Need eval of my thanksgiving plans

jb9 · November 21, 2005, 10:06:25 PM

So, I'd like to do a turkey and ham for thanksgiving. But, I want to smoke the turkey with hickory (wife's request) and use maple with the ham. So, I have to figure out the logistics of all this.

Here's my best guess at a plan:

Tomorrow or wed, smoke the ham according to the recipe I plan to use. When done, put it in the fridge. On Thursday, smoke turkey for 1.5-2 hours (wife likes lighter smoke flavor). Part way through that, take the ham out of the fridge to let it warm up some. After the turkey gets its smoke, put the foil wrapped ham in with it. Cook both with no smoke until they are at appropriate temps (still need to figure out how far to heat the ham). FTC a couple hours and serve.

Any suggestions about how I may be able to do things better?

And yes, I plan to cook over 20 lbs of meat for 4 people. [8D]

bsolomon · November 21, 2005, 10:32:59 PM

I don't see any advantages to placing a pre-smoked foil-wrapped ham into the Bradley. sure, you can use it for a warming oven, but why bother if you have a perfectly good oven in your kitchen anyway. All it will do is dramatically increase the cooking time for the turkey. You may as well just place the ham in the oven to reheat. That will help ensure that your turkey will get thoroughly cooked and still be ready in time for dinner on Thursday.

jb9 · November 22, 2005, 06:08:06 PM

Well, I went to a couple grocery stores, Sam's club, and my local meat store, and none had hams that weren't already smoked. So, I'm getting the hint and I think this time around I'll just get one of those. I've caught a cold anyway, so I'm less motivated to do that much more work. This is the second time I've been sick for thanksgiving in three years. Bummer.

JJC · November 23, 2005, 01:48:20 AM

Hi jb9,

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well enough to smoke everything you wanted to for Thanksgiving. In cae you contemplate something similar in the future, I agree completely with Barry about not bothering to use the BS for a warming oven. You may want to consider smoking an already-smoked ham--Olds has a great recipe called Double-Smoked Ham that I've done several times with rave reviews from the Mrs. and others.

Get well soon!

John
Newton MA

MWS · November 23, 2005, 02:17:13 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jb9
 I've caught a cold anyway, so I'm less motivated to do that much more work. This is the second time I've been sick for thanksgiving in three years. Bummer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Pick yourself up some Oil of Oregano from your local health food store. Oil of oregano is antiviral and antibacterial. It also has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It's amazing stuff....Take 3 drops under the tongue when you feel a cold coming on. Works every time for me.

Mike 

"Men like to barbecue, men will cook if danger is involved".
-John Wayne

JJC · November 26, 2005, 10:16:44 PM

Hey jb9--how'd you do on your Thanksgiving meal . . . and did your health improve?

John
Newton MA

jb9 · November 28, 2005, 07:37:17 PM

We had the in laws over. Usually, my father in law cooks for thanksgiving, but he was in an accident and spent a month in the hospital. He just started eating food again (the stuff through a tube just isn't as tasty) but he has a broken ankle, so he can't stand up and cook. That's how we ended up as hosts.

I ended up baking a storebought ham, but it was very good. I used only light smoke on the turkey and the flavor turned out to be quite mild. I must have had the temps too low on both because they finshed later than I was trying for and I didn't have time for much FTC. They were both very good and the in laws were very impressed. They called us both the next day to tell us they were bragging to everyone about how good it was.

So, I'll put a mark in the win column for this one. We had friends over for leftovers the next day, but we still have a bunch to eat.

Unfortunately, my cold hung on even though I was really trying to take good care of myself. We usually have a t-giving dinner or two with my family, but that didn't work out. My grandpa is 87 and it's starting to show. So, we avoid having people who are sick come to gatherings to help him avoid catching things from us. I am just about over it now, just in time to go back to work. [xx(]

JJC · November 30, 2005, 03:29:41 AM

Glad to hear Thansgiving was a success! Sorry to hear the cold hung on so long . . . However, you should be in great shape for Christmas!

John
Newton MA