CeramicChef

I think we need an old time NASA countdown! He may just launch this bad boy! And I'd pay to see it!

ckreef - why don't all y'all just move on down here. I can get you and skreef job, I can get Hawke into a great science and math high school, and we'll just all sit around and eat and get plesantly plump? We'll drink a little beer, do a little fishing, burn some meat, and wonder how life gets any better!

sib - Dennis returned my call promptly. Doesn't he always!? He's in Java at the plant and the reception was kind of bad. I was in a meeting with my attorney's and my CPA so I couldn't take the call. I'll be calling him tomorrow, Friday. Dennis left a voice mail and reassured me that this thing would be straightened out. Isn't it great to be associated with the world's best customer service? I also called OneGrill. They said they screwed up and are sending a shaft to me. It should arrive today (Thursday) or Friday. I'll follow up here.

Tony! sounds like the brewskis will be flowing! So let me see if I understand ... pizza is an appiteaser for the main course ... beer!? I like how you roll!

Charles - I really do like simple during the week. Simple mean minimal cleanup, easy to cook, delicious on the palette! TheBeast and a quick simple pizza pie ... what could be simpler? I'm taking lessons from you, Charles!

MacKenzie - this is one seriously simple but very satisfying cook. I can only imagine what you'd do with it!

tiny - SWMBOI was right there next to me. It just doesn't get any better than that. I plan on making that a permanent situation!

mk1 - I think I remember seeing that here when I was thinking about buying TheBeast. In fact, that shot made me step back and rethink buying TheBeast. I actually considered a 23" Ultimate for a couple of minutes, and then saner heads prevailed! mk1 - my 32", TheBeast, is simply the best kamado and cooker I've ever owned. You'll not regret a 32" for a single moment. If you do BIG parties on a regular basis like yours truly, a 32" certainly makes life easy! Heck, even on a week night cook for just SWMBOI and me, being able to stage veggies, bread, dessert, and the entree works like a charm. TheBeast is the most versatile cooker I've ever used. And I'll tel you another thing ... TheBeast has made me a MUCH better cook than I ever was. Everything is so much easier on a KK than on the competition.

Charles - Prometheus is a LOT bigger than what you were used to. And probably a lot more fuel efficient.

tiny - you are quite right! People see only the price tag and don't take into account everything they get. My 19" Hi-Cap is larger than the entry level Large BGE, the Kamado Joe Classic, the Vision line, etc. Then you start adding on things that tome standard with the KK that is ala carte pricing elsewhere, and the KK begins to look really affordable. Never thought I'd say that, but now that I think about it it's true!

I've got this week planned. I think next week is a good one!

ckreef - when do you start making lump? This should be quite interesting!

tquando - There are a couple of ways I have used to add smoke to my cooks during the duration of those cooks. The first is to scatter smoking wood around the firebox. People have been doing that for as long as people have been using kamados for smoking. I find that particularly a paining the a$$. It's hit or miss. There is just no way of predicting how the fire will spread. But I used that for a long time and I loaded a bunch of wood into the firebox that ultimately never got burned. That just means you have to unload it and reload it for the next cook. Then I was told by Dennis about this smoke pot made from a 2 quart Dutch Oven that was described here in this Forum. I made my own. Here is a link to that thread. Now I understand that I have drilled too many holes in the bottom of the Dutch Oven. I've never had a problem with this thing laying smoke on my cooks for a pretty long time. Further, once you get the skin temp of the cook above about 165F there is deminimus smoke adsorbed by the cook. Loaded up with chunks, I never use chips, this smoke pot can lay smoke on a cook for something like 6 hours or so. Plenty long for me. I hope this helps you and that it gives you a few ideas!

I have a buddy in Stavanger, Norway, ask me about the KK line. He wanted to get an idea for the relative sizes of the two KKs I have. I took a few pics to given him an idea of what he cold expect. He's a single man and thinking that the KK BB 32" is what he wants when he throws a party every other month! I had to tell him that to spend that kind of money for a large cook every 6-8 weeks was nonsense. I've tried to steer him to the 23'Ultimate or the 19" Hi-Cap. I've also told him that he may just want to wait for the 21" that's supposed to be out in the next few months. I took a few pics and sent them too him. Many of those shots have been posted here and I don't want to repost them. There are, however, a few new ones that hopefully can give you an idea of the difference in size between the 19" Hi-Cap, Beauty! and the 32" BB, TheBeast. Here is my hand on the Top Hat vent of TheBeast and right nest to it the same shot on Beauty! I find the difference striking. MT hand easily can span the width of the Top hat on Beauty, my 19" Hi-Cap Many people have asked how I clean out the ash from the KKs. Here is a shot of the dust pan and brush I use on TheBeast leaning on the Top Hat vent of TheBeast. Not all that impressive, I know. But to give you some perspective, here is that same dust pan and brush in the belly of TheBeast and loaded in Beauty! There is no way I'm using that dustpan and brush to clean out the ash from Beauty! I use a much smaller dust pan and brush for that. Also notice how small the dust pan and brush look in the picture on the left? That's because it is so much further away from the bottom of the kamado. TheBeast is quite deep! Finally, here is a picture of the difference in size in baking stones between Beauty! and TheBeast. There is a good 6" on either side of the baking stone meant for Beauty! Every time I look at those two cookers, I'm struck by how small Beauty! looks in comparison to TheBeast. But then I have to remember that the KJ Classic, Large BGE, etc. the basic models of just about every line of kamados is 18". Beauty is 19" and she is small in the KK lineup! Heck, ckreef's 16.5" Table Top is only an inch and a half smaller than the basic entry kamado for most manufacturers. And that little Table Top ckreef has weighs just about as much as the larger 18" kamados, if not more!

Howdy Again KKers! Last night SWMBOI and I were tired at the end of the day. I was looking for something quick, easy, and light. We have a favorite restaurant very near our home here in OKC, Charleston's, and they do a killer flat bread pizza. SWMBOI has been after me to duplicate it and I had the materials on hand, so, what the heck, why not? So here we go. Lit a fire in the belly of TheBeast and got him up to about 425. A little corn meal on the pizza peel ... The sweet Italian sausage hand made from the local grocery ... I bought some Momma Mary's thin and crispy pizza flats at the store. Here it is on the peel ... I whipped up some pesto in the food processor and spread it on the pizza flat ... Added some mozzarella cheese and Roma tomatoes sliced so thin they only had one side ... Then the sweet Italian sausage went on top to complete the flat bread pizza pie ... And into the belly of TheBeast who had heat soaked for about an hour ... Total time to cook was only about 9 minutes at 425F and here's the finished pesto flat bread pizza with sweet Italian sausage ... A view of the finished crust ... And a plated shot of a couple of slices sitting on my best china ... And finally the aftermath ... As you can see, this was a very formal dinner where I use my best china and stemware! When all was said and done, this was a wonderful cook. Next time, I think I would add a few sliced ripe olives. You can also use chicken, beef, etc. I'm also going to add a few jalapeños to the next pie. This was a simple, easy and delicious cook that took very little time and was wonderfully tasty without much work at all. Thanks for looking in.

ckreef - this is going to be very interesting! Looking forward to further posts ...

Tony - if SWMBOI and I didn't already have dinner plans, I'd be copying that cook! Gorgeous money shot! Kudos!

biffer - I enlisted a couple of stout hearted buddies, a couple of sheets of oriented strand board, and a couple of cases of beer! TheBeast and I got very well acquainted on that journey. As an engineer, I acquired a new appreciation for Newton and his laws. Once TheBeast reached his slot on the patio, he agreed he'd not move again! LOL!

Skreef - Which one is you and which one is the Daughter?

Ckreef - I've never seen homemade lump before. This is going to be quite interesting to watch. Thanks!

Charles - now that's a new cooking technique on me! First time I'm seeing this ... I think! At my age ... LOL! Really a nice cook. I'm inspired to try this on for size really soon. Kudos! I'm thinking a roll of garlic bread from the grocer is just the ticket.

Biffer - beautiful bronze KK. Gorgeous! Beautiful choice. Send me a PM and I'll send you a copy of the Owner's Manual. In the mean time, you might check your email. Dennis generally sends the Owner's Manual before your KK is on the last leg of its journey. Rob is right. This 500°F burn for about 3-4 hours is a great time to just sit, enjoy looking at your KK, and sip on a couple tall cool ones. Congrats on getting your KK in its new home amd congrats on joining the KK Family!

What a great idea! That might be the bomb!

Wilbur - I understand the almost swamped. Good luck! I've been a bit busy myself. I help with a few Scouting merit badges and kids always want to get things done before school ends. So, my plate has been full. The young men love cooking on TheBeast. Give my best to your young student. Senior projects always get a heart pumping quicker! Good on ya, Wilbur, for helping this young man. He'll never forget you. Bravo!

I'm staying out of this! I can only get hurt. skreef has a mean left hook when she got a sugar spoon in her hand!