BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Miscellaneous Topics => General Discussions => Topic started by: TedEbear on August 30, 2012, 10:55:41 PM

Title: Labor Day Meat Deals and What I Cooked
Post by: TedEbear on August 30, 2012, 10:55:41 PM
I just picked up some pork butts for $.97/lb and brats for $1.99/lb from a late evening run (well, drive) to the store.  I figured I'd beat the holiday shopping crowd and at 11:30 p.m. the aisles weren't too crowded.  My wife is temporarily a vegetarian so it'll just be me eating all this over the next month.  One butt for smoking this weekend and another in the freezer for October.  A Halloween butt?

Anyone else snag any deals this holiday weekend?

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Miscellaneous/P1010234.jpg)

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Miscellaneous/P1010247.jpg)
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: SiFumar on August 31, 2012, 02:01:15 PM
Spare ribs $1.47 a pound.  Got a couple of the double paks for future smokes.
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: Keymaster on August 31, 2012, 05:00:11 PM
I've had $30 meat money all week in my wallet and I was suppose to do a sleep study tonight (to test for sleep apnea) then get up and go meat shoppin but they called and said I have to do the study saturday night so that kind of messed up my three day weekend. Maybe I'll figure out somethin for Sunday and Monday :)
Don't see 97 cents a pound very often, sweet deal!!!
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: Bear1968 on September 01, 2012, 11:38:46 AM
Quote from: TedEbear on August 30, 2012, 10:55:41 PM
I just picked up some pork butts for $.97/lb and brats for $1.99/lb from a late evening run (well, drive) to the store.  I figured I'd beat the holiday shopping crowd and at 11:30 p.m. the aisles weren't too crowded.  My wife is temporarily a vegetarian so it'll just be me eating all this over the next month.  One butt for smoking this weekend and another in the freezer for October.  A Halloween butt?

Anyone else snag any deals this holiday weekend?


I was talking with a friend of mine from out your neck of the woods and he was trying to figure out what he was gonna make for the Holiday. He was leaning towards a But and then I remembered your post and told him to look it up. He has one of those stores 5 minutes from his house.
He thanks you!
:)
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: classicrockgriller on September 01, 2012, 01:28:09 PM
Store here has packer Briskets for $1.77 but they are select.

I did snatch one up to grind for meatloafs.
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: KyNola on September 01, 2012, 02:03:09 PM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on September 01, 2012, 01:28:09 PM
Store here has packer Briskets for $1.77 but they are select.
I did snatch one up to grind for meatloafs.
And da Monkey knows briskets!  Great idea on buying one to grind.
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: TedEbear on September 03, 2012, 06:58:01 AM
Well, the butt has been going all night.  It's currently at 178*F, with a target of 195.  The brats will be boiled in apple juice with sweet onions and then grilled later today.

Here's a play-by-play of how the 1 1/2" boneless strip steak turned out last night (on sale for $6.99/lb).

I started with these:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010271-1.jpg)

Sprinkled a bit of each one onto this:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010248.jpg)


After being on the grill for 10 minutes first side and 8 minutes second side I had this:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010255.jpg)


Resting on the plate as the temp rises to 160*F:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010256.jpg)


Just showing that a well done steak doesn't have to be tough and dry:   ;)

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010257.jpg)


Ready to eat:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010265.jpg)
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: TedEbear on September 03, 2012, 05:35:10 PM
Today's menu started off with the 7 lb pork butt finally reaching 195*F after 16.5 hours.  FTC for 4 hours and the bone practically fell out when I unwrapped it. 

Some Grandma's stuff and mystery rub:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010283.jpg)

Lots 'o bark, ready for pulling:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010272.jpg)

My favorite pulling tool the Roman Pork Puller, a power drill, a tall pot and we're ready for action:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010277.jpg)

60 seconds later and she's all done:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010281.jpg)
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals
Post by: TedEbear on September 03, 2012, 08:20:30 PM
Last but not least, the brats and Italian sausage.  I tried a new technique that I read about while Googling for a way on how to make a juicy brat.  It said to pierce the casing several times with a fork before cooking to allow steam to escape.  That is against everything I've heard but I was willing to give it a try.

It worked and they turned out great.  The theory is that the casings will usually split and that allows more juices to escape than a few tiny holes from a fork.  Also, the holes absorb some of the flavor of whatever you're boiling them in.  In my case, I boiled them for 20-25 minutes in 2 quarts apple juice and some sweet onions.

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010285.jpg)

After boiling I browned them on the grill for 4-6 minutes, turning frequently.  I cooked the Italian sausage at this time:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010292.jpg)

Strained the onions out of the apple juice, browned them in a skillet and spread them on the finished product:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010300.jpg)

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/roadijeff/Food/P1010301.jpg)

Much of the last few posts went into the freezer.  I'm the only one who eats meat in our house so this will last me for a few weeks...or more.   :)
Title: Re: Labor Day Meat Deals and What I Cooked
Post by: classicrockgriller on September 05, 2012, 11:29:29 AM
That ALL looks SWEET!

Nice work.