BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

[amber]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Bill, we did our Xmas dinner turkey in the oven, too. Awesome!

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

After looking for a quality pizza peel for a very long time and refusing to pay $39.00 for pc-O-crap small one I decided to make my own.

a few pcs of red oak glued together for a few hours

Quick hit with the jig saw, belt sander, and a nice coat of food grade mineral oil.... Very nice! $13.00 in materials.

Getting ready to cook another!

Yummy!

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

More Pizza pictures. I swear I'm going to weigh 300lbs by summer











I really need to figure out a way to prepare, fix, and cook a large number of pizzas. I found a great recipie for the dough (bread makers apprentice), have everything we like, it just takes a long time to get the dough shaped and then get everything on it. I'd like to have a pizza party, a big pizza party (maybe 20+ pizzas) but I need to get the fast track method down first.

Thanks everyone,

[Les]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

I don't know Bill - by the look of those pizza's, I'd take the quality over quantity any day.

Les...

[amber]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Bill, what I've had luck with (Bread Baker's Apprentice recipe is the one that I use, too) is to make all the dough before hand and freeze each recipe in the 6 dough balls. Then I just take them out day of and use as normal. It really cuts down on the prep time.

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Well the oven is getting more use than I expected. Like everything else, the more comfortable you are with it the more you'll use it. Over the weekend I made ribs. Grilled half on the gas grill like I normally do and then made the other half in the oven. Nothing fancy, just had a fire going, placed 2 firebricks just inside the door opening, set the SS rack on them. moved the coals to the side and threw a large log on the flattened coals. Smoke was billowing out of the chimney (which by the way works super great!) and I cooked them for just over an hour. Perfection doesn't even describe how they turned out. WOW!

I was wondering why one of the initial cracks inside the oven keeps sporadically appearing? I'm starting to think that it may be due to rapid heat up when using it as a fireplace (which we do A LOT). I cannot remember if I read that or I'm convincing myself that it's bad. Either case the crack appears to be credit card thickness when hot, then hairline when cool. Sometimes it's not as big, sometimes its larger. My fear is that it's moving and will continue to crack or degrade. I filled the first ones after the oven was cured. This one was the largest but never had any smoke come through. No weird hot spots on the exterior shell, everything is within 2 degrees F after days of heat.

I'd like to fill them but I am worried that if I do they'll crack even more or cause a shift and crack other areas.

It cooks great, stays hot long, and looks so cool. Hey, that sounds like me!

Any ideas?

[gjbingham]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

My cracks used to close up between firings. Now they're permanent. Don't sweat them. They will do what they do. I figure, if you fill them, you just give the dome a new starting point at which expansion will begin, ultimately ending in even wider cracks. Just a theory.

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Thanks for the feedback. I agree; more than likely it would give it a reason to expand even more.

It cooks great and is still standing so for that I'm grateful.

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Hey Bill, it's great to read about your cooking adventures in the WFO. I'm cooking vicariously through your posts until I'm done.

RE: the ribs: Did you throw the log on the coals specifically to create the "smoke billowing out the top" to help smoke the ribs or just to add more heat? And did you leave the oven open or use a partial outer door to hold in smoke?
You are quite the cook, dude.
-Dino

[Bob C]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Bill,
your pies do look great and i'd bet they taste even better. Les had a great idea...fabricate six or so of those peels with shorter handles and load 'em up. Once you get first six of eight pies in and out and the OOHS and AAHS out of the way, the natives will be a little satisfied. crack open a cold one and enjoy...then keep cookin'.
Have fun.
Bob C

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Hey Dino,

You'll be cooking in no time.

I put the log on the coals for smoke. Once the ribs were cooked (nicely browned) I shut the door and let it cook. I moved the coals to one side, had the rack over to the other side, door closed...and BAM! Just like Emeril!

I've found that these ovens are VERY forgiving. Well except when you put a pizza down on 900f bricks... Then you make charcoal...

Take care Dino and good luck,

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Thanks Bob,

I think I'm going to get some of the aluminum pizza trays and load them up. The family likes the crust a nice golden brown on the bottom without any char. I think that adds character but then again I'll eat anything. :-) If I can get 8-10 of them I'll be in good shape.... And then still crack open a cold one.

Thanks again,

[geisen]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

I just finished your 23 page thread and have that "Oh darn" feeling you get when you finish a good book. I can't wait for the sequel. Framing my insulation hearth today. Your workmanship is awesome.

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Thanks Greg,

We've enjoyed this oven at least three times a week. Everything I've cooked in it has turned out better than expected. Last weekend I made bread, Turkish Baguettes to be exact, and they were absolutely awesome.

I still have to get my countertop finished. Not sure if I want to do granite or go for another project involving concrete....?

Thanks again for the kind words,

Bill

[exceloven]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Bill,
I can relate, we've been using the oven even though its not finished. Although we haven't ventured past pizza and cookies. I ordered a tuscan grill so we'll try some meat when it comes.
As far as your counters I am going with granite. It looks great and is also great for pizza prep. Looking forward to seeing your finished product.

Mark