BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Smoking Techniques => Hot Smoking and Barbecuing => Topic started by: squirtthecat on September 14, 2009, 05:11:45 AM

Title: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 14, 2009, 05:11:45 AM
Every year, my wife's (parochial, elementary) school has a big charity auction/dinner fundraiser..  People donate all kinds of good & services, including a few 'home cooked Italian' or 'Mexican Fiesta' dinners.  It's all good, and for a good cause.

Somehow, I was 'volunteered'  8) to make a "smoked meat package" for the auction.  Enough for 16 adults.

The other 'home cooked' dinners are usually for a group of 8 or so, and go for around $350 and up.  I figured I'd double up the quantity and hope it brings in some big money.


This is what I came up with last night.  Let me know if I'm waay off the mark or not.

(final cooked weight, vacsealed for 'heat & serve')

- 8 pounds pulled pork
- 6 pounds sliced brisket
- 2 racks loin-back ribs (the big meaty ones)
- ~4 pound turkey breast roast
- container each of homemade BBQ sauce, and Carolina Mustard sauce

I put the estimated value (raw materials, wood biscuits and adult beverages) at $150-$175

I figured that was a nice mix of food & flavors for those that might prefer white meat to red meat, or other dietary concerns.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
STC.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: mikecorn.1 on September 14, 2009, 05:33:14 AM
Sounds good, nice variety. That a type of spread that I would love to dig into.  ;D
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 14, 2009, 06:00:48 AM
Quote from: mikecorn.1 on September 14, 2009, 05:33:14 AM
Sounds good, nice variety. That a type of spread that I would love to dig into.  ;D

I'm hoping others think the same, and maybe pony up $400 or so for it!

Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Tenpoint5 on September 14, 2009, 06:34:00 AM
Only draw back I see is if you advertise it feeds 16, many might not want to buy it because it will be TOO much food for them.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 14, 2009, 06:47:08 AM
Quote from: Tenpoint5 on September 14, 2009, 06:34:00 AM
Only draw back I see is if you advertise it feeds 16, many might not want to buy it because it will be TOO much food for them.

Yeah, I thought about that..   But I'm trying to aim this directly at the 'World Series or Fall Block Party' or 'Super Bowl Party' crowd.  There is no solid date span it has to be used, so it might even be a 'Fourth of July' item.

But do the portions sound about right?
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Tenpoint5 on September 14, 2009, 06:53:54 AM
Close enough for me Some where around here there is a excel program that you plug in the number of people that your serving and it will tell you how much you need of each item. I think I have it somewhere I will look.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: KyNola on September 14, 2009, 06:54:41 AM
STC,
Sounds good to me!  Good for you for contributing your time and talent.

KyNola
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Tenpoint5 on September 14, 2009, 07:01:12 AM
I found it on my computer it says to feed 16 you will need 5.33 slabs of ribs or 4 pounds ea for PP and Brisket. So with what your planning on it should be more than enough.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 14, 2009, 07:03:25 AM

Thanks 10.5.  I was trying to find that spreadsheet last night.   Can you email it to me?  I think I have my email visible in my profile..

Anyway, I'll split it all up into 2 pound portions.   Then they can heat up as much/little as they want.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Caneyscud on September 14, 2009, 07:55:04 AM
Hey squirt if you use the PP for sammies, you have enough meat to feed 65 to 68 people.  
Common serving size for cooked meat

1/4 pound for sammies
1/3 pound to 1/2 pound for sliced servings.  
Smallest rib serving I'd serve would be 4 ribs.

I fed 111 people a couple of weekends ago with approx 75 pounds of uncooked brisket.  Since brisket can lose up to 40% during cooking I was probably left with approx 46 to 47 pounds of cooked brisket.  That means they devoured .42 pounds per person.  Or they all ate 1/3 pound servings and a little or 1/4 or them had seconds.

I also had a 1/2 cob of corn, a goodly portion of baked beans, a side salad, and a slice of garlic bread.  
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 14, 2009, 07:59:20 AM

Thanks, I think I might have to adjust things a bit..   I'll get with the 'winner' and let them decide what they really want..  (and wood flavor, etc.)

We just had to put something down for the official 'submission' last night.


Any leftovers after bagging it all up, go to the cook.  ;)
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: classicrockgriller on September 14, 2009, 10:27:06 PM
That's kewl of you to do that. Gives you a reason to do some smoke. I'm sure the recipient will be very happy.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 15, 2009, 04:51:15 AM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on September 14, 2009, 10:27:06 PM
That's kewl of you to do that. Gives you a reason to do some smoke. I'm sure the recipient will be very happy.

Oh yes, any reason to play with meat, smoke, fire and beer.

My buddy and I do stuff like this (not this large scale, though) all the time.   
We call it 'Sport Cooking'.  Just cooking, for sport.  Then we eat some, and give the rest away. 

The guys at work get all excited when they see my carrying a cooler in.. (or even better, my big roaster)

Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Caneyscud on September 15, 2009, 05:57:17 AM
Squirt, wish there wasn't several hours between our home towns, I'd be honored to "sport cook" with you!  I've never called it "sport cooking" I usually just account for it as over indulgence on my part, but I love to cook for people.  A few times a year a few flyfishing buddies and fellow river rats get together for a weekend on the river - guess who cooks?  A big youth group gets together 2 times a year - guess who cooks?  To say thank you to the customers at the fly shop - there is a saturday cook out in back of the store a couple times a year- guess who cooks?  A couple of charity fundraisers - guess who gets to cook?  I get to pull a smoker up to one of our jobsites and who gets to cooks ribs for the whole crew?    My traeger is currently living (hiding from the wife in actuality) at the office - and guess what - they get smoked goodies frequently!   I love it.  But then who got offered a restaurant by his best friend - a floating restaurant - floating in a very pretty lake not 1 1/4 hours from Nashville at a popular and busy marina.  Did I say the restaurant is on the lake that below the dam is the river I most frequently fish!  Someplace to cook for people to my heart's desire and actually get paid for it and in a beautiful setting?  Who?  Yes me!  Who jumped at the opportunity?  Not me!  (in some ways still kicking myself!).  Unfortunately the opportunity came at a very bad time for me - Had my wife and daughter both in grad school at Vanderbilt.  Had to support them, so did not have cash or the time or the risk at the time. ----  dang, dang, dang, dang.    With the extra two days off a week given to me by the state of the economy, I've looked for a place (restaurant) that would allow me to smoke beside their restaurant and them sell the food - no luck yet!  No creativity here in Nashvegas.  A friend of mine lost his 40 year old family business when the landlord suddenly sold the building out from under him in a shady deal.  He's been looking for a place to reopen, and I gave him the idea to help attract business that we open up a BBQ restaurant for at least 2 or 3 days a week as part of his new operations, but he hasn't found a place inexpensive enough in an area he wants - plus he seems really down and not driven to get his business back up.  sigh!
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 15, 2009, 05:12:11 PM

'Nashvegas' - that's great.

My buddy always calls overeating (eating when you are already full, but you really want to taste something new) 'sport eating', so it morphed into 'sport cooking'.

This is just fun for us, but it is good practice in case we need to fall back on it.  We're both IT supergeeks, and that economy/industry is quite shaky these days (as Arnie can attest to)....   So we practice a lot of new things, have been trying to put together a passable blog, etc.   

People might not need million dollar customized software, but they do have to eat!
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: OU812 on September 17, 2009, 08:55:20 AM
Doing things for a charity is always a good thing.

I do up a bunch of snack sticks, summer sausage and jerky for the girls on the fast pitch softball team for there fund raiser every year. Just trying to help.

The only thing I ask for is to get my coolers back.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on September 17, 2009, 09:01:16 AM

Yeah, everybody pitches in for this one.  It's not a big school (only 130 kids right now), but they are a tight-knit family..   It'll be fun.


Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: ArnieM on September 17, 2009, 08:24:01 PM
Quote from: Caneyscud on September 15, 2009, 05:57:17 AM
Squirt, wish there wasn't several hours between our home towns, I'd be honored to "sport cook" with you!  I've never called it "sport cooking" I usually just account for it as over indulgence on my part, but I love to cook for people.  A few times a year a few flyfishing buddies and fellow river rats get together for a weekend on the river - guess who cooks?  A big youth group gets together 2 times a year - guess who cooks?  To say thank you to the customers at the fly shop - there is a saturday cook out in back of the store a couple times a year- guess who cooks?  A couple of charity fundraisers - guess who gets to cook?  I get to pull a smoker up to one of our jobsites and who gets to cooks ribs for the whole crew?    My traeger is currently living (hiding from the wife in actuality) at the office - and guess what - they get smoked goodies frequently!   I love it.  But then who got offered a restaurant by his best friend - a floating restaurant - floating in a very pretty lake not 1 1/4 hours from Nashville at a popular and busy marina.  Did I say the restaurant is on the lake that below the dam is the river I most frequently fish!  Someplace to cook for people to my heart's desire and actually get paid for it and in a beautiful setting?  Who?  Yes me!  Who jumped at the opportunity?  Not me!  (in some ways still kicking myself!).  Unfortunately the opportunity came at a very bad time for me - Had my wife and daughter both in grad school at Vanderbilt.  Had to support them, so did not have cash or the time or the risk at the time. ----  dang, dang, dang, dang.    With the extra two days off a week given to me by the state of the economy, I've looked for a place (restaurant) that would allow me to smoke beside their restaurant and them sell the food - no luck yet!  No creativity here in Nashvegas.  A friend of mine lost his 40 year old family business when the landlord suddenly sold the building out from under him in a shady deal.  He's been looking for a place to reopen, and I gave him the idea to help attract business that we open up a BBQ restaurant for at least 2 or 3 days a week as part of his new operations, but he hasn't found a place inexpensive enough in an area he wants - plus he seems really down and not driven to get his business back up.  sigh!
Wow CS, that's one hell of a story!  I think 'dang' is putting it pretty mildly.  How long ago was the floating restaurant deal?  What's happened to it since whenever it was?  The state of the economy has left me unemployed and I'll probably 'officially' retire next year.  I have no real ties here and have a few bucks plus I'm getting tired of New England winters.  Any ideas?  Send me a message.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on October 10, 2009, 06:52:04 AM

Update.

Auction was last night... 

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/StCPTtUm1RI/AAAAAAAA88c/Efv7mbWy82w/s720/DSC09565.JPG)

('master' - ha..  someone was trying to kiss up to the 4th grade teacher's husband! :D)


It brought in $475.   And the best part is that some friends of ours won the high bid on it, so it might turn into a big party, anyway!   I told them to pick whatever they want and I'll smoke piles of it. 

You call, I haul.

They want to try a whole turkey, so I'll have to do some reading/research on that one.  I've seen some tasty ones come across the board just in the last few days..
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: pensrock on October 10, 2009, 07:25:17 AM
That was really a cool thing to do and I'm sure the winners of the auction are licking their lips already. Great job.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on October 10, 2009, 07:45:53 AM

Yeah, it helped that the 'beef' choice for dinner was brisket, and it tasted like it was boiled, then microwaved.   Everyone was still hungry!   :D
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Tenpoint5 on October 10, 2009, 08:46:44 AM
Good Job Squirt $475 is a nice chunk of change for the school
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: ArnieM on October 10, 2009, 09:27:44 AM
Nice looking package squirt.  Based on the final price, it looks like someone knew what they were buying into.  :D
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: classicrockgriller on October 10, 2009, 09:35:53 AM
Nice Job squirt. The school should be smilin from ear to ear too
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on October 10, 2009, 09:36:26 AM
Quote from: ArnieM on October 10, 2009, 09:27:44 AM
Nice looking package squirt.  Based on the final price, it looks like someone knew what they were buying into.  :D

Oh yes...   They were at a party at our house a while back, and I had a brisket going in the smoker, and MOINK balls in a roaster.   I hooked them right then and there.  ;)  

All of the other auctions were going for a fraction of that, as things are tight for a lot of these folks.  I was extremely pleased with the 475.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Habanero Smoker on October 10, 2009, 01:51:06 PM
Congratulations on your successful auction.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: smokeitall on October 10, 2009, 08:26:39 PM
Nice story STC, I enjoyed reading it.  Way to go.
SIA
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: FLBentRider on October 11, 2009, 02:41:10 PM
Nice STC - I can't wait to see the pics.
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Hopefull Romantic on October 11, 2009, 03:22:12 PM
Nice work STC. You made yourself proud

HR
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on October 11, 2009, 03:28:34 PM

Thanks guys!  I love cooking, and this gives me another excuse to play with raw meat, spices and smoking wood..  (and beer)


Quote from: FLBentRider on October 11, 2009, 02:41:10 PM
Nice STC - I can't wait to see the pics.

Oh yeah, I'll have pictorials of all of it...

Food I have to make and give away.   :D


The couple that won the auction are friends of ours, and they are staying with us in Charleston, SC next weekend.  We'll try to formulate their menu choices/times/dates then.

He was flipping through the pictures on my phone at the auction...    He called it a MEAT MENU.
I'll have my laptop, and probably the wife's HP Mini as well.   I'll be sure bring up some smoked meat p*rn for him to look at from this forum!
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: squirtthecat on October 11, 2009, 03:30:34 PM

HR, what kind of bags are those?
Title: Re: Smoking a bunch o' food for a charity auction..
Post by: Hopefull Romantic on October 11, 2009, 03:33:49 PM
Squirt if you are refering to the bags I have vaccumed sealed the cheese in tonight, then those are the ones that came with my vacuum sealer. They do not have any brand name on them but they sure seal fast. However, I am not too happy with their vaccum capability.

HR