Turkey Noodle Soup

Okay, this is almost the last of the turkey and I'm actually NOT tired of eating turkey yet. 

Simmered the thigh's and 1 leg (Cathryn and I ate the other one while the soup was cooking) in water, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper until the meat came off the bone.  I then removed the bones and skin.

Once the meat was tender and off the bone I added celery, onions and carrots.

After another 30 minutes the vegetables are done and it's time to add the noodles. I used Ziti noodles, cause that's what I had and they turned out great!

The starch from the noodles thickened the soup up just enough.  This is my first of 2 bowls.

Turkey Western Frittata

I like cooking with leftovers as much as I do from scratch.  We have alot of turkey leftover, so I whipped up a 'Turkey Western Frittata' for breakfast yesterday morning.

Started out dicing up one large baking potato, seasoned with Seasoned Salt and pan fried until golden brown.

Then added in diced thigh meat, onions, peppers and garlic and sauteed until the vegetables began to sweat.

Turned off the heat and added 6 whipped eggs.

Topped with Mexi Blend cheese.

Popped under the broiler on Low for about 15 minutes until the eggs set and the cheese was golden.

Breakfast is served.

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year and I'm in charge of smoking the turkey and my wife does everything else.  Fine with me, cause I'm out of the house in 'My Domain'.  My brother came out and we hung out in the garage smoked some stogies, drank some (well a lot) of beer and watched the football games.  Doesn't get much better than that, hanging out with my older (but not as good looking :-) brother).

Started out injecting my 16lb turkey with a simple brine.  You can do a traditional brine, but this method is so much faster, easier and you get the same result.

Brine Injection

• 4 Cups -  Cold Water
• 1/4 Cup - Table Salt
• 1/4 Cup - Brown Sugar
• Little bit of Granulated Garlic
• Little bit of fine ground black pepper
• Little bit of Poultry Seasoning

Blend until everything is dissolved and inject all of it into every portion of the bird.  Majority of it goes in the breast, but don't forget about the legs, wings and thighs.

The 'Injectee'.....a 6% Enhanced Giant Brand Turkey.  I actually preferred this bird and it was butchered, MUCH better than the more expensive Shadybrook Farms turkeys I normally get.  So, cheaper is sometimes better!  

The 'Injector'.....I pumped the whole quart of brine in that bad boy!  I did this about an hour ahead of time, but you could let it sit longer.

Loaded up the WSM with Royal Oak and Apple Wood, ass the Oak Leaves continued to snow down into the charcoal!

 

The bird is on and ready for a 5 hour Sauna and Tanning Session!

Now it's time to kick back and enjoy the day and football!  My brother.

 

And Your's Truly.

I got cold and sat inside next to the Kerosene heater for a bit.

My wife is obviously from FREAKING MARS..........she makes giblet gravy by simmering the giblets and neck and then takes the giblets out.  I tell her 'IT'S NOT GIBLET GRAVY WITHOUT THE CHOPPED UP GIBLETS IN IT' but she refuses, so I oblige and eat them, LOVE THEM ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM.  My brother, couldn't even watch me eat them, he's obviously my wife's neighbor on MARS.  WHO doesn't like the gizzard, liver and heart?  I'd rather eat a plate of those than the turkey itself.  Anyways, enough ramblings.......I thoroughly enjoyed eating them and watching my brother almost puke as I ate them!  LOL

After 5 hours the turkey looks like it enjoyed it's day in the sauna!

After about a 30 minute rest, it was time to eat!

 

Removed one side of the breast.  The legs, wings and thighs will be vacuumed sealed and frozen and used for seasoning beans, greens or pot pies for future dinners!

My plate.  Turkey, corn casserole, broccoli casserole, sweet potatoes and sausage cornbread stuffing.  My wife made all the sides, everything turned out great.

And.......the effects of drinking beer all day, them Beam and Cokes and a Turkey Coma.........glad I stuck with beer!

Fish and Chips

Cathryn has been wanting to make 'Fish and Chips', so she helped me and we made them.......non-traditional, but still good!

Started off slicing a couple potatoes and seasoning with salt, pepper and garlic and oven frying in a bit of vegetable oil.

Then rolled some whiting filets in corn meal simply seasoned with Seasoned Salt.

Dinner is ready!

Served with a little homemade Tartar sauce and lot's of Texas Pete (it's a Southern Thang)

Game Day Snackage

Getting some snacks ready for the Skins vs.Titans game.

Lighting up the SJ again, just a few wings to cook.

Added a Firebrick for a little radiant heat.

A hockey puck size piece of cherry wood.

Naked wings, no seasoning.

While the wings were smoking, I made up some pulled pork loin dip.  Pulled pork loin, salsa, kidney beans, onion and cheddar cheese.

Simmered for a bit and added added the cheese at the end.

Wings are ready for a bath in 'Cherry Sriracha Sauce', same as Orange Marmalade Sriracha Sauce except with Cherry Preserves.

Back on the grill to 'tighten up' the sauce.

Time to eat!