Time to Get Excited About Thanksgiving

[STEbbq]

I just ordered my 18 to 20 pound turkey from a new local butcher that just opened up a second store in the area. It will be fresh so I will pick it up on the 20th of November. I am fairly sure it will be a local farmer so that is nice. The wife likes the traditional presentation and considers my best turkeys to be done in the oven and not spatchcocked. I thought it was super nice of the butcher to offer to spatchcock it for me though.

With our exchange student here, we have opted to go the traditional route menu-wise, so stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pies (wife makes a really nice pie).

I have tried many turkeys over the years from heritage to organic and gradually just defaulted back to Butterball as the taste difference was not noticeable. However, this is the first time ordering local so we will see how it goes.

Recipe wise, I will probably use some tips from Chef Jean Pierre (including his life-changing slicing technique) but I am going to find a good and complex rub. I will have to check Henrik ’s rubs and see what he does for turkey. Chef JP primarily relies on butter and we need a bit more flavor there.

What do you think Henrik? Your Hank’s KC Royale Pork & Poultry Rub?

[DavidNorcross]

My favorite holiday. Hands down.

[STEbbq]

And ha, I should clarify that this would be the U.S one as the Canadian one is essentially right now!

[Finster]

It’s just been the 4 of us the last few years.
Just made reservations today for Fogo De Chao.
will have to do a turkey some other time

[Draznnl]

No Thanksgiving cooking for this kid. Heading up to Chicago and going to my sister’s for the holiday. I’ll help as needed, but I plan on playing guest as much as possible.

[Henrik]

Sounds like a good plan STEbbq 👌. I’ve use my KC Royale rub on turkey and thinks it’s a great match. Just like with regular chicken the lemon adds a nice touch. Regardless of rub though I can highly recommend injecting the bird with butter. I’ve done it several times and love it 👍

[STEbbq]

I examined my injector and realized it only has a single hole at the end that was getting clogged so per AR recommendation, I ordered this one. This is probably my third or fourth Cave Tools product so I expect it will be excellent. The needle with 12 holes should work perfectly. Thanks for the reminder!

https://amazingribs.com/premiala-2-ounce-stainless-injector/

[Bob K]

I switched from injecting butter to rubbing a compound butter under the skin (and over it, a little, ok, a lot). Injecting definitely works though. I found I needed to make sure the bird’s not too cold or it solidifies before making it out of the needle.

[STEbbq]

Bob K I have tried the skin trick too. I am not great at it so it was a waste of time so I am hoping the injection works out.

[Michael_in_TX]

I'm actually looking forward to it this year. I didn't do any cooking myself the past two years and am itching to do something. I think I want to do a relatively small turkey, done in the PBC. Simply vegetable side and the best cornbread muffin recipe I can get my hands on. And some gravy and stuffing, too.

Oh, and yes, the Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. Once you remember they use the metric system up there, it makes more sense.

[captainlee]

We'll drive down to the kids house the weekend before to celebrate. Grandson has hockey tournaments all T Giving holiday. Now the debate, smoke, fry, combo or bake in the oven. I'll stay out of that one and enjoy whatever the decision is. I have a feeling that were going to get the "You guys smoke enough stuff during the year" comment.

[Skip]

Thanksgiving is always a fun Cooking Holiday!

[hoovarmin]

I'm doing this recipe this year from Chef Tom at atbbq.com

https://www.atbbq.com/blogs/recipes/honey-chipotle-spatchcock-turkey

I'll be bringing this to my in-laws and my MIL is also making a turkey. She's going with an Ina Garten recipe. I have to decide whether or not to cook my Turkey there without my gear or cook it at home and make the 30 minute drive to her house. Either option will place me at a disadvantage. Yes, I am competitive.

[jfmorris]

Another option.... buy a new portable smoker and take it with you! Wait! You have a PBC. Order that turkey hanger and roll with the PBC!

[hoovarmin]

jfmorris if I wasn't planning on spatchcocking it I would! My poor, lonely PBC 😢

[jfmorris]

hoovarmin if you are spatchcocked just finish the work and split it all the way… then hang the two halves on hooks in the PBC…. Lay the halves back side by side on the platter when serving, haha.

I’ve done deconstructed turkey several years lately and not a soul has complained.

[SheilaAnn]

STEbbq so what kind of bird is it? At my old job, I went though 6 t-day seasons and know more about turkey then could/should be shared here. I love that you found a local farm. Fresh, right?

as for a recipe? You got this…. We see how you cook, Pitmaster!

[STEbbq]

Definitely fresh never frozen I know that. I will have to give them a call when I have a chance and see exactly what kind of turkey it is.

[Mosca]

We go to the in-laws for Thanksgiving. They are wonderful people, and my sister in law makes the sides and desserts, which are top notch. My brother in law, the one who makes his burgers by adding in crushed goldfish crackers, makes the turkey. The turkey is very turkeyish.

[Santamarina]

We host our local family…my wife and our two kids, my wife’s sister and her husband and three kids, and my wife’s parents. Each dish is assigned to a family. I do the turkey, gravy, stuffing, and my wife makes a killer spicy corn dish. My wife’s parents do mashed potatoes and green beans. Her sister does sweet potatoes, appetizers, and desserts - though we always have Costco pumpkin pie too!

Meathead’s turkey recipe on the free site has been putting a great turkey on the table for many years. Always spatchcocked! I used to smoke one and do another in the oven, but the last few years I’ve just done oven birds simply because I don’t have time to tend to my stickburner while I’m working on everything else.

[Jfrosty27]

No plans for us again this year. It’s been just the two of us for a few years now. Actually since the year before COVID hit. Our son and DIL seem to have forgotten we’re here on holidays. We’re lucky if we see them for more than a couple hours over Christmas. It seems the inlaws are more fun. 🤷♂️
Anyway, we’ll just hang out together. Maybe I will cook something outdoors if the weather cooperates. But last year we got a ready made dinner from a local restaurant that was very good. So who knows? We’ll see. 🫤

[Donw]

To us Thanksgiving dinner is all about the sides, especially the dressing. But because some people might want to see some bird sitting on their plate we do Cornish game hens for those that do. Personally the dressing has enough chicken in it to keep me happy.

[hoovarmin]

I'm a dressing guy. We have always done a cornbread/biscuit sage dressing, and an oyster dressing. I can pass on everything at thanksgiving as long as I have the dressing.

[Carolyn]

I agree. My Mom made cornbread dressing every year, and the recipe has dark meat in it, so it is pretty much a meal on its own.