East Texas Smoked Turkey

[gary s]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

Smoked my usual turkey.

Started brining it yesterday about 2:00 PM

TURKEY BRINE

§  3 cups Apple Juice Or Apple Cider

§  2 gallons Cold Water

§  3 Tablespoons Juniper Berries

§  5 cloves Garlic, Minced

§  1-1/2 cup Kosher Salt

§  2 cups Brown Sugar

§  3 Tablespoons Peppercorns

§  5 whole Bay Leaves

§  Peel Of A Couple Of Oranges

Mix all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer making sure all the salt and sugar is dissolved.

Remove from heat and let cool.

I pour mine into a cooler; add some ice, then the Turkey and the rest of the Ice. 

After removing from the brine I rinsed and rinsed, patted dry and ley dry some more on a wire rack.

Rubbed down with EVOO, then on the smoker.

I used Oak and one split of Hickory, ran smoker at about 235 240

Pic of the Brine

IMG_20161124_064608_694.jpg

• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

Turkey out of the brine and drying a little more 

IMG_20161124_064622_532.jpg

• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

Smoker right after I fired it up

IMG_20161124_064639_593.jpg

• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

Turkey a couple hours in  Oh Yeah I remembered my Maverick this time

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• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

Turkey after a short rest

 

IMG_20161124_131115_291.jpg

• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

Sorry no more pics,  You have seen National Geo. and Piranhas feeding 

That's what out bunch looks like

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Gary, that bird looks phenomenal my friend ! Very nice thread & thanks for the brine recipe... Will be trying that for sure ! Thumbs Up

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours !

 

[gary s]

Thanks Justin  I appreciate it

Gary

 

[donegotfat]

Wow, that deep mahogany color is amazing!

I have yet to get that color, I am way loving it

Looks great.

 

[joe black]

Awesome looking bird, Gary. Love that color. :points:

 

[adamr]

Looks amazing,Gary![emoji]128077[/emoji]

 

[b-one]

Great looking turkey!

 

[crankybuzzard]

Great looking bird Gary! I know what you mean about feeding time! I barely got pics today!

Hoping you had a great visit with your family.

 

[ynot2k]

Nice looking bird Gary.  You're doing Texas proud.

~Jeff

 

[redheelerdog]

Dang it Gary, that is one fine smoke and bird. That should be on the cover of the rollin stone... of turkey of course. 

IMG_20161124_131115_291.jpg

• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

 

[mike5051]

Beautiful turkey Gary!

Mike

 

[pc farmer]

That's a beautiful bird.       Gonna try that brine.

Thanks for the recipe.   POINTS

 

[gary s]

Thanks guys, I started brining about 20 + years ago .

Gary

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

Turkey after a short rest

 

IMG_20161124_131115_291.jpg

• gary s
• Nov 24, 2016

Sorry no more pics,  You have seen National Geo. and Piranhas feeding 

That's what out bunch looks like

OMG !!!

They just don't look better than that !!

Picture Perfect Turkey!!

----

Nice Job, Gary!!

Bear

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Tasty looking turkey! Nice smoke!

 

[gary s]

Thanks Bear and Dirt  much appreciated

Gary

 

[disco]

Texas Turkey looks darn good! Points

Disco

 

[gary s]

 
Texas Turkey looks darn good! Points

Disco

Thank you my Friend 

Gary

 

[gary s]

Hey Disco, the only thing I should have done different  -------  would have been smoke Two    No Leftovers

Gary

 

[jakester]

That bird looks wonderful!