Thanksgiving appetizers for the Smoker - Need ideas

[wklkjn]

HI!

Been a little while since posting.

First off, hope everyone has a great holiday this weekend!

We've got things planned for every day.

Thursday, wife is making prime rib for 3 of us in the oven.

Friday, I'm putting chicken wings and a pork shoulder in the smoker.

Saturday - 20 pound turkey - wife is making it in the oven.

I've tried to get her to let me do the turkey (spatch cock) in the smoker, but she's insisting on doing it in the oven.  That's ok with me.

Anyway, I'm trying to think of some easy things I might be able to make and smoke for any one of the days.

Some appetizers that are 'finger food' type things.

One thing I wanted to share - as always, I need advice.

I tried the Turkey tenderloin recipe from Jeff's email a few weeks ago.  

It came out pretty good except for one thing.

It seems like every time I use bacon as a 'wrap' around some meat, the meat - in this case, the tenderloin - is ready to be taken off but the bacon isn't crispy.  None of us like soft, floppy bacon, so we ended up removing the bacon and eating the tenderloin.

I did not use the water tray, and I kept the smoker around 260 to 275.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

 

[noboundaries]

Crank the chamber temp up to crisp up the bacon.  Get it over 300F, the sweet spot being 325 to 350F.  You can wait until later in the smoke, when the meat is about 2/3s to 3/4s of the way to the final internal temp, then crank the chamber temp up.

When you put bacon on anything, it is like putting a fatty skin on whatever you are cooking.  Poultry skin has a LOT of fat and it renders nicely over 300F.  Bacon requires the same treatment when used as a "skin."

As far as appetizers, check out all the ABT (Atomic Buffalo Turd) recipes here on the forum.  You don't have to make them hot if you don't like spicy.  Just use banana peppers or sweet peppers.

Sounds like you all are going to have a delicious holiday!     

 

[gmc2003]

Pork shots are a favorite at my house. Also I use thin sliced bacon when smoking.

-chris