[footfootfoot]

just gotta say I am a changed man.
I will never cook a turkey in an oven again.

I just had the best friggin turkey of my life.

I brined it for two days, fired up the webber and put my water pan in the middle, surrounded by coals (the indirect method) popped the turkey on the grilland every 40 minutes I checked the coals, added more maple shavings* a,d gave it a little basteroo.

Temp was 170 and that was the best tasting turkey ever.

It was insanely good. plus I got to yank homegirl's chain a bit. Her mom and aunt are over for xmas dinner, etc. and I was trying this highly experimental cooking procedure for the first time. Despite my madskilz in the kitchen, she has little faith in me and panics a lot.

I cut a piece of the turkey off and make this face and say "I'm not sure, waht do you think?" She was about ready to freak that the dinner was pooched. The flavor blew her socks off.


I took a piece of rock maple I had in the shop and ran it across the jointer a few times and gathered the shavings. I boiled some water and poured it over a handful each of rosemary and thyme, let it steep for a while and then soaked my maple in this "tea".

The basting sauce was olive oil, crushed garlic, thinly sliced ginger pressed through a garlic press, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar. (good bread dipping sauce too) I added a bit of the herb tea as well. this got painted on every 40 minutes, and sloshed in the cavity.

Just OMG. It was so damn good. I'll never cook turkey in an oven again. It is just damn great, and easy as could be. A 15# bird took just under three hours.

smashed taters, carrots sauteed in butter w/ dill and honey, steamed broccoli. a "teller" mit the nuts,orange,apple, chocolate.

I'm an evangelical smoker.