ProQ Excel... ready to rock!

I have all the necessary to do the first cook with the new beast (ProQ Excel, the 20" version of the Frontier). Unfortunately, I didn't get the extra stacker that I needed to do the suckling pig with, so that cook will have to wait. I'll be popping down to the butcher later on, to see what he has to offer... Watch this space!

Another delay ?

Ian, how bout you send the pig to me ?
I could take good care of it.

Anyway, cant wait to see "whatever your butcher had to offer" on the excel.

DM

Anxiosly awaiting the outcome...what would he cook...

Good news (for me, not the pig) it seems that there were meant to be 2 packages coming... the other one should arrive today with the extra stacker needed to accommodate the piglet

Marco, I would prefer you to come over here, rather than sending the pig (it'll probably be cheaper )

3rd stacker has arrived... height of this unit is 56" (142cm).


Compared to my youngest


Standard model

I think im not gonna get a minute of sleep tonight.


DM

Oh man, that is a thing of beauty...

Looking forward to hearing how it works for ya Ian. Be sure to take lots of pix.

That thing is huge

I had 60 MPH winds today at the house, nearly blew my fence down, I think I could use that as an anchor!

Will she fit, and is the hanger bar in the lid strong enough???


Filled the cavity with apples, potatoes, onions, garlic and tossed in a herb bush or 2.



Now no mocking about my sewing ability and I will just add that I have never ever sewn any dresses or such!



Rubbed and about to go into the smoker, it will stay there tonight and we'll start cooking tomorrow. Any ideas on how long she'll take?


Really pleased that the piglet fits, but it was a close one.


See ya tomorrow for the cook!

Awaiting the report on the new cooker with great anticipation!! It sure looks substantial.
U.J.

What a view, aweome Ian !

How far is your place from London Stanstedt ? I get tickets from a nearby airport for 20-30 €




I dont think the potatoes will get done.
The Aplles might also give more flavour when they are quartered.

Cut her up again !


Cheers,

DM

Marco, we are only 5.5 hours drive from Stansted ...come on down.
There is no way I am undoing my sewing, the potatoes are baby ones, and I'm willing to leave the apples as they are

I will be lookin for updates early in the morning (my time)

I would say that your sewing skills look more like stitches than what ya would use on a dress there Ian..

Good luck with lil piggy. As for time I would be thinking as long as it takes till its done... Just be sure to have plenty of beer on hand and stick a probe in the shoulder and the ham.

Can't wait to see the final results.

Roxy wrote:I would say that your sewing skills look more like stitches than what ya would use on a dress there Ian..

Good luck with lil piggy. As for time I would be thinking as long as it takes till its done... Just be sure to have plenty of beer on hand and stick a probe in the shoulder and the ham.

Can't wait to see the final results.

Now listen here Roxanne I did say no comments on the sewing

Can't use the beer scale for timing on this one, as I'm actually running a business here, or trying to.

The weather has turned nasty, not ideal for cooking, but at least we have a warehouse, so we can do it indoors

More pics to follow soon...

BBQ weather... Huh???
Gale force winds and rain, looks like summer is here early

Starting the charcoal... no firelighters, just plan ol newspaper.


The charcoal basket holds 5Kg's (11lbs) of charcoal


Water pan on, I tossed in some herbs, just because they were there.


9.00 am Smokin! This unit totally dwarfs the other cookers.

3 Hours In...

Mack wrote:

Roxy wrote:I would say that your sewing skills look more like stitches than what ya would use on a dress there Ian..

Good luck with lil piggy. As for time I would be thinking as long as it takes till its done... Just be sure to have plenty of beer on hand and stick a probe in the shoulder and the ham.

Can't wait to see the final results.

Now listen here Roxanne I did say no comments on the sewing

Can't use the beer scale for timing on this one, as I'm actually running a business here, or trying to.

The weather has turned nasty, not ideal for cooking, but at least we have a warehouse, so we can do it indoors

More pics to follow soon...

I was thinking that you being a bushman from Africa that you would have some experience sticking up cuts and the like..

Roxy wrote:
I was thinking that you being a bushman from Africa that you would have some experience sticking up cuts and the like..

Well I do admit to having sewed up a couple of dogs injured by wild pigs before

Anyways, here's the rest of the cook...

Internal temp of 160 F reached, so it's time to come off.


The pig and I were tired, at least it got to lie down



Looks a bit pink, but I can assure you, that's from the smoke.



The veg. The potatoes were not cooked, but I was full of pork, so that didn't bother me too much.


The cook took 7 hours in all, last hour was done at 300, but the majority was at 220 F.
It was a learning curve, as it was the 1st time I used this cooker and also the 1st time doing a suckling pig... but hey, that's what it's all about. The cooker worked like a dream and next time I'll do better.

Oh man that looks good Ian..

I could go for one of those roasted apples and some belly meat. Now that would be some awesome eats..

Well, except for the rosemary.

Did you by chance check the temperature at the lower level? I assume the 22o was lid temp. Did it seem to be pretty even, was wondering of the difference from top to bottom?

bowhnter wrote:Did you by chance check the temperature at the lower level? I assume the 22o was lid temp. Did it seem to be pretty even, was wondering of the difference from top to bottom?

I just measured the temp in the middle (the probe was held on by the string around the piglets belly), but I assume it runs pretty even, as previous tests on the Frontier have shown (10 F diff between top and bottom with 3 stackers).

As soon as I do a cook with the grates in, I'll do some measuring... only problem is, I need to have a party every time I cook on it as the capacity is huge, I recon I'll fit 6 chickens on each level

Awesome result Ian, next time you pull up somezhing like that i swear i´ll come swimming over the f&$"% channel

Cheers,

DM

Marco my friend, you're welcome to come over any time you like... I still have some of that German poison you sent me