Running your own business can be rewarding but it certainly has its challenges at times.

I left a 25 year career in corporate america to pursue my dream of having my own business. I believe I prepared myself and did my homework as much as humanly possible.

I researched starting a small business on the internet. I attending a small business start up workshop sponsored and provided by SCORE and was assigned a mentor who helped me determine if I was even cut out for owning a small business.

My partner and I decided to take the leap and created an LLC, again, all online by ourselves.

Now, a year later, I can say the amount I have learned is overwhelming. Tracking inventory, determining what type of inventory sells or what does not, doing the accounting of the business, paying bills, etc, etc.

My partner and I compliment each other very well as he is the creative "think out of the box" type and I am the analytic numbers guy.

Daren and I both are willing to learn. We both don't do things just because we should. We do them because it makes sense most of the time.

We debated holding classes at our store last year. There was so much we didn't know. We felt like we had to be experts to do it. There is no such thing as an expert when it comes to BBQ. There are a thousand ways to get the same result. We received so much support from our family and friends.

We held our first class late last year and both had a blast doing it. Not to mention the benefit to the store as well! We still continue to hold the classes and have refined them over time. We have received very positive feedback on the laid back atmosphere of the class and humor Daren and I through into the class. (Having samples at the end of class doesn't hurt either!)

Interested in learning about barbecuing? Know someone who enjoys barbequing but needs some help? Give us a call and sign up for one of our classes. They are a lot of fun and I guarantee you will learn something.

Come on down to the store at 6850 N. Academy Blvd (northeast corner of York and Academy) or call us at 719-465-1041 for more information.

Look for our Living Social half off class deal beginning May 25th!!!

Dan

Many people ask me as the owner of a BBQ supply store how do I have to patience and whatnot to make good barbecue. 

We here at Colorado BBQ Outfitters never let weather get in the way of our cooking!

Cold weather does not mean you cannot BBQ or smoke your foods.

In fact, cold weather is the BEST time to do cold smokes. What are cold smokes?

Smoking food that has already been cooked or does not need to be cooked involves cold smoking. My personal favorite food to cold smoke is cheese!

As with just about all smoking or BBQing, it is very simple to do. You can use virtually any grill/smoker to do it as well.

What you need:

·         A grill – any kind will do. You will not be turning it on at all

·         A way to generate smoke. I recommend the A-Maze-N  smoker box that we carry the store. You can add pellets to it and light it and it will generate smoke for up to 10 hours.

·         Food to smoke

The beauty of cold smoking during the winter is nature has cooled off everything for you. In order to cold smoke in warmer temps you have to add ice in your grill to keep the ambient temperature down. During the winter, Mother Nature does it for you.

It’s as simple as getting blocks of cheese (I find that Sam’s or Costco work best) and cutting them up in smaller pieces.

Arrange them on the grill. I also recommend nonstick grilling mesh for this.

Light the smoker box (regardless of which brand or type you use), set it on the grates near the food, close the lid, and let it go.

How long you smoke it depends on how much smoky flavor you want to impart to the food. I usually go about an hour or so.

Understand that the cold smoke process I am referring to involves cheese or precooked meats, etc. Although you can use cold smoking for meats, it is not something I typically do as it takes a great deal of preparation and must be done much, much longer.

Get out there and enjoy the colder weather BBQ/smoking!