Thanksgiving 2024

Notes

• Cooked turkey on the charcoal grill without adding any wood chunks. It had a pleasant amount of smoke.
• Took about 2 1/2 hours (kept it between 350 and 400)
• Put all of the dishes on the island, only s & p, butter on the table.

Methods

Turkey

• Used Dan’s ATK Dry Brine:
  • 4 Tbs salt
  • 4 tsp sugar
  • Turkey glove - separate skin from breasts and legs.
  • use 4 tsp of mix on each breast, tsp each leg, rest inside the cavity.
  • Let dry uncovered in the fridge on a rack in a baking sheet for 24 - 48 hours (I did 24)
• I tried the Baking Soda / oil brush on top - the bird looked good but there was some weird residue I didn’t like. Try just oil next time.
• Charcoal Grill:
  • Lit it about 1:00
  • Turkey on around 1:30 - 2
  • 350 - 400, took 2 1/2 hours

Stuffing

• Used this recipe. It was excellent.
  • Did not grease dish, cooked for 45 minutes - was perfect, do not go a minute longer.

Gravy

• Game Changing Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

• 1/2 pound of butter, large Boursin, a little heavy cream

Rolls

• Made Jason’s Grandma’s 2 hour buns
• Silicon muffin tray needs to be sprayed!
• They are smaller than my old one - try making 24 instead of 12.

Pickle Tray

• Used new Sophie Tray and Dip set.
• Olives in the dip bowl, pickles, pickled onions, pickled beets, pickled beans and carrots around.

Menu

• Main:

  • Turkey:
    • BBQ
    • Platter
  • Stuffing:
    • Oven -> Roast Pan
    • Dish
  • Gravy:
    • Stove -> Pot
    • Gravy Boat
  • Mashed Potatoes:
    • Stove -> Pot
  • Rolls:
    • Oven -> Muffin Tin
    • Bowl

• Sides:

  • Cranberry Relish
    • Bowl
  • Pickles & Olives
    • Tray
  • Orange Salad
    • Sets in serving dish

Planning

Wednesday

• Oven Dry Bread Cubes
  • 200 degree oven, cubes spread out on rack in rimmed baking sheet.
  • Bake until dried - took about an hour and a half, but start checking at 30 minutes.
• Make Turkey Stock
  • Simmered covered for a few hours, skimming foam.
  • Strained and simmered uncovered to reduce a bit.

Friday

• Orange Salad
  • Used this recipe
  • Was a little too jiggly - too much liquid I think.

Saturday

• Brine Turkey:
  • Dry
• Cranberry Relish
  • Used the Cook’s Illustrated Turkey Relish from Number 191, November and December 2024.
  • Remember to thaw the cranberries before pulsing.

Sunday

1. Gravy Base
2. Stuffing
3. Turkey
4. Mashed Potatoes
5. Dinner Rolls
6. Pickle Tray
7. Butter
8. Gravy