Hello from WI


 
Steve-G

Steve-G

TVWBB Super Fan
I've been lurking here for a while and finally decided to join. I love cooking outside, and I wish I had more time to do it. During the summer, I probably grill a couple times a week, and much less during the Wisconsin winters. I love reading about and trying new techniques and recipes, and I probably spend more time reading about grilling than I do actual grilling.

Here's what I've got in my arsenal:
- Weber Genesis Silver B (2001 or 2002, I think) - this is my workhorse
- Weber 18" Kettle - got it free many years ago, maybe used a dozen times :( - I'm a little embarrassed to admit this on here.
- Char-Broil Big Easy Smoker/Roaster/Grill - mainly for Thanksgiving turkey at this point
- Pit Boss Austin XL pellet grill - just got this a few months ago and learning the ropes
- Our house also came with a built-in Ducane natural gas grill that needs to be replaced, but I'm not sure what to do yet. Topic for another thread, I guess.

I had been contemplating getting a newer Weber Genesis since my old one was starting to show it's age, and I thought newer might be better. After reading quite a bit on here, I decided to clean it up and put on some new parts - apparently I was neglecting it more than I thought. It is now running (almost) as good as new. Thanks for giving me the knowledge, tips, and courage to do this.

I've been using the PB pellet smoker quite a bit over the past few months since it is my new toy. I've enjoyed cooking with it and it's put out some good meals. But the more and more I read this forum, I feel like I may want to try my hand at a WSM in the near future to see if I can get a better smoky flavor. But that's a decision for the future.

Thanks for having me - I look forward to learning more and more. I've also been taking a lot of pictures of some of my cooks lately to help document what I've done and what to do better next time. Just wanted to warn you in case I start posting too many.

And sorry for the long introduction post.
 
Welcome Steve, good decision on keeping the genesis and getting it back into shape. You would have a hard time replacing it with something better or more long lasting these days.
 
Welcome from Kalona, IA. Lots and lots to learn and glean from this site. Have fun with the new tricks you will find here. I too would like a WSM. I keep watching for a used one local.
 
Welcome Steve!
Looks like your Badgers will be meeting my Ok State Cowboys in a bowl game! You can guess how I hope that turns out. :D Pokes have had a rough year tho, sigh...

Sounds like you have a good variety of cookers. I also am a fan of the Charbroil Big Easy. I never really got into the SRG. I even bought one but never used it. Love the basic TBE tho.

Congrats on refurbing your Genesis.
I LOVE my GenesIs II.

Look forward to your posts. Good for you for getting in the picture habit! I always seem to forget. :rolleyes:LOL
 
Steve Hoch said:
Welcome Steve, good decision on keeping the genesis and getting it back into shape. You would have a hard time replacing it with something better or more long lasting these days.
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Thanks much. It ended up not being all that hard and not that expensive, especially since I found a nice deal on a new Weber OEM burner tube set from Amazon Warehouse.

I'm a little embarrassed to post these "before" pictures because of all the gunk in my drip tray, and I guess I've been insanely lucky that I've never had a major grease fire.

Before:
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to be continued...
 
I ended up getting a new lid temp probe ($8), new ignitor ($12), and new burner tubes ($17!!). Using some orange degreaser, fine steel wool, a putty knife, a brass brush, and some elbow grease, I got it almost where I want it. There's a couple more areas which could use a little more scrubbing, but it is good enough for this year.

After:
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Other than replacing a broken caster about 10 years ago, no other repair investments. I think I'm on my 2nd or 3rd set of flavorizer bars and my 2nd set of grates, and it looks like they both have another couple of years left on them.

Probably one of the better investments we've made. Actually, my wife bought it for me before we got married - I knew she was a keeper then.
 
Kevin L (NKY) said:
Hi Steve welcome, and that is a very nice restore, what is going to be your first cook? And will share us a few photos of it?
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Well, I did this a couple of months ago, and I never really took it out of commission long term to swap out parts and clean it up, so I'm not sure what my first cook was. It might have salmon on a Himalayan pink salt block based on my photo history. I do know that while I was cleaning the Weber, I did a couple of spatchcocked chickens on my pellet cooker.

Salmon (it looks a little rough - I lost a little crispiness on the flip. Plus, I guess I didn't put the same side down on all of the filets):
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Spatchcocked chicken on the Pit Boss - one was simple salt, pepper, and a little Lawry's, the other was chili-lime rub - both were delicious:
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Brenda T said:
Welcome Steve!
Looks like your Badgers will be meeting my Ok State Cowboys in a bowl game! You can guess how I hope that turns out. :D Pokes have had a rough year tho, sigh...

Sounds like you have a good variety of cookers. I also am a fan of the Charbroil Big Easy. I never really got into the SRG. I even bought one but never used it. Love the basic TBE tho.

Congrats on refurbing your Genesis.
I LOVE my GenesIs II.

Look forward to your posts. Good for you for getting in the picture habit! I always seem to forget. :rolleyes:LOL
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Thanks for the warm welcome. I don't have a lot of faith in my Badgers winning that game - this season really fell off the rails.

I ended up buying the SRG for the fact that it could hold a larger bird. I think the capacity on mine is a 25# turkey, whereas the other ones (non-SRG) were 18#, if I remember correctly. I've never used the grilling option, and I've only tried smoking a few things. They turned out...okay. I think I did ribs on it earlier this year before I got the pellet cooker. Other than that, my only other cook this year was a 22# bird a couple of weeks ago (in the rain). As long as this thing keeps working, I won't cook a Thanksgiving turkey any other way (unless I can talk the family into trying smoked turkey one year). It is so easy and almost idiot proof. Although I never brine it, I do inject a butter/chick broth/spice mixture into the breasts to help keep it moist.

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Joan said:
Steve, may I be the first to give you a big WELCOME!!!!!!!
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Thank you, Joan - I'm happy to be here. I see all of the amazing recipes that you post on here. I appreciate all of your efforts and your documentation.
 
Steve-G said:
Thanks for the warm welcome. I don't have a lot of faith in my Badgers winning that game - this season really fell off the rails.

I ended up buying the SRG for the fact that it could hold a larger bird. I think the capacity on mine is a 25# turkey, whereas the other ones (non-SRG) were 18#, if I remember correctly. I've never used the grilling option, and I've only tried smoking a few things. They turned out...okay. I think I did ribs on it earlier this year before I got the pellet cooker. Other than that, my only other cook this year was a 22# bird a couple of weeks ago (in the rain). As long as this thing keeps working, I won't cook a Thanksgiving turkey any other way (unless I can talk the family into trying smoked turkey one year). It is so easy and almost idiot proof. Although I never brine it, I do inject a butter/chick broth/spice mixture into the breasts to help keep it moist.

View attachment 63707
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That is a BIG turkey - and it looks really good! :D
 
Hey Steve, fellow new Wisconsinite here. UW Madison grad still living in the southern Wisconsin area. I grew up in rural Manitowoc county.
 
Todd K Wisc said:
Hey Steve, fellow new Wisconsinite here. UW Madison grad still living in the southern Wisconsin area. I grew up in rural Manitowoc county.
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Welcome to the forum. I started my career up in Manitowoc, and my apartment was in Two Rivers, along the lake between the two cities.
 
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