Last summer, my wife gave me the gift that keeps on giving--a Cameron indoor smoker. The official name for it is the Cameron Cookware Stainless Steel Stovetop Smoker. My official name for it is the Metal Box of Deliciousness. I mean, that thing has made me new friends and has made my current friends love me that much more.

The concept is a good one. Instead of a giant apparatus that would sit on the deck next to or in place of a grill, the Cameron smoker requires a very small amount of wood chips and will work on any stove top. It's also easy to store. But the small size is the one drawback as it can only hold about three dozen wings or a large rack of ribs, but unless you're cooking for a party of more than say, 5-8 people or 3 really hungry guys, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Simply, the food this thing churns out is incredible.

You can make meat, fish, vegetables, and even cheese in the Cameron, but I have to admit I've only attempted wings and ribs so far.

The way it works is this....a few samples of wood chips come with the smoker. You take about a tablespoon or two of chips, matching the flavor with the meat as directed. I've found cherry and hickory to be great for wings and ribs. Put the chips in the bottom tray, and place the upper tray and rack above that. Spray the rack with cooking spray. Then season your meat. For wings, I spray with olive oil and shake cajun spices, salt and pepper generously. For ribs I use a dry rub. Then just put the meat on the rack, close the smoker tightly, and put on medium heat for 3-4 hours. The directions will tell you to do it for less time, but if you smoke longer the meat will be more flavorful and tender. After this, you'll have to finish the meat on the grill for a short time to make it crispy.

The end result is a smoky, spicy, succulent meat. It's perfect for football season, when I used it almost every weekend. I can't tell you how many times my friends specifically requested me to make wings for get-togethers, and they have never disappointed. Oh, and it makes your house smell wonderful, like a bacon factory. Yum. My mouth is watering just thinking about those wings.