Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, even over Christmas. Most likely cause it really is about hanging out with family and none of the stress over all the gifts.

We usually have it at my house, well the past 4 years anyhow, but this year my sister has the big new house and she gets to be the lucky host.

Over the past 4 years I have perfected my turkey baking. And the key to it my friends, is the brine.

What's a brine? It's a little mixture you let your turkey set in over night before you cook it!

So here is what you need:

• big can o chicken broth
• 1 gallon of apple cider
  
• 6 pack guinness or dark beer
• kosher salt 1-2 cups
  
• cinnamon sticks
• cranberries
• garlic cloves
• fresh sage and thyme
  
• cooler- big enough for your turkey, the closer the fit the better off you are
  
• 2 trashbags

You get the turkey all cleaned up and put it inside a trashbag that's inside the cooler (double bag the turkey, trust me I've busted a single bag thru more than once). If it's a big cooler you will want to put large pots on either side of trashbag to help liquid fill easier. Put turkey in cavity side up, throw all seasonings inside cavity, cinn, salt, garlic, sage, thyme and smoosh cranberries and put them in as well. Pour in chicken broth, cider and beer, then fill with water till turkey is submerged.

Let it sit over night, take it out butter it up and stuff it in the morning and later that day you'll have the best turkey you've ever eaten.

And for those of you that doubt me, I got this brine recipie off of Emeril.

Labels: recipie