C'mon Baby Light My Fire

This is unashamedly lifted from Alton Brown.

To light a charcoal chimney you need the following

• Newspaper
• Vegetable Oil
• Shot Glass
• Matches
• Charcoal
• Chimney

Crumple up 3 to 4 pieces of newspaper. Whatever will fit comfortably in the bottom of the chimney. Put the chimney, newspaper side down, on a flat surface that won't ignite. You can do this in your grill, if you are grilling. I have a portable backyard firepit that works perfectly for this. Pour yourself a shot of vegetable oil. Drizzle the shot into the chimney over the newspaper. Fill the chimney with charcoal. Light the paper. Wait 10 - 20 minutes until the charcoal at the top of the chimney is starting to go white, then dump the chimney into your grill or smoker. You are now ready to get cooking.