We will be making the 2.5 hour drive to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I will be smoking a turkey just before we leave that will be FTC (foil, towel, cooler) for the trip - to keep it above 140 F. It will be my family, my in-laws, and DW's grandmother (Nana).
Here is all we will be having:
- Smoked Turkey
- Cornbread Dressing (I prefer bread stuffing/dressing, but then I would have to make it.)
- Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Mashed 'Taters
- Hot Hominy (spiced up with jalapenos and cheese)
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Sweet Potato Casserole (with candied pecans and marshmallows on top)
- Green Bean Casserole
- Nana's Homemade Yeast Rolls (to die for!)
- Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Nana's Homemade Coconut Cake
It is a ridiculous amount of food for the 7 of us, but we usually get 3 meals out of it.
I brined the turkey last night and now it is air-drying in the fridge until I start smoking it. I use a combination of Hickory and Applewood for the smoke - about 4 hours worth. Then I finish it off in a 350 degree oven. As soon as it is done, I give it a good foil wrap and wrap in towels. Then it goes into the cooler and we start driving to the in-laws' place. they do Thanksgiving lunch around noonish, so that means I will be starting the smoker around 2am, and then put the bird in around 3am. We should be ready to drive out around 8am. Lots of pre-planning to time it right, but it is so worth it!