“The Sauce is the Boss”

There’s something primeval about grilling with charcoal.   It seems like an earthly activity that keeps one in touch with the natural world (that is, unles you are a vegetarian and even then, you can grill veggies too!)  Since I recently abandoned my gas grill after a geographic move, I decided to replace that hulky monster with a basic, smoker charcoal grill.  I had many great years in the past using a Weber smoker and they still make the absolute best small smoker grill - bar none. They’re still under $100. Yes, the ashes are a bit of a hassle to dispose of, but the trouble is can be worth it. I also picked up an electric starter element that you plug into 100 volt outlet after covering it with charcoal. This is probably the cleanest way to start your charcoal. You simply wait about 10 minutes, remove the element and wait for the coals to turn white and you are ready to smoke or grill. I picked up several bags of wood chips. I like the distinctive taste of Mesquite chips. You put them in a container of water to soak for about 30 minutes or so, drain the water off and place them on the white coals just prior to loading the grill with food.

In this illustrated case, I used chicken wings. I seasoned them with garlic powder, a little Nature Seasoning (from Morton), and Grill Mates Monterey Chicken seasoning (which has a slightly ‘chunky’ look). Once they are placed on the grill, you close the lid and let them smoked for 10-15 minutes. The flames don’t flare as the lid keeps the heat in and building and the air (which makes the coals flare up) out. Always keep the bottom and top vents open.  After the 10-15 minutes pass, take the lid off, hang it on the side of the grill and quickly turn the wings. You have to hurry as the flare ups begin shortly after you raise the lid. I flip them in this manner several times. As you can see in the photo, the smoking add a rich brown color to them. Toward the end, I coat the wings with “Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce” and let them cook about 10 more minutes on each side. I like Sweet Baby Ray’s because “The Sauce is the Boss”.

I have used a gas grill for the past 12 years and have not come close to the results that I get with a good old Weber Smoker grill.