Tinker Builder Smoker Guy

One trait that Americans have shared throughout their history is the desire to innovate. To take what is available and to make it better. To mold the land and materials around you into something that is your own. To look at a garbage can and say, "I bet I can cook my dinner in there".

Barbecue not only allows, but strongly encourages, you to tinker. Do a google search for famous barbecue rigs and see what you come up with. Not only big rigs like 18 wheelers, but a wide variety of contraptions that have been built in the never ending quest to quench the unquenchable desire for smokey, meaty goodness.

Another fun one to google is build your own smoker. You will see plans and materials that would fit almost any budget, from the humble upright drum smoker to behemoths that might be able to hold an entire cow. You can even go really old school and just use a shovel, some wood and a pile of rocks. Yes, to do barbecue right you need nothing more than a hole in the ground, some things you can find in your backyard and time. Can you say Luau?

Even recipes put on display a culture the values tinkering and tweaking. How many ways, really, can you mix up ketchup, vinegar, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and perhaps a handful of other spices? Hundreds of ways apparently, judging by the number of recipes one can find for barbecue sauce. And some people would rather do time for murder than willingly part with their particular concoction of paprika, salt, cumin, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder and crushed red pepper.

So if you have a desire to build and a love for meat, give barbecue a try if you haven't already. You will be joining a large group of folks that value hard work, creativity, innovation and self-reliance. You will also get some tasty grub out of it and possibly and handful of hungry and appreciative friends to share a delicious meal.

Build it, and they will come.