Ann’s Dad likes stuff. Not just any stuff, he has standards.
But if something is of a clever design, and looks like it might be useful in a
specific situation and it’s a bargain, it’s likely to go home with him. He
visits many garage sales and flea markets, and has paid bottom dollar for some
gems. To give you some idea of the depth of his coffers, I believe if you added
up the number of waffle irons, coffee makers (primarily stovetop) and outdoor
cooking devices he has, the number would be well north of 50.
Much of this stuff goes along with Ann’s parents when they
camp. How much? They take all of the seats except the driver’s and front
passenger out of their Honda Odyssey van for maximum hauling capacity, and they
fill it up. That’s an impressive amount of gear for two people, especially
considering that they are pulling a 14-ft. pop-camper behind that van, which is
also very well provisioned.
A couple days ago they sent us a text from their Colorado
camping trip to say that they were tobogganing after a recent snow. Ann said, “That’s
great, that a couple in their mid-60s are getting out there and tobogganing.” I
was just astounded that they had included a toboggan on their pack list for a
Colorado fishing trip in late May.
Personally, I like to travel a bit lighter. But Ann’s Dad is
an invaluable resource when you’re in need of borrowing something. Which brings me to the Abu Roken, aka the
Swedish smoker. This nifty little device that Ann’s Dad loaned us on our last
visit has clearly never been used. The brochure with it said the whole kit cost
$12.95, but I’m guessing those prices may be pre-WW II, and I doubt today you’ll still find
Impecco Ltd. on 257 Park Ave., NY NY importing smokers from Sweden.
The box come with a pan, a rack, a handle, a lid, a can (for
burning alcohol or sterno), several wicks, a brochure in Swedish, English and
German, and a pound of span for Aburoken, aka magic powder, aka sawdust
imported from Sweden. The powder is enough to use the smoker 50 times.
The instructions advise just putting to smoker on top of the
stove (gas or electric) or barbeque grill. The auxiliary fuel device is just
for using it in the wild.
I put the powder (measured in the sterno-burner lid) in the
pan, two trout on the tiny little grill, and gave it a whirl. In 10 minutes
they looked like they were smoked, right on schedule. The only way it could
have been easier would have been if my microwave had a button on it that said, “Smoke
Fish.”
So the smoke trout now await the recipe. As easy and simple
as the process was, I’m really hoping the result is good as well.
2 comments:
Have one too... now I know what to do I am going to try it. Where did you find the wood dust?
Amazon have it.
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