Smoking Meat in the Oven Part 2

Well I decided to write what I consider as an addendum to my previous blog about a pork butt that I smoked in the oven. Since I had to move back to an apartment, I've had to be rather inventive with the fact that I love to smoke pork. I've come up with many ways to do this and there was always something missing from the flavor. I am a fan of the taste of muted apple in pork. There is just something about it that is both wonderfully sweet and beautiful about it. It's sugary, it adds a needed muted sweetness, it's refreshing, and it takes down the bite of over-smoking the meat or over cooking in an oven. The same idea is evident; cook it low and don't mess with it. Don't poke it, don't open the door to look at it, don't check it's temp for at least 6 hours. Just let it cook and keep it covered to take as much smoke a possible. A far as setting up
an oven smoke device, it's quite easy. Get a cheap aluminum roasting pan and place soaked wood chips in it. Place that on the bottom rung in the oven. Then on the other rack, put the
roast on the actual oven rack and cover it up in foil. Make sure that you rub the roast down and that the fatty side is facing up so that it melts off through the meat to protect moisture. Cooking in an actual oven is different than a grill or a smoker. Set it for about 6-7 hours at 325°F. Like I said earlier, let it sit. I know that you want to mess with it, but don't. Once 6 hours are done, you can uncover it and begin to start basting it and mopping. Jack up the heat to around 425 and baste in a clean pan, fat side down every 10 minutes for an additional 40 minutes to create a bark. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes before cutting or pulling the meat. If you did it right, the meat should be able to fall directly off the shoulder blade. Just dice it, mince it, shred it, do what you will. It might sound like trouble to do this but you will have some of the tastiest pork you will ever want and be able to closely replicate that restaurant bbq taste that you already like. If you would like some ideas for rubs or seasoning ideas, comment and I will add some suggestions. Enjoy your time in the kitchen and remember that cooking isn't a chore, it's an adventure.