Texas BBQ Posse members were treated to a special stop on the barbeque trail on Saturday afternoon. Expert backyard pitmaster Marshall Cooper invited us to join his family and friends for an incredible spread of smoked meats and sides.

Marshall began following our BBQ tours through Gary Jacobson's stories in The Dallas Morning News.

He wrote Gary, "I would like nothing more than to include you and your entourage at my next backyard BBQ. I will slow smoke beef brisket, pork ribs and pork shoulder and make sure there is enough for everybody to eat until they are stuffed! Just let me know if you guys could handle it."

Marshall started his dueling smokers the night before, loading them with over 100 pounds of meat. Eighteen hours later the feast for 25 folks began, topped off by pecan pie baked by his wife Sheilagh, from a four-generation Marshall family recipe.

He has learned many lessons since he bought his first smoker in 1987, most importantly that cooking great meat demands time and patience. The proof was in the brisket, pork and ribs, some of the best we've had in Dallas.

(Photos by Chris Wilkins & Tom Fox)