Category: My barbecue

My barbecue

How to Make Perfect Barbecue, an Update

Aeschylus warned that danger lurks behind an excess of good fortune, and years of easy success in making barbecue precede this tale of terror. I previously have provided detailed, illustrated, step-by-step instructions on how to make perfect barbecue. See here. I now have an update based on my harrowing experience on Memorial Day this year. It was soul-searing, but worry not, my gentle readers. There … Continue reading How to Make Perfect Barbecue, an Update

John Tanner6 Comments
My barbecue

How to Make Perfect Barbecue — And More!

Labor Day is fast approaching, and it’s best to start getting ready now.  It’s a great day to invite over a few friends — up to but not exceeding the legal limit — to relax, and to celebrate the day with you in a socially responsible manner. The key to a Labor Day celebration is, of course, barbecue.  By barbecue I mean pork butts or shoulders … Continue reading How to Make Perfect Barbecue — And More!

John Tanner2 Comments
How to, My barbecue

Make Perfect Barbecue for Christmas

Okay, you cooked a turkey at Thanksgiving, and you’re ready to try something else for Christmas dinner.  Or perhaps you’r trying to decide what to have to ring in the New Year. The answer, as so often is the case, is barbecue.  But how do you make perfect barbecue?  Well, my friend, you’ve come to the right place.  Here is a reprise of an earlier … Continue reading Make Perfect Barbecue for Christmas

John Tanner2 Comments
DC and Maryland, My barbecue, Recipes, Uncategorized

How to Make Perfect Barbecue: An Illustrated Step by Step Guide

Memorial Day is coming up, and that means the opening of Prime Home-Cooked Barbecue Season.  For your convenience, I’ve gathered together a series of posts describing the five — well, six — steps involved in making perfect barbecue.  They give you a detailed guide, and now you have them all in one convenient place.  Follow these steps and you’ll make some great barbecue. Note:  This … Continue reading How to Make Perfect Barbecue: An Illustrated Step by Step Guide

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DC and Maryland, My barbecue

July 4, 2017, at Stately Tanner Manor, Washington, DC: A New Hope

Have I told you that I’m now a grandfather?  No?  That’s odd.  I’ve told everyone else several times.  More than several times, in some cases.  Yes, the lovely and talented Ella Grace Boyd was born to Liza and Michael Boyd five months ago.  Now that Liza is back at work, Nancy (aka Nonnie) is the Nanny and I (aka Papa (or Papa-Q)) am the Senior … Continue reading July 4, 2017, at Stately Tanner Manor, Washington, DC: A New Hope

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How to, My barbecue, Recipes

Re-heating Leftover Barbecue

After you cook up a bunch of pork butts for a party, you always want to have leftover barbecue.  First, you always want to make sure that you had plenty for everyone, and that means cooking too much.  Second, barbecue pork butts re-heat very well, and are as good the second time around as the first. You need to draw a line between leftovers that … Continue reading Re-heating Leftover Barbecue

John Tanner5 Comments
How to, My barbecue

How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 5. The Nearly-Finished Product

The rest of the day involved frequent checking on the heat and a couple of additional doses of hickory chips.   I like to add a good final dose of hickory chips at the end to perfume the neighborhood.  I showered, changed into Independence Day wear, and did a final check before closing the vents completely a little after 5:00. That deserves a close-up. It … Continue reading How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 5. The Nearly-Finished Product

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How to, My barbecue, Recipes

How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 4. Adjusting to Inclement Weather

It started to rain at 2:00, and it promises to rain all night.  This creates some challenges, but Herodotus’ Persian messengers had nothing on me. The first and most serious challenge is the prospect that I will track wet footprints all over the house before our guests arrive.  I have addressed that challenge by (a) removing my tennis shoes and socks, (b) going upstairs and … Continue reading How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 4. Adjusting to Inclement Weather

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DC and Maryland, How to, My barbecue, Recipes

How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 3. Adding hickory

At noon I checked the coals again and took the grill and the meat off to make it easier to move the coals about and spread the hottest around the grill; and also to add hickory chips that had been soaking.  Moving the grill and meat can be messy: the meat is dripping fat.   I put some newspapers down and put a couple of … Continue reading How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 3. Adding hickory

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How to, My barbecue, Recipes

How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 2. Watching and Adjusting

After  the pork butts have been on for an hour, I always check the coals.  There’s always a hot spot on a grill, and that makes the meat cook unevenly.  I use that long fork on the table to move the coals around, and I also reposition the meat relative to the hottest areas.  That’s a serving fork sticking out of the pork.  It’s strong … Continue reading How to Barbecue Pork: A Step by Step Guide: Step 2. Watching and Adjusting

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