Smoked Turkey

As we will be hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, I wanted to do a test run on the Turkey before the big day!  As usual, the Traeger fills anything it touches with magic!  I'll be using the bones and bits here to make stock for the brine and gravy prior to Thanksgiving.  But first, I get to eat a lot of turkey!

Brine

1 pound of kosher salt (weigh it, not all salts weight the same)
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 quarts chicken, turkey or vegetable stock
1 bag New Orleans Crab Boil
1 tablespoon chopped candied ginger
1 ½ gallon heavily iced water

Combine everything but the water in a pot.  Boil until salt and sugar are well dissolved.  Refrigerate overnight.  12-24 hours prior to cooking, put the brine into a bucket with the iced water and the turkey.

Day Of Cooking

Aromatics

1 red apple, cored, sliced in 1/8ths
1 medium onion, quartered
1 cinnamon stick
1 clove garlic
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage

Heat the grill on high for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, remove turkey from brine and discard brine.  Pat turkey dry and place on roasting rack.  Rub with olive oil, then with your favorite poultry rub.

Combine the aromatics in a bowl and microwave 5 minutes.  Stuff the aromatics into the cavity.

Put the bird on the grill, lowering the temperature to smoke.  Smoke for at least 5 hours, then at 300 until the breast reaches 170.