Smoked Mac and Cheese? Yes, really.

Yes, we have gone a little smoker crazy.  Tom mentioned smoked macaroni and cheese.  Most options I found used smoked cheese, not a smoker.  Those that used a smoker I was not happy with, so, why not take a 'standard' mac an cheese and tweak it - so that is what I did.  You can use All Purpose Flour instead of Cake Flour.  The bacon can be omitted - use 1/4 cup butter instead of the bacon grease.

13 to 16 Ounces Pasta (I used 13.5 ounce wheat pasta)
1 LB Bacon, Cut into Cubes
1/4 Cup Cake Flour
12 Ounces Low Fat Evaporated Milk
1/2 Cup Half and Half
1 Tsp Chili Powder
1/2 Tsp Pepper
3 Cups Shredded Cheddar Jack Cheese

Put 1 cup wood chips in to soak.  Prepare smoker for indirect cooking and heat to 325 degrees.  Coat foil casserole pan with cooking spray, set aside.  Cook pasta 1/2 time recommended on the package.  Drain and spray with cold water.  Set aside, as necessary.

Add chili powder to evaporated milk, set aside.

Cook bacon until crispy.  Drain (reserving grease) and put into the bottom of a bowl.

Put 1/4 cup bacon grease and flour into pan.  Whisk to combine.

Add half of the half and half.

Whisk until mashed potato consistency, add remaining half and half.  Whisk until smooth,

Add evaporated milk, half at a time, whisking completely after each addition.  Add 2 cups cheese.

Whisk to combine.

Add pasta and cheese sauce to bacon bowl.

Stir to combine.  Top with remaining cup of cheese.

Take to smoker.  Put wood chips onto hot coals, put mac and cheese on plate cooker.  Close and cook for 1 hour.

Smoked Corn and Crab Chowder

I am finding more and more uses for our big green egg.  Next up - smoking corn to make a chowder.

2 lbs crab claw meat
1 quart seafood stock
2 cups potatoes, diced
1 stick salted butter
1/4 cup onion, minced
1/4 cup leek, minced
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1/2 cup orange pepper, finely diced
1 cup cake flour
1quart half and half
6 ears corn
20 to 24 ounces frozen corn
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into small cubes
2 ounces rum

Cook the ears of corn for at least 15 minutes in a steamer.  Prepare your egg and smoke for about 10 to 15 minutes - you just want the flavor of the smoke.  Cool then remove from the ears.

Cook the potatoes in a large saucepan to al dente, drain and put in a bowl, cover with ice water to stop cooking.  Set aside.

Melt the butter over medium low heat in the same saucepan.  Add onion, leek, celery and peppers and saute until tender.  Add the flour and continue cooking for 2 to three minutes.  Add the seafood stock, a little at a time, stirring well to avoid lumps.  Add the potatoes, half and half, all corn, cream cheese and rum.  Heat through.  You may add the crab to the soup at this point or, if you are having a dinner party, put the crab in each bowl and top with the soup so that everyone gets crab meat.