lancastermike

The pork butt I get here is always skin free. To get one with the skin I have to place an order. And, I hardly ever think that far ahead. I have seen Chris's efforts and the look wonderful. Maybe i will stop after work and order one and try it. All I have to do it remember to do so.

I also use a lot of cherry. It has become my favorite along with apple. Cherry works great for poultry and pork butt. I reserve my hickory for ribs these days. Have never had the chance to use pecan or alder. Alder, I believe, is often used for salmon and other fish. I can get apple and cherry from my local orchard and it really all I use except for the odd hunk of hickory.

Lovely Marlene. My back has healed enough that I am planning on smoking a butt for Labor Day next weekend. Will be the first time the smoker had been out since the surgery

Getting warmer. If you looked to the south, you'd be even warmer. I'm loving stumping you folks. ← Melissa the chemist from Cornell?

That tiara makes me think of royalty. Perhaps someone known as a Princess? I have a guess..., but no it could not be, she told me never again as to a blog.

Most likely the top would be done first. However, if they are of equal size the time should be about equal. I do not rotate butt from top to bottom.

I'll bet that there is some way for you to be able to do this, but it is beyond me. I would not care to mess with this to much. It would not make any sense to buy another regulator just to empty this tank. If all you want to do it bleed out the gas you can do so outside. It is signifigant to remember that propane is heavier than air. Thus it is best to bleed slowly on a day with some wind and not in a low lying area and away from any flame. I had an old tank I wanted to dispose of that still had some gas in it. I just cracked the valve and let it empty. There just has to be some neat, and highly dangerous, way to use this up. I can't think of it, but I'll bet someone can.

Just as much fun as I hoped it would be. Thank you Kathleen for keeping us entertained this week. Perhaps you could open one of your next gigs with J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets jusat to see if anyone gets the reference. Thanks again.

Although I do not use it these days it of course has fond memories for me. the grilled cheese sandwiches my mom made were made with Velveeta. They were gooey and hot and wonderful.

Good luck. The food at Lincoln Field is really lame. At Citizens Bank Park you can do pretty well. Not so at the Linc. I would advise TRYING to eat before you get there.

Tracey, I'm glad you liked Carr's. Tim can cook and he does a nice job with the local stuff. he is a good guy as well. I am also glad you survived Shady Maple. All I can say is better you than I.

I did not see the first episode. I did watch the rerun of episode two last night. It showed Alton at the river and he dipped his hand in and poured some water over his head. he than said something about the "big storm" of a couple years ago that we all knew about. He than said it looked good around were he was and that they had done a good job cleaning up. I understand it is a food show, but to suggest that things are all cleaned up in New Orleans is just wrong. I was a little disappointed by this. perhaps in the first show there was more mention of the devastation and the way much off New orleans has not recovered.

Great to see you bloging, Kathleen. Your story is wonderful and I am so happy your life has taken a real cool turn. One question: Are you the only Jets fan in Madrid?

I always thought that these joints were way too expensive unless you eat like an Amish horse. ← We are heading to Lancaster in the morning....If I get a hankering to tie on a feedbag, anyone have an opinion of the best local buffet? I dont want to miss the crispiest chicken, porkiest pork, or sweetest pie....any breakfast ideas this Is a vacation and I plan to eat accordingly tracey ← I am no fan but the king of them all is Shady Maple, an enormous room of food. You can eat till you cannot any longer move if you so desire. Shady Maple For a nice breakfast buffet we, on rare occasion, go to Willow Valley, which is not fa from our house. The breakfast buffet is not bad at all. Willow Valley I would urge you to avoid Millers. As stated above I am not a real fan of any of these places, but Millers is real bad For breakfast don't forget one of my favorite Lancaster spots La Dolce Vita For a good diner breakfast try the Neptune Diner Neptune For some reason they don't have their address on the web page, it is at 924 N.Prince St in Lancaster. Rachel's Cafe & Creperie at 309 N. Queen St is a nice little place for a breakfast crepe. Have a nice trip Tracey, let me know were you went.

I agree that Meridian 42 is great. I believe it is the overall best place to eat on the Outer Banks. As to Blue Point, their attitude has been well known for years. Last year things seemed better to me. We will be down shortly and your comments certainly give me pause. There are lots of places we like to eat at so I don't need to put up with their issues.

Another good bakery would be a good thing for a CIA grad to come home and start. There is some real good cooking on the Outer banks, but not a lot of good baking.

Vanouvan is 100% correct. If there is change due, it ought to be given. It does not matter the location of the place. End of discussion.

The happy Pennsylvanians will all miss the sage leadership of Katie. And in an effort to raise some dough, i hear Big Ed Rendell has agreed to lease the LCB to Katie for a tidy sum. The initials will remain the same, but the new title is Loeb Controls Boose. Thanks Katie for always being helpful to the Lone Lancastrian.

I only visit RTM perhaps 5 or 6 times a year. Thus I have not been involved in this discussion. In Lancaster, the Central Market, the last remaining of the many market places that the town once housed faces some similar issues. The biggest challenge Central market faces is allowing the few farmers and purveyors to survive. Central market used to have a rule that no prepared food could be offered. Now, the market would be lonely without those stands. The market offers less and less farmers goods all the time. Lancaster's new convention center is due to open next year across the street. Pressure on the market will be even greater to be a source of trinkets,not food. RTM is a dream for me when we do visit. It does not matter to me who is selling cheesesteaks at RTM. And I doubt it really does to anyone else. I believe Holly's defense of Rick comes as a matter of principle not taste. I have nothing to add to the debate about Rick's that Bob and Holly have not stated. And in an aside, there discussion is like watching two seasoned professional boxers. Stating their position, but never being personal. Holly did say this: If the Amish merchants are upset about the action regarding Rick's I can surmise it is because they feel their business is somehow threatened, not out of some love for Mr. Oliveri

I would advise contacting Tullio's bake shop in Duck at the Scarborough Faire center. They will make whatever you would like and it will be wonderful. It will not be cheap, but you will get value for what you spend. Tullio's

When cooking rice I always measure both the rice and the liquid. And I'm sure there are some other things I just am not thinking of.

Hey Chris, How'd this baby turn out? I'm hoping that your lack of a smoke report does not mean we gave you bad advice about using this hunk o' pork. Sincerely hope you and yours are not in serious gastro distress.

One place that uses many local products is John Jeffries in the Lancaster Arts Hotel on Harrisburg Pike. Very good things are happening here. Has not proved to be extremely popular here,mostly I think due to pricing, but this may be the best use of local products from Lancaster organic sources. John Jeffries Just up the street from the new museum site is the Belvedere. Well prepared food here as well. There specialty is game items. This game is not local in most cases but is presented correctly. Belvedere Tim Carr at Carr's Restaurant also makes use of local ingredients. Have always very much liked Carr's. They can also produce a good cocktail. Carr's Another new BYO place that uses local ingredients is Effie Ophelia. I must tell you I have NOT dined here, but have heard very good things from folks I know and trust. Effie Ophelia For a more casual, but very good experience, we love Characters Pub. The home of Lancaster's best burger they do an excellent job with a pub style menu. There beef and pork entrees feature meats from a local farm. All the above are within easy walking distance of the museum. I always hesitate to make any recommendations regarding PA Dutch style eating. The places that Percy talks about are mostly tourist places with low quality product. Most of these places are akin to the seafood buffet places you see at the beach.

I would also think you are OK with this. However, I can't promise you won't have any issues. I certainly would proceed. I do wonder how the temp of the pork got that high if you had it in a cooler with ice. Did you not chill the brine solution before you added it? Was the butt chilled in the fridge before you put it in the brine? I don't brine butt. I do brine turkeys using the cooler and ice method and have never seen this happen. I guess what I am wondering was did the temp of the butt RISE after it went in the iced brine? Or was it at that temp or even higher when it went in.

What a wonderful story. One of the things I've remembered from family and friends' funeral and tragedy sadness is the lack of anything fresh. The most precious gifts came in the form of fresh stuff; the perishables we didn't have the time nor energy to shop for. Don't forget the veg and fruit. ← As I have been laid low by an injury and surgery followed by what seems a never ending recovery I can say that of the food gifts I have received those most cherished have been the fresh produce. Other than two lonely tomato plants I have no garden this year. The bounty of freshness from friends gardens has brought me joy. I agree that those fresh items may be the best gifts for those not up to snuff.