shortsalesbychris.com

Elm Wood
Drying out/preserving a cross-section of a cut-down tree?

My Dad’s beloved, huge 6-story elm tree had to be cut down recently after showing early signs of Dutch Elm disease. He had the workers cut him a “slice” of the trunk that is nearly 2 inches thick by about 48″ in diameter. We want to preserve this piece of wood for posterity; how can the wood best be dried out/preserved?

Let it dry naturally for about a year or so, turning it over every month to dry both sides evenly. If the slab is relatively flat, sand it smooth (this will take a while with a slab that big). Clean the dust off thoroughly, and apply a coat of polyurethane. When that dries, sand lightly and apply another coat. 2-3 coats should be enough. Then flip it over and do the same on the other side. You may want to look into making a table out of it. It’s a good size.

I did this for a slab of a box elder tree for my daughter. It was only 9″ in diameter, but it had the red heartwood which she really liked. Good luck.

Elm Wood

Guidelines To Pairing The Best Flavored Woods To Your Favorite Smoked Foods

Are you confused by which smoking woods best compliment different types of smoked foods? You are not alone. Mankind has been cooking over burning woods for thousands of years. Through much trial and error it is obvious that certain types of woods best flavor specific foods, better than others. There are many varieties of wood that are used in the process of both hot smoking and cold smoking foods. The combinations of woods to foods are positively endless. Most people equate the process of smoking with meat, poultry and seafood. There are a great many other choices for smoking however. Cheeses, nuts, vegetables and even fruits are also excellent choices.  That being said, there is little wonder that this can be a bit baffling.  Exactly which wood flavors compliment what food types will be clarified in this article.

 

I have been smoking many varieties of food for over 40 years. I believe that the flavor introduced into the foods through the smoking process makes the food some of the finest culinary tastes in the world. The key here is that the wood should compliment the flavor of the foods not overpower it.  When I began smoking many years ago it was very confusing to me as to which species of wood I should use with which food. Although many people have personal taste preferences, there are certainly general rules to follow. With a vast array of choices, I will do my best to try to simplify this for you.

 

First and foremost, there are many woods that absolutely should NOT be used for food smoking. Some of these woods are actually toxic to human beings while others just impart a horrible flavor. The general rule of thumb is to avoid the evergreen family. Some of the woods to avoid include, cedar, cypress, elm, pine, fir, redwood, spruce and sycamore. Now that we know what NOT to smoke with, let’s get onto the good and flavorful woods that you should use.

 

There are many woods that you can smoke with. I am going to elaborate on the top choices, finest tasting, and most popular smoking woods. Fruitwood trees are amongst the most popular with the seasoned food smokers and are well known for their sweet delicate flavors. This list is organized from the mildest smoking woods to the most robust.

 

1. APPLE – Mild flavor, light sweet taste, and imparts a fruity smoked flavor.

    Best foods – Beef, Poultry (especially game birds), Pork (in particular hams), Cheddar Cheese and Oysters

    Foods can be smoked for longer periods of time due to the mildness of this wood. Excellent for cold smoking.

 

2. CHERRY – Delicate flavor, sweet taste, and also imparts a fruity smoked flavor.

    Best Foods – Poultry (especially game birds), Pork, Scallops, Eggplant, Bananas, and Cheeses

    Foods can be smoked for extended periods of time due to the mildness of this wood. Excellent for cold smoking.

 

3. ALDER – Mild delicate flavor, with an impressive and unique taste.

    Best Foods: The traditional choice for Salmon. Swordfish, Sturgeon, Halibut, Steelhead, Prawns, Shrimp, 

    Rattlesnake, Chicken and Corn on the Cob.

    Normal standard smoking times are the rule. Another good choice for cold smoking.

 

4. MAPLE – Somewhat sweet and imparts a mild smoky flavor. Try mixing maple with some corncobs for bacon.

    Best Foods: Poultry, Hams, Lamb, Vegetables (especially acorn squash), Tuna and Salmon.

    Normal standard smoking times apply. Great for cold smoking.

 

5. PECAN – Delicate but rich, similar to hickory. Burns cool and is ideal for low heat smoking.

    Best Foods: Pork, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Wild Game, Fish, Cheeses and Portabella Mushrooms.

    Normal standard smoking times apply. Popular choice for cold smoking.

 

6. OAK – Somewhat strong but pleasant flavor without being over powering. The most versatile of the hardwoods.

    Best Foods: Salmon, Beef (particularly brisket), Buffalo, Elk, Poultry and Lamb.

    Slightly shorter smoking times due to the slight intensity of the wood. Good for cold smoking.

 

7. HICKORY – Strong, pungent, bacon like, smoky flavor.

    Best Foods: Beef, Pork (spare ribs, sausage), Chicken, Lamb, Fish, Venison, Moose, Cheeses and Almonds.   

    Shorter smoking times result in rich flavors, longer smoking times may overpower.  Good for cold smoking.

 

8. MESQUITE – Strongest, but sweeter and more delicate than hickory. Tends to burn hot – use carefully.

    Best Foods: Most Meats (especially beef), Wild Game, Chicken, Peanuts, and  Vegetables

    Not for long smoking. Popular in restaurants where foods are cooked for short periods of time

 

Is your mouth watering yet? On an interesting note, I have also smoked with wine and whiskey barrel woods. If the woods are available to you this is a fun, unique and very flavorful way to smoke. The wine barrel wood infuses a subtle, sweet and fruity taste, whereas the whiskey barrel wood has a more pronounced and woodsy taste.

 

Many of us own today’s modern smokers designed to simplify the smoking for us. I personally own a Bradley Digital Electric smoker and it is just fantastic and offers very low maintenance smoking. The Bradley smoker uses all of the above wood flavors in custom wood bisquettes which are auto dispensed into the smoker. For those of you who do not own a smoker but love charcoal and gas grilling, fear not. Simply take your wood chips and soak them in water for about 20 minutes then add them to the top of the coals, immediately before adding the food.  For extended grilling times try adding additional chips every 5 – 10 minutes to keep the smoke flavor on going. The more chips you add the more intense the flavor becomes. You will enjoy.

 

It has taken me many years of experimentation and note taking to make sense of the above list as the possibilities are truly never ending. I have learned that some foods cooked with improper woods produce poor results. If one would follow the above list as a true and honest guideline, you cannot go wrong. To further elaborate on the smoking possibilities, I sometimes blend two or more wood flavors together to come up with really unique and interesting flavor combinations.  There are many people who have never smoked foods and they have truly deprived themselves of one of the finer things in life. I feel that everyone owes it to themselves to experience the art of smoking and put an end to food boredom once and for all.

About the Author

Looking for a quality flavored wood chips? Optics and Outdoor Gear carries a fine line of smokers, accessories, and outdoor related items. We enjoy sharing our knowledge with articles like this, with our fellow outdoorsmen.

What is the going rate of a face cord of wood in mid-michigan?

I cut down a big Elm tree and now looking to sell it. What is a far price to charge for this firewood. I have 10 face cord of wood. Do I give a person a deal if he buys it all? Like buy 3 cord and get on free tip thing?

Here in west Mi, a face cord goes $40 – $70. A full cord (3 face cords) goes $120 – $200. These prices often include delivery.

Wild Fire Elm 24″ wood stove, secondary combustion test

First Alert 3035DF Digital Locking Steel Security Box, 0.27 Cubic Foot, Black/Silver $41.99 Note:  Products are not available for Hawaii and Alaska States….

First Alert 2037F Fire and Water File Chest, 0.62 Cubic Foot, Gray $55.95 This UL classified First Alert media protection chest tested to withstand an external temperature up to 1550 degrees for 1/2 hour and independently verified to protect electronic media, such as memory sticks, CD’s, DVD’s and external hard drives. Waterproof even when fully submerged. Key Protector Chest Features: Interior Dimensions(HxWxD): 10.25 in. x 12.17 in. x 8.58 in. Stores standar…

First Alert 3040DF Digital Large Security Box, Black/Silver $53.99 Honeywell Security Lock Box with Digital Keypad. Lock it up… from important documents to your prized autographed baseball to your laptop, with the Honeywell Security Lock Box. And while you get BIG peace of mind, thieves just find one aggravating obstacle after another. 48″ security cable. State-of-the-art digital keypad. Double-steel wall construction. Plus, fire-retardant insulation provides a…

Passion of the Christ: Songs (Original Songs Inspired by the Film) $16.98 …

The Lost Soul $15.00 This CD features six new original works, two of them instrumentals, three traditional songs, and one borrowed tune. 1. Two Doves (Rathje) 5:232. Been All Around This World (trad. arr. Rathje) 3:123. Finn MacCool (Rathje) 3:534. The Lost Soul (trad. arr. Rathje) 2:545. Witch of the Westmereland (Fisher arr. Rathje) 4:146. Dobrology (Rathje) 2:547. Trout (Rathje) 2:408. Temperance Re…

Family $18.49 …

Charlie Rose – ‘What Just Happened?’ / Religulous (October 13, 2008) $24.95 A conversation about the film ‘What Just Happened?’ with Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson and Art Linson. || A conversation about the film Religulous with Bill Maher and Larry Charles.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com’s standard return policy will apply….

Keyword Optimization – Complete Guide to Choosing Profitable Keywords for Your Website $14.95 Keyword research and optimization are one of the most important aspects in search engine optimization and rankings. One of the most common mistakes people make when creating a website or putting up an online business is believing they already know what keywords customers are using to find them. If you are not targeting the specific keywords your customers are searching for online, they will NEVER …

Quality Pay-Per-Click Traffic Video Series (2008, DVD) $49.99 The DVD includes the following videos: 1 – Understanding Quality Clicks Over Quantity Focusing on clicks that convert is more important than just the concept of getting a high CTR (Click Through Rate). The problem most beginners face is they are taught to use a keyword tool and just start adding tons and tons of keywords into the Adwords keyword list and Walla, some magical conversions will hap…

Ohio State Buckeyes Ladies Logo Hair Scrunchie $8.95 Ladies, pull your hair back and show your Buckeye team spirit with this team logo scrunchie!…

EIKO KPR102 – 2.4V .7A/B3-1/2 SC Mini Flange Base Miniature $4.98 …

6 Watt – S6 – 48 Volt – Candelabra Base – Indicator Light Bulb – Bulbrite 750604 $3.99 Brand: Bulbrite – Part No.: 750604 – Wattage: 6 Watt – Voltage: 48 Volt – Base Finish: Brass – Base Type: Candelabra (E12) – Bulb Color: Clear – Bulb Shape: S6 – Bulb Type: Incandescent – Diameter: 3/4 in. – Length (M.O.L.): 1-7/8 in. – Life Hours: 1500 – Case Quantity: 10 -…

First Alert 1.2 Cu. Ft. Theft Digital Safe $138.99 This First Alert 1.21 cubic foot safe is constructed of heavy gauge welded steel and is equipped with 2 live door bolts, pry-resistant heavy duty steel concealed hinges, a fully carpeted interior, and a removable/adjustable shelf. Key/Digital Safe Features: Programmable digital lock with override key. Pry-resistant concealed hinges. 2 locking door bolts. Fully carpeted interior. Inside dimensio…

Alfa AIP-W505 802.11n/b/g Wireless Broadband Router & Access Point with 4 LAN ports – Wireless-N WiFi WISP, Bridge, AP Router – Advanced Security Futures and Supports URL & Keyword Filtering $49.99 AIP-W505 PCB is the 1 x 10/100Mbps WAN + 4 x 10/100Mbps LAN Ports, 802.11n AP/Router that provide up to 150Mbps high speed throughput. W505 PCB is suitable for WISP applications such as AP/Router mode, WISP mode, WDS Bridge Mode, Wireless Bridge Mode and Hybrid Mode; it’s easy to management by user friendly web-based interfaceSpecifications:ManagementWeb-base management interfaceRemote managementS…

Micro Innovations Wireless Link Keyboard (TKB700U) $14.99 Designed for travel and easy collapse, this keyboard is ideal for any user on the go. Foldable design lets you conveniently enter large amounts of data quickly and effortlessly. Ultra-slim design looks sharp and saves space. Folds to go wherever you want. Works with most Palm OS and Pocket PCs. For Device Type: Palm OS;Pocket PCs; Wired/Wireless: Wireless; Maximum Wireless Range: NA;Connector/Port…

Samsung UN46C6300 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV (Black) $1,699.99 The Samsung LED 6300: LED picture quality meets Auto Motion Plus 120HzTM Clear Motion Rate technology, with gorgeous results. The 6300′s LED Ultra Clear Panel absorbs ambient light and virtually eliminates reflections, for a more comfortable viewing environment. It’s beautiful form and function, complementing the most stylish of décor….

Samsung UN55C6500 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV (Black) $2,799.99 What do you get when you combine Internet@TV with 120Hz Clear Motion Rate technology? The Samsung LED 6500. Get the best of the web, right on your HDTV, with downloadable and customizable widgets – and coming soon, Samsung apps. Connect to friends, share pictures, shop online and more. Samsung’s 120Hz Clear Motion Rate technology delivers smooth, natural action in every scene. Samsung LED backligh…

Samsung UN55C6300 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV (Black) $2,499.99 The Samsung LED 6300 HDTV: LED picture quality meets Auto Motion Plus 120HzTM Clear Motion Rate technology, with gorgeous results. The 6300′s LED Ultra Clear Panel absorbs ambient light and virtually eliminates reflections, for a more comfortable viewing environment. It’s beautiful form and function, complementing the most stylish of décor….

Hanes Men’s Classic Basic Crew, Three Pack $16.00 Hanes Classics are constructed with very soft ring-spun cotton for added softness and resiliency….

Lilyette Women’s Microfiber Minimizer Bra #428 $32.00 Our Lilyette® Microfiber and Lace Minimizer® Bra offers you the very best in beauty and comfort!       * Beautiful and comfortable styling     * Luxuriously soft fabric* Gorgeous lace details* Smooth under clothes* Guaranteed comfort* Minimizes size – not shapeFabric content: Top Cup: 91% Nylon, 9% ElastaneBottom Cup: 100% NylonBack: 89% Nylon, 1…

Lilyette Women’s Strapless Bra with Convertible Straps #929 $32.00 Our Lilyette®Strapless Bra with Convertible Straps is essential for the full figure woman as it offers unparalleled fit and the security that every woman desires.      * Offers the best in fit and security   * Seamless smooth shaping       * Guaranteed to stay in place        * Luxurious super soft…

Sirius SL-EX1 Stiletto Executive Speaker System $89.99 SIRIUS SLEX1 SIRIUS(TM) STILLETTO EXECUTIVE SYSTEM DESKTOP AUDIO SYSTEM FOR THE STILLETO FAMILY; 10W PER CHANNEL;HIGH-QUALITY, 2-WAY SPEAKER SYSTEM; BASS ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR DEEPER LISTENING; HEADPHONE JACK;DESK OR WALL MOUNTABLE; AUX IN;INCLUDES EXECUTIVE SYSTEM, WEATHERPROOF INDOOR/OUTDOOR ANTENNA, AC ADAPTER, REMOTE & WALL MOUNT BRACKET SIRIUS(TM) STILLETTO EXECUTIVE SYSTEM…

Electric Volt Black Web Belt $28.00 Jump start your look with this Volt web belt by Electric!…

FCS Premium TAIL GATE Surfboard Pad $27.98 These pads help to secure your boards when they extend past your tail gate or trunk. Easy design allows for quick and simple attachment in seconds….

Green Toys Sand Play Set $12.94 Kids will ‘dig’ building castles and hunting for buried treasure with the environmentally friendly Sand Play Set from Green ToysTM. Made of recycled plastic, this classic 4-piece collection of tools consists of a bucket, sand castle mold, shovel and rake. Made in the U.S.A from recycled plastic milk containers, which helps save energy, reduces landfill waste, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, a…

Alex Toys Draw like A Pro $30.00 A fun and easy way to draw…just turn down the lights, switch on the projector, insert a preprinted slide and trace away| Comes with 124 slides, 6 markers, 10 sheets of paper, and a flip book….

Alex 36 X 36 Vinyl Padded Playmat $13.20 All roads lead to fun with this take-along play mat that folds into a toy bag. Open it up anywhere – when you’re finished, pack up the toys and you’re on your way| Open mat measures a generous 36″ x 36″ of prime playing real estate….

Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society $10.95 Now revised to include new words and updated essays, Keywords focuses on the sociology of language, demonstrating how the key words we use to understand our society take on new meanings and how these changes reflect the political bent and values of society….

The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers $31.00 One of the main concerns for digital photographers today is asset management: how to file, find, protect, and re-use their photos. The best solutions can be found in The DAM Book, our bestselling guide to managing digital images efficiently and effectively.Anyone who shoots, scans, or stores digital photographs is practicing digital asset management (DAM), but few people do it in a way that makes …

YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day $14.68 A complete, task-based guide to developing, implementing, and tracking a video marketing strategy Online video marketing is crucial in today’s marketplace. This guide teaches you proven, practical guidelines for developing and implementing video marketing for your organization. If you’re a marketer, advertising professional, consultant, or small business owner, here’s a relevant guid…