The BBQ Grail

I love gadgets. It used to be that I wanted the coolest computer related gadgets I could get my hands on. These days it’s cool kitchen gadgets that get me going.I saw the Zak Designs multi-color measuring spoons in Gourmet magazine and thought they would be fun to have in the kitchen. Not only do they add some color but they are extremely functional.

One of the challenges for me when cooking with rubber gloves on is handling smaller measuring spoons and getting the right amount of spice out of the container easily. With the long handles it can be accomplished without much difficulty.

The long handles make it very easy to reach down inside some of the larger spice bottles without having to tip the bottles to measure out small amounts.

The Zak Designs multi-color measuring spoons are not a gimmick but are a great addition to any kitchen. The set of 5: 1/8 teaspoon, teaspoon, teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon is made from durable, dishwasher safe Melamie.

I’ve been reading about Ugly Drum Smokers (UDS) for years on various forums and last month I finally got around to building one. And let me tell you, what a disappointment it was. I had so much trouble controlling the heat. It was up to high or it was out. Getting anything near 225 degrees was impossible.

The problem was so bad that after three smokes I put the darn thing in the corner and went back to my old reliable smokers. After reading some newer threads on temp control I made some changes and what an improvement.

I LOVE my new and improved UDS. The problem was that I just got to fancy. Simplicity is the key to the UDS. On the first build I had two “stacks” on the lid. It looked great but it wouldn’t draw right. All I had to do was buy a new lid with a 2 inch bung hole and it worked like a charm.

Yesterday I cooked two racks of ribs, a five pound chuckie and four fatties all with about 8 pounds of charcoal. Once it got to temp it maintained it without two much problem. I’ll be using the UDS more often now.