MY FAVORITE SMOKED THANKSGIVING TURKEY

Steps:

• 1. For the brine, combine all ingredients stir until all is dissolved. Might have to heat, if so cool to room temperature.
• 2. Pour brine into a large container. Remove insides from turkey, rinse, and place in brine. Store in a cool place. Depending on outside temps I have stored it outside, a cooler with ice also works if you cant make room in the fridge.
• 3. Brine for at least 24 hours. Remove turkey from brine, rinse very well. Pat dry inside and out, leave no moisture.
• 4. Start grill or smoker, you want it medium to hot. Soak wood chunks or chips
• 5. Rough chop the onion, garlic, celery, and apple. Fill the neck and cavity with the veggies.
• 6. Make the baste: In a small saucepan melt butter add remaining ingredients, till well mixed. Brush over outside of turkey. You might have to make a second batch of baste.
• 7. Add wood to smoker, I use varying mixes of Hickory, pecan, cherry, apple, and oak woods. Place turkey on grill/smoker away from the coals.
• 8. Baste several times with the baste about every 30-60 minutes. Keep wood on the coals. If turkey starts to get to dark place aluminum foil over it.
• 9. Smoke time depends on the type of smoker and size of the turkey, anywhere from 4-8 hours. Check temp remove from grill at 165 degrees. Remove veggies from inside and discard. let sit for 10 minutes. Carve and enjoy.