Have a Grateful, Thankful and Blessed Thanksgiving!

     Thanksgiving is a true American “home for the holiday”, whether it is spent in your own home or at the home of family and friends. Everyone can relax and appreciate everything that goes on throughout the day. The Thanksgiving meal is, of course the main event but so much more happens throughout the day. Most people get a long weekend, there is football on most of the day, Macy’s parade but truly the best thing is Thanksgiving give us the time spent with family and friends! All this without worrying about buying the perfect gift for everyone. Do not get me wrong gifts are a great way of showing you care however it is also great just being together to show how grateful you are for them!  Thanksgiving is also a time to remember and embrace those who have enriched our lives that are no longer with us.

     As I began putting together the Thanksgiving blog, I did my google searches and found some interesting statistics we American’s have:

     1621

     First year of Thanksgiving celebration

     Oct. 3, 1863

     Date President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday

     8.3 billion

     Number of calories consumed by Americans at Thanksgiving every year from Turkey alone

     9 Hrs. & 27 Mins

     Time it takes the average male to burn 4,500 calories   

     97%

     Of Americans say they celebrate Thanksgiving

     $392 

     Average amount hosts will spend on Thanksgiving dinner (including food, drinks and home décor)

     9.6 hours 

     Amount of time hosts will spend preparing

     $835 million

     Estimated amount spent on Thanksgiving turkeys each year 

     Thanksgiving how-to and recipe ideas that will inspire a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you are hosting or bringing dishes to grandma's house.

1. How To Quickly Thaw Your Turkey

    The best way to thaw your turkey is in the fridge because if you set it out in the open to thaw, bacteria will grow inside the meat. When thawing in the fridge, allow one day for each 4-5 pounds of turkey. For example, if your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw. 

2. How To Easily Brine Your Turkey

    Brining is important because it is an easy way to make sure your bird stays moist during the smoking process. If you buy a turkey that has been pre-brined, you can skip this step. However, I learned most pit masters prefer to brine their own turkey and typically brine for at least 24 hours. There are a million and one ways to brine a turkey. You can get creative with your brine and add spices, oranges, lemons, etc. but the most important thing you need is:

• Salt
•  Water

     Here is the quick science behind brining. The salt will push water into the cells of the turkey. The salt does this by relaxing the turkey cells, which makes gaps where water can get in. Regardless of what you add to the brine, salt and water are the most important ingredients. Make sure you have enough water to completely submerge the turkey and make sure you have at least one cup of salt per gallon of water.

Note:  Make sure you remove everything from the cavity before your brine

3. How To Pick The Perfect Sized Turkey

    You want to have at least 1.25 pounds of turkey per guest. If you have a family that eats a lot of turkey then bump that up to 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. 

     If you want to try a smoked Turkey, give this recipe a look https://www.bbquestore.com/recipes   

     Thanksgiving is a holiday for everyone. It is an American holiday, but we love sharing this wonderful food eating, gratitude-giving day with everyone. This might be what we love most about Thanksgiving; it is a holiday that looks past everything but acceptance and appreciation. It is about home and family!

     All of us at B.B Ques are grateful and thankful for family, friends and you our customers! We wish each and every one of our customers and their families the very best this holiday season!

Are you ready to get your Barbecue on…Enjoy your visit! www.bbquestore.com