Wondering what we mean by cookbook quarantine? It’s not as bad as it sounds. Yes, we have a deadline with our publisher and the days are flying by faster than usual so we can’t leave the Test Kitchen, but, the aromas coming from the barbecues are intoxicating. And, after the photos are taken and the recipes finalized, we eat our creations. That’s the best part.

The beginning of this journey into cookbook quarantine began last December when we signed a contract with Whitecap Books to produce a grilling cookbook that includes stories of our adventures on the road.

In December, when we set out on our road trip to the southwestern United States to conduct research for the book, the July 2015 deadline seemed far in the future. However, in January, a tour bus rolled over with us on board. This mishap raised a roadblock to our creativity, setting us back several months with neither cooking nor writing as our priorities.

Back at the Test Kitchen, with the July deadline looming, we decided a new cookbook required new barbecues. Two outdoor cooking machines arrived. A Napoleon Prestige 500 grill and a Traeger Lil’ Tex Pro smoker.

Delivery

Napoleon arrives!

Assemble

Traeger Lil’ Tex Pro pops out of its box

They came in boxes, unassembled. With assistance from a neighbor, there were no parts left over.

Tools

Barbecue tools of a different kind

Prestige Pro

Napoleon Prestige 500 ready to grill

Lil Pro

Traeger Lil’ Tex Pro ready to smoke

We filled our propane tanks and bought bags of wood pellets. We squeezed an extra worktable into the Test Kitchen for the paperwork. We updated computers, replaced printer cartridges, charged camera batteries, cleaned camera lenses, tested lighting, set out display dishes, and compiled a list of garnishes.

We spent time outside in the garden, chatting with the herbs, encouraging them to grow.

Thyme

Thyme is beginning to blossom

Rosemary

Rosemary growing like a tree

Basil

It is a good year for basil

Once a week, we grocery shop and pick up our meat order at Schinkel’s Gourmet Meats in Chatham.

Meat

Schinkel’s Gourmet Meats on display

 

Mop

Brand new basting mop

Herb brush

Fresh-from-the-garden rosemary thyme basting brush

Before we fire up the grills, we create recipes on paper. We chop, dice, slice, and measure ingredients. We mix marinades and combine herbs and spices into rubs. We check the weather.

 

Napoleon

Napoleon Prestige 500 preheating

We preheat the Napoleon on high and oil the grate.

Traeger

Traeger Lil’ Tex Pro ready to smoke

We fill the hopper on the Traeger with pellets and turn the dial to smoke.

We place the meat on the grates and set the timers.

Timer

Timer set and recipe ready

Mopping

Basting Boston Butt with Carolina Mopping Sauce

Lamb

Meat probe taking temperature while herb brush bastes rolled lamb leg

We mop, baste, and turn, recording every detail for recipe accuracy.

Full rack

A full rack of side ribs on the smoker

Back ribs

Apple Marinated Back Ribs on the grill

TCL

The Cooking Ladies doing what they do

When the instant-read thermometer or the meat probe tells us it’s time, we transfer the meat to the Test Kitchen counter and the moment of recipe truth arrives. How well will it photograph? Is the flavor spectacular?

The aromas of the grill and smoker linger as we scrutinize every detail through the camera lenses.

Phyllis photos

Phyllis taking photos

Photo ribs

Photographing Apple Cider Marinated Side Ribs

 

Lamont photos

Lamont taking photos

We take photo after photo until we feel we have properly captured a tantalizing image.

We transfer the pictures from the cameras to the computer. After the recipe passes the visual test it faces the taste test.

Pulled pork

Pulled pork with coleslaw, baked beans, and potato salad

As we taste and tweak our recipes, we reminisce about some of our recent barbecue experiences in the United States. Mansmiths in Hollister, California. B.B. Kings in Memphis, Tennessee. Lawler’s and Big Bob Gibson’s in North Alabama. The Shed in Southern Mississippi. Sugarfire Smoke House in St. Louis, Missouri.