Time to Get Excited About Thanksgiving

[randy.56]

Hosting 24, 3 deep fried birds, mash taters, gravy, dressing, green bean casserole, salad, rolls, pecan pie, apple pie, and more.
Beer, wine, bourbon samples.

[LA Pork Butt]

I wish I could share your enthusiasm. I am not a fan of turkey. I do an obligatory turkey every Thanksgiving for my wife and occasionally a turkey breast or another turkey.

[STEbbq]

I agree turkey can lack flavor compared to a nice cut of beef. With the exchange student though, they are just thrilled to be part of the American traditions so it is a lot of fun creating the experience and food for them as they do enjoy it immensely.

[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.

A month later and time to update this post from page 1.

Just go a call from my sister asking if I could smoke a turkey and bring it up for Thanksgiving. Since we’re driving and not bringing the dog, we can make it work. Now to find a turkey of quality to smoke, slice, freeze, and transport. At least I like smoked 🍗

[jfmorris]

So how will you reheat?

I've done the exact thing you describe, carrying a cold smoked turkey to the in-laws, and since the ovens were all full of sides, used my brother in laws gas grill as a turkey reheating oven by putting several layers of heavy duty foil down on top of the flavorizer bars, leaving a 1 inch gap around the edge of the grill, then reheated the turkey on the grill grates with all burners on low until the turkey hit 140F in the breast. Worked about as good as an oven.

[Draznnl]

Reheating is Sis’ headache, jfmorris If the menu is close to her usual, the gasser will be busy cooking Brussels sprouts and other odd vegetable creations. She’ll probably squeeze it into a corner of the oven.

[Purc]

Going to spend time with the grandkids. My son and I will roast the turkey on his BGE. At dinner, I will slice off a wing and leg and put them back on the BGE to smoke for a bit then it's seconds for me.

[hoovarmin]

Love the new avatar.

[jfmorris]

Love the Captain Kangaroo look!

[jfmorris]

Well, now my son tells me that he feels when I do the deconstructed turkey that it's just not the same! I think no one else cares, as they normally just look at the carved meat on a platter on the buffet or table anyway...

Guess I am doing either 20 pound bird on the Weber kettle rotisserie on Saturday of that weekend for the kids to get that full bird presentation my son wants, or rolling with it deconstructed or spatchcocked... And waiting to see if we get together with anyone that needs a turkey on Thursday...

This is the year we SHOULD be doing Thanksgiving on Thursday with my wife's family. But as I alluded to before, my brother in law (wife's brother) blew that entire clan all up, and he is now staying with his mother (my mother in law), and hasn't spoken or apologized to his wife or either of his married daughters in the couple of weeks since evidence of him being a cheater came out very publicly... at a Halloween party hosted by my sister in law (my wife's sister). We had a conflict and were not at that party, thankfully. Otherwise I would likely be guilty of assault charges for beating the crap out of him. He is also avoiding us because he knows we will condemn rather than condone his behavior. I've told my wife to just invite her sister in law and the two girls and their husbands and kids over to eat turkey with us. We'll see if anyone does anything... we may eat a chicken for two, and go to the movies all afternoon!

[jfmorris]

hoovarmin I think he already did blame her and about everyone except himself. His own daughter told him if he walked out the door he wouldn't see his daughters or grandchildren again, and he looked her in the eye, and said "but I love her" (the other woman) and walked out the door and disappeared for a week before resurfacing at my MIL's house.

The problem is, that other woman is married too (I hear), and I am betting she didn't want to run off with him and leave HER family behind...

[jfmorris]

And so sorry to hear your family had to deal with this kind of crap while also dealing with Leeza's cancer.

[STEbbq]

Well, I am really sorry to hear the family news Jim. However, I guess the upside is now you do get to cook a Turkey. I think this might be a turkey that ends up getting named though.