Turkey Day Dinner What are you doing?

[spectra]

Ok so how is everyone doing the bird? Got me thinking today as I was smoking a turkey wing today so I could try a new recipe for some gravy.... trying to take one step out of the busy schedule on Thursday and make it tomorrow evening along with a few other things.....

My bird (21 lbs) is in a maple syrup and jack daniels brine in the fridge as I type this. I do it for 48 hours then let it sit for 12 in the fridge and onto the smoker it will go. Some apple wood for about 3 hours and it will be money!

Since I had some coals going today and the wife wanted to eat the turkey wing..... it did smell real good I tossed a chicken on the smoker. Beer can chicken with some spices. Figured I would use the bones tonight and make some stock for the turkey day gravy.....

Anyway hope everyone has a great dinner and post up your plans! Here are a few pics just for fun........

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[Martini_Up]

Bourbon (Beam) / Orange brine then on the Traeger with pecan pellets.

 

[orygun]

I love the idea of the way you guys brine your turkey.

We're a little more subtle.

The wife injects it with seasoning, then I deep fry it. I've done all but one turkey for the family dinner for the last 10 years or so. Seems to be quite the hit with the family.
I like doing it and it doesn't take too long. Once the oil is up to temp I can do an 17-18 lb turkey in about an hour. This year we have less people to feed, so I'm doing a smaller, 12 lb bird. Can't wait.

 

[4Freedom]

Spectra, you better save some of that for me.. Jack Daniels and Maple Syrup brine??

 

[Stomper]

This is the first year in 12 that we are not doing a dadgum thing this year.... We're sleeping in until whenever, then perhaps going to Denny's for a turkey dinner... or maybe just stay home and eat a bowl of cereal for dinner.

 

[spectra]

This is the first year in 12 that we are not doing a dadgum thing this year.... We're sleeping in until whenever, then perhaps going to Denny's for a turkey dinner... or maybe just stay home and eat a bowl of cereal for dinner.

Go out for Chinese food

 

[Stomper]

Get me some Peking duck... without the head attached. LOL

 

[spectra]

Spectra, you better save some of that for me.. Jack Daniels and Maple Syrup brine??

Come on down 4 it is already a disfuncional family get together

 

[albin25]

Stuffing or dressing or both?


My family always stuffed with:
Half onion finely chopped and caramelized in a 1/4 lb of butter adding a 1/3 cup of finely chopped celery as the onion-butter mix cools. Shred a whole loaf of bread(any kind white is best though...seriously, even if wonder bread is all ya got) and add enough water to it so it holds a solid moist mass. To the now cooled butter-onions add 1/4 cup parsley, 2 Tbsp each of basil, Thyme, Dill(if you like), 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Mix 2 eggs into the wet bread then add in the butter-onion-celery-herb using your hands to mash it all together thoroughly (preferably clean hands). Fill the turkey cavities as full as possible (there should be enough for a 20 lb'er to be completely filled. A little under filled is ok because this stuff expands about 10%. close the turkey opening.
When the Turkey is fully cooked the stuffing is like a solid loaf and requires a cut to be able to pull that baby out whole so it can be served in slices like a solid loaf (almost like a meatloaf)
Options to substitute or add to increase volume if the turkey is a monster.
1/2 beer for 1/2 broth
add a few craisins or a very small apple cubed, pre-soaked wild rice

Day after: the cold stuffing can be sliced like cheese and added to your turkey sandwich,

Warning: the mixture must be soggy when you fill the turkey or it may absorb too much of the cooking juices leaving not enough for gravy in the bottom of the roaster.

 

[spectra]

Dressing here. Can not stuff the bird on the smoker. I toss a few apples and the norm in the bird before I put it on.

 

[4Freedom]

Come on down 4 it is already a disfuncional family get together

Wish I could Spectra.. Sadly, I will be stuck up in Seattle with family for Thanksgiving.. No home cooked meal for me either.. Next year I think I will be doing Thanksgiving at your house.

 

[filsonhand]

Tri-tip

 

[Stinkerbelle]

Our turkey is oven cooked and pretty basic, but I do brine myself with a little Jack Daniels.....

 

[WAYNO]

Always had a huge shindig at our house on Thanksgiving, til the kids moved away.

Daughter lives in Kent. Can't afford to drive to Oregon City so she'll stay home. I always give her plenty of money to pay for her trips when she does drive down here. She must have a more exciting offer in Kent.

Son lives in Hillsboro, but has to be at work in the afternoon. So, only way he can make it is if we eat b'4 noon.

So, guess we'll go to a buffet restaurant.

Times be a changing. Big dinners and get togethers on the holidays were always important to me as a kid, and have become even more important the older I get.

WAYNO.

 

[Caveman Jim]

We are in the same boat Way no, one (the baby girl, 28) is close but works in the medical field with crazy hours. My son is stationed on the East (worst) coast for a few more years so it's only us & occasionally will be iinvited to friends here in Wa.

 

[muskoka]

That sounds damn good, Spectra.

 

[Chee-to]

• Yum, old family recipe..................

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

I go shooting, without fail every thanksgiving in the early AM.

Im going to eat as much turkey as my heart desires and drink as much beer as my stomach will handle.

My gluttonous day WILL be enjoyed, and enjoyed thouroughly.

 

[muskoka]

• Yum, old family recipe..................

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Let me guess? A Fukushima cooked turkey!

 

[albin25]

Tur-crab-topus....with bacon