Family, Food, and a Little Time by the Grill

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! It was such a joy to spend time with family, talking, playing games, and simply enjoying each other’s company. As always, the holiday flew by, and before we knew it, Sunday had arrived, and we were preparing to head back to work on Monday.

Carrie and I have been savoring leftovers for the past few days, which has been fantastic. We even finished off the last of the pies that were sent home with us on Thursday, including Mom Shirron’s sweet potato pie. So good!

Seasoned and Ready for the Grill

I got up early Thursday morning to put two turkey breasts on the Big Green Egg (BGE). We had seasoned the turkeys the night before, and they needed about 2.5 hours to cook. This year, I tried something a little different with the setup: I added water to the drip tray. The turkey breasts were so large that I couldn’t keep them on the rack above the grill grate because the lid touched the meat, so I removed the grill and placed the rack directly on the drip tray. It worked out well, and I think the meat was more tender than last year’s turkey breasts.

For seasoning, we stuck with our tradition: BGE Savory Pecan. We discovered this seasoning a few years ago and have kept it stocked ever since. It’s always a winner, and it didn’t disappoint this year either. I’ve never tried brining a turkey, but that might be in the future. I really enjoy the whole process—from getting up early to prep the BGE to watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while the turkey cooks. Add a piping hot cup of coffee and monitoring the grill from my phone, and it’s pretty much perfect.

Turkey Breasts Done and Ready

We spent Thanksgiving afternoon and evening in Topeka celebrating with the Shirrons. On Friday, we met up with the Haverty family in Lawrence at my mom’s house. We were missing my sister from Wichita and a few nieces and nephews who couldn’t make it for the rescheduled holiday, but I’m so glad it worked out to see both families. And yes, I ate a lot of delicious food both days!

I hope you were able to enjoy the holiday as well. I know not everyone can be with family or friends during this time, but I hope you have someone in your life to share stories, make memories, and enjoy the season with.

Until next time, have a great Sunday and a wonderful week! Stay warm!