Half a Big Bird

[Bob Correll]

Last November I cut a 20 lb. turkey in half to freeze for two later cooks.
Kind of forgot about it until last week.
Cooked Saturday for Sunday's dinner.
Thawed, dry brined with salt for a few hours, then added Mrs Dash.

Two baskets of Kbb, apple wood chunk for smoke.
Took about 2.5 hours.

Yesterday evening, just as I filled my plate with turkey, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes with gravy, a storm took out our electricity.
So I was more concerned about eating by flashlight than getting a plated shot.

Here's the eerie look outside just before the storm hit:

Today's turkey salad lunch:

We woke up this morning at 12:30 to the sweet hum of our A/C before falling back into a cool sleep.

Have a great week everyone!

 

[Jeff F]

Bob,

Beautiful looking bird. I love turkey (think I've mentioned that already).

How did you split the bird last November? Frozen on a band saw? That's a really great idea. Even though I love turkey leftovers, a whole bird is a bunch for just two of us. We buy the breasts off season, but I don't get my dark meat fix that way.

Our power blipped a couple times last night, but never stayed off. Our serious weather happened in the wee hours. Lost the top 4 feet out of a sweet gum in the yard.

 

[Craig Alumbaugh]

That is a good looking bird Bob, looks delicious

 

[Bob Correll]

Thanks Jeff and Craig.
It was a fresh natural bird from Costco and I just used a large chef's knife to carefully cut out the backbone, and then split the breast.
I like cooking and eating them, but not so much carving them.

Sorry to hear about your sweet gum Jeff, love the tree, hate their balls.

 

[Jeff F]

Fresh bird sounds good. I think my band saw idea will work, though. I'll let you know a few days after Thanksgiving.

I think the tree will be okay. It is a shame though, it was just starting to really take off...planted 5 or 6 years ago and pushing 20ish feet. Still small enough that the balls are only a minor annoyance in the fall.

 

[Angie H.]

The turkey looks fantastic! Great color on it.

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

Wow, that turkey looks delicious Bob. That lunch does too. We've had that eerie look around here too... for the last three weeks! Smoke.

 

[Enrico Brandizzi]

It looks f a n t a s t i c !

 

[Rich Dahl]

Great idea about splitting the bird and that bird looks really good.

 

[CaseT]

Great looking bid and sandwee! Yumm!

 

[John Solak]

Beautiful cooked bird and great use of the leftovers!!!

 

[Jim Lampe]

Looky Good Bob! LOVE Lunch!! you keep the chips, i'll eet the bird salad Sammy!

reading those comments reminds me of a great tune by my all-time favourite bluegrass genius, John Hartford (born in St. Louie, MO)
Gum Tree Canoe

[video=youtube;quZZy73SHvE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=quZZy73SHvE[/video]

 

[Barb D]

Awesome looking bird and great color. I think it's time for us to pull the one we have frozen and cook it. Love turkey anytime.

 

[Frank H]

Looky Good Bob! LOVE Lunch!! you keep the chips, i'll eet the bird salad Sammy!

reading those comments reminds me of a great tune by my all-time favourite bluegrass genius, John Hartford (born in St. Louie, MO)
Gum Tree Canoe

you have good taste in music as well sir ! john hartford is a favorite of mine as well.

 

[Robert T]

Great looking turkey Bob. I think some turkey salad with a smokey flavor sounds really good. Will have to give it a try.

 

[russ olin]

Nice big bird Bob, sammie pic looks real tasty.

 

[John Sp]

Great idea and great looking bird Bob. We love making turkey salad (and turkey soup). It is not uncommon for us to by a few smaller birds at TG and keep them frozen for a holiday treat at other times of the year.

Regards,

John

 

[Bob H.]

Bob, would half a Big Bird still be considered a gobbler gobbler supreme, or just a gobbler supreme? Either way it look delicious.

 

[Bill Schultz]

Freezer diving always works, I'm often very surprised at what I find. Your half bird looks great

 

[Tim McCann]

Looks great Bob!