With the year ahead of us it's time to make plans for the coming barbecue season. One of the most important questions to you (and all those friendly manufacturers and stores) is about your purchasing plans. Is there a new grill or smoker on the horizon (or patio)? Whether for yourself or as a gift you might want to start thinking know about whether or not that cooker on the back porch needs to be replaced (or repaired). This leads us to this weeks question:

POLL: Do you plan a major Barbecue purchase this year?
1) Definately
2) Probably
3) Possibly
4) Probably Not
5) No
6) Haven't Decided Yet
7) Haven't Thought About It Yet
8) Other (Please Specify in the Comments)

Pork ribs are among the most popular items to cook and the one that gives most people the most trouble. If you have a smoker and know how to use it you shouldn't have any difficulty. If, however, you are using a grill whether gas or charcoal then you need to learn how to keep it low and slow to get tender, perfect bbq ribs. Let me walk you through some simple steps and you will be "grilling" the best ribs you've ever eaten.

Photo © 2009 Regarding BBQ Inc., licensed to About.com, Inc.

Cookshack makes some very good smokers including the competition winning "Fast Eddie" FEC series pellet smokers. Now they have put together something truly unique. The Q Kitchen by Cookshack is a self contained outdoor kitchen that offers everything you need to cook with on a platform that can be loaded on a trailer in 8 minutes. This gives you an outdoor kitchen that you can quickly and easily move across the yard, or across town. Certainly something worth taking a look at.

Fully loaded with FEC-100 smoker and Traeger Pellet grill the Q Kitchen runs around $14,000USD.

For more information go to Cookshack Q Kitchen

Photo Cookshack Inc.

If you've been hanging out here for at least some of the last 12 years you are probably a pretty good cook by now. Now it's time to show off what you've learned by entering The National Beef Cookoff. This annual competition brings together the best cooks in the World to compete for a $25,000USD grand prize. There is a professional category and a home category so everyone has a chance of taking away not just a suitcase full of money, but the best bragging rights around. So head over and put in your entry now.