ribs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmm, the old "Do it bad enough and you won't be asked to do it again" routine. Interesting angle.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Chuck Dugas:
You're doing it all wrong.you don't bbq excellent looking food like that and then try to get a WSM. Start burning you food man.
icon_biggrin.gif

Nice job Aaron,Look like you had some good meat on those ribs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That was probably the best advice yet! Get those expectations set real low and you will become a BBQ hero so much faster!!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jim Lampe:
It all looks Great Aaron, thanks for sharing the photos!

Awake early Chuck? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I went back to bed after this post.
icon_wink.gif
 

 

Back
Top