Smoke Signals from AmazingRibs.com ~ November 17, 2011
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With a $30 donation you'll get a 100% cotton, brushed twill, adjustable, low profile cap with the AmazingRibs.com patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets.

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QUICK LINKS

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Here are some of my most popular articles with direct links.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

anatomy of a rib

TECHNIQUE
For both the beginner and expert, here are articles on how to get 'er done right.

2-ZONE COOKING

BEST GAS GRILL SETUP

BEST CHARCOAL GRILL SETUP

BEST OFFSET SMOKER SETUP

BEST WEBER SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SETUP

MEAT SCIENCE

THERMODYNAMICS OF COOKING

MEAT TEMP GUIDE

pulled pork
RECIPES
Scores of tested restaurant quality recipes carefully explained so even novices can be great cooks.
 

LAST MEAL RIBS

RECIPES FOR THE CLASSIC REGIONAL BBQ SAUCES

MEATHEAD'S MEMPHIS DUST

PERFECT PULLED PORK

STEAKHOUSE STEAKS

TEXAS BEEF BRISKET

ULTIMATE SMOKED TURKEY

BUXOM CHICKEN BREASTS

SEARED SALMON ON A SALAD

LAMB LOIN CHOPS

CHICAGO ITALIAN BEEF SANGWICHES 

HOT DOGS

HAMBURGERS

GRILLED PIZZA

BOURBON BAKED BEANS

THE ZEN OF SLAW

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

ULTIMATE CORN ON THE COB

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BUYER'S GUIDES
Unbiased recommendations for the best products for the back yard cook.
 
 
Show Me Yours
I've been getting wonderful comments and pix from you. Man, you folks know how to party! Just go to any page and upload your pix of your masterpieces.

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Smoke Signals is Free
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About Smoke Signals

meatheadSmoke Signals is the free email newsletter from AmazingRibs.com's resident Barbecue Whisperer & Hedonism Evangelist, Meathead Goldwyn. I use it to tell folks about new stuff on the site and whatever else I think might interest you. If you like my website, please click here to . And remember: No rules in the bedroom or dining room!
The Ultimate Turkey

smoked turkey 

It's time for turkey, and if you've never cooked yours outdoors, let this be the year. With my Ultimate Turkey recipe and detailed technique, you can't fail, and you'll never go back to roasting it indoors. And no, you don't need a fancy smoker to make a great smoked turkey.


Even if you must cook yours indoors, there are a number of tips and techniques you can employ that will amp your indoor bird. My turkey page covers everything you need to know from how to pick a bird, fresh or frozen, size, cooking tools, brining, wood for smoke, gravy, stuffing, side dishes, cooking temp, timing of events, secrets of crispy skin, carving, leftovers, and the best wines to serve with the meal.

 

The result will be a magnificent looking, dark mahogany avian, with incredibly tender and juicy meat delicately and elegantly flavored with savory herbs and seductive smoke.

All About Brining, And Some Fascinating New Research

turkey in brine

If you like your meat juicy, tender, and flavorful, there is one simple ingredient that can improve all three: Salt

 

There are various ways to use salt, but one of the best is brining, especially when it comes to turkey. I have just rewritten and expanded my article on The Zen of Brines and included the latest research from Dr. Greg Blonder, a physicist, entrepreneur, former Chief Technical Advisor at AT&T's legendary Bell Labs, food lover, and the AmazingRibs.com science advisor and mythbuster.

 

Almost all the cookbooks tell us that salt is pulled out of the brine and into the meat by osmosis, a well known phenomenon we all learned about in high school when we were not napping and passing notes. Osmosis plays a role Dr. Blonder says, but it is of far less importance than another process, diffusion, and in some cases osmosis can even be a hindrance. Another myth busted by Blonder. In addition, he shows graphically how the brine moves during cooking. Kewl stuff!
Pretty Bird Turkey Photo Contest

grilled turkeyI'm back with my second annual Pretty Bird Contest. That's the fourth prize winner from last year at right (and the others were very pretty but this one cracks me up). To enter, go to my Ultimate Turkey page and post your picture in the comments section.

The only rules are: You must have cooked the bird outdoors sometime in 2011 using my recipe as a guide. You don't have to follow it precisely. If you did something fun and creative tell us, but cooking method will have nothing to do with prizes. The prizes will be awarded solely on the merits of the photo and I am the only judge.

Deadline is December 31. Amateur photographers only please (you are an amateur if you have not been paid for a photograph in the past year). My family, business associates, vendors, customers, and advertisers are not eligible. Here are the prizes. If you win and you alrady own the prize, I may be able to make a change.

First Prize. Thermoworks ThermaPen. With this superfast precision digital thermometer, you'll never overcook anything again. Lists for about $100. 

Second Prize. Weber's Time to Grill by Jamie Purviance. Chef Purviance knows more about grilling than anybody. You'll drool over the pix. Lists for about $25. 

Third Prize. The Hamburger: A History by Josh Ozersky. Fun stuff to know about America's favorite iconic sandwich by one of my favorite food writers. Lists for about $14. 

Honorable Mentions. The new AmazingRibs.com Temperature Guide Magnet. This 8.5" x 5.5" magnetic card can be attached to your fridge or grill, or both! Lists for $4.99. 
Order My New Temperature Guide Magnet

temperature magnet

Hopefully by now you have found my best of class meat temperature guide with both USDA recommended temperatures for all your favorite meats as well as the temperatures recommended by chefs (they are not always the same). Now you can order it on an 8.5" x 5.5" magnetic card that can be attached to your fridge! Click here to see more of of the information packed into this handy guide. Click here to order it.
Green Salad With Grilled Apple
grilled apple saladAutumn is apple time, and apples are great on a salad. Grilling them just adds excitement. You can just slice them and grill them, but give them a little butter and, well, oh my. You can prepare this recipe well in advance and assemble it at the last minute. This is my favorite Thanksgiving salad.
It's Tailgate Season

gogalley gogalley foldedIt's tailgate season and I've had a chance to cook on the ultimate tailgate grill, the new GoGalley. Packed with innovation, this is the best rig I've ever seen for tailgating or camping.

The GoGalley is a single unit that contains a grill, a smoker/oven, a side burner, large work surfaces, storage, and a trailer hitch. But that is like saying an F-22 is a jet with some weapons. But GoGalley is not just for football games. Heck it is even a fine backyard setup. Click here to read my review of this remarkable new tool
The Winning Brisket Is
brisketI get emails frequently from BBQ competition teams using my recipes. They are soooo gratifying. Take this one from Johnny Speight, Son Seekers BBQ Team LLC, for example:

"Just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks for your great website. I am half of Son Seekers BBQ Team and we have been cooking brisket using your recipe for the past year and half. We have had several calls in a row. In April we attended a class taught by Pellet Envy. While his brisket recipe was good we stuck with yours and boy are we glad we did. This past week end we won First Place and at the State Championship at the Franklin Simpson Fair BBQ Contest in Franklin, KY. Thanks for all you do."
Help Keep AmazingRibs.com Free

Thix Amazon Link Helps Me a Lot, Please Use it!

 

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You may have noticed on my site I have links to Amazon. These links have a code in them that tells Amazon you came from this site. If you order anything from Amazon, they pay me a small finder's fee that in no way changes your price. This is a great way to help keep AmazingRibs.com free. Just copy and paste the link below into your "favorites" or "bookmarks" and use it to take you to Amazon. It will tell Amazon I sent you and you help keep me supplied with charcoal and meat!
Fun Gifts for the Barbecue Fan
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Shop for the barbecue lover at the AmazingRibs.com Gift Shop or just drop in for a chuckle. There are more than 30 BBQ-themed designs, about 30 steak-themed designs, about 20 hotdog-themed designs, and more than 30 wine-themed designs. Order aprons, hats, shirts, sweatshirts, intimate wear, and other apparel for men, women, kids and pets, beer mugs, posters, and other tschotschkes.

 

anatomy of a rib
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