More Thanksgiving

In addition to the Turducken, we have encountered other ways to get your Thanksgiving off to a major jump start. As an alternative to the traditional Turkey feast, have you ever considered a Thanksgiving picnic? Here in Wakulla county, in order to accommodate their hordes of family to holiday festivals (with their little mobile homes limiting the space available inside, hehe) many families put together a feast at their river houses or the beach house. The turkey is there with all the trimmings, but this one is cooked outside. And it is cooked in record time. How? Well, they do it like everything else they eat: chicken, seafood, vegetables -- they deep fry that baby!! Here is the recipe, just for you. Oh, you Yankee folks might have to move the feast inside but the driveways y'all build out of that concrete stuff they use for the big highways, ya know, is just the place for settin up y'alls own turkey cooker.

The reasons the local people say they do their turkeys in this way are numerous. Not only does it get the heat out of the kitchen and save hours and hours of electric usage, but they claim turkeys that are deep fried are plumper and moister than any others you will ever taste. Another big factor is the cooking time: your average fried turkey will take only 3.5 minutes per pound (35 minutes for a 10 pounder). You ken cook up a lotta vittles for a lotta folks with that there kinda time savins. And that they do, normally seasoning several smaller birds, instead of just one big one, differently so as everyone gets their favorite kind...and there are more drumsticks that way too!

The equipment needed includes a turkey fryer, an item I never saw before coming to the South, which also doubles as a great big ole crab/shrimp/peanut/crawfish boiler/fish fryer affair. They sell them here on street corners where they also sell flags and velvet paintings and the occasional oriental rug. They are also available here at Ace Hardware and Sam's Club, or can be directly ordered from their manufacturer in Louisiana, an outfit called King-Kooker (which is only one brand...there are several others available). Try your local Bar-B-Que store too! Basically, whether you call it a crab boiler, a fish cooker, a turkey fryer, or a it consists of a wrought-iron stand and a kind of big bunsen burner with a tall stockpot and cover and a contraption made specifically for lifting turkeys in the hot boiling fat out.

King Kooker #20TPK Turkey Frying Complete Rig

20 Qt. Turkey Pot, Lifting Rack, Lifting Hook, Deep fry thermometer, King Kooker Cajun Seasoning, High BTU Portable Propane Outdoor cooker with special Recessed Top for Extra Safety, UL approved Adjustable High Pressure Regulator, UL Approved LP Hose, soft Nose POL, Nut and Adapter Instruction/Recipe Bool 18 1/2"W x 15 3/4"D x 25 3/4"H

30 pounds for shipping $100.06 from Ace Hardware

The KING-KOOKER

All you need to add is the propane. The one pictured is the one in the deal below.

BBQ People, Inc. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Here you can order online the full 28 qt. rig for only $89 plus freight on their Thanksgiving Special Sale! This is a pretty great deal. They also carry the cajun injector and a whole host of different flavored marinades to use with it.

These things do come in other sizes and materials but this is the basic high line deal. You would need a 26 quart rig for a 16 pound turkey or a 28 quarter for a 20 pound turkey. The ones made for selling on street corners usually don't come with the pot or the accessories. Also Wal-Mart here netted us a great long sort of colander on a stick utensil for extracting shrimp or crab from the affair, and a thing that looks like a miniature boat paddle for stirring. They are cute just hanging on the wall by the barbeques.

In determining the size of pot you will need for the size of turkey you want, you should consider this:

	If you are tempted to try it, but you don't want to invest in the equipment, just click the icon to visit UncleBill, who offers to ship you one World Famus Uncle Bill's Cajun seasoned 13-15 pound Deep Fried Turkey (for $45 plus shipping) already cooked to perection. I don't see how this could taste the same as one served hot from the cooker, but you have the choice.
The Veteran's Ace Hardware	This Ace Hardware in New Orleans, Louisiana lists all King-Kooker items, accessories, and supplies online. You can use it to plan your order, or order straight from them!
	Butterball, home of Butterball University, can answer any question you have about timing, cooking, grilling, thawing etc. It is a great place to visit before planning your Thanksgiving feast...and maybe taking a class or two!
The Best Turkey You Ever Put In Your Mouth	Denny's recipe for smoked Turkey breast filets puts all other turkey tastes to shame. And it is faster than Turducken, French Fried Turkey, or traditional Roast Turkey! Give his site a visit and consider using this fast and easy recipe for a restful feast.
	Ben & Jerry's Thanksgiving page. Just for fun, or if you have kids at your Thanksgiving affairs, a great site for finding arts & crafts, games for them and a little bit of education too. There are some terrific links to other sites as well. Ben & Jerry's Thanksgiving motto is: Forget the Turkey - Save Room for desert!
	The Classics. Traditional recipes and techniques from your old pal Better Homes and Gardens, including their Thanksgiving Survival Guide. There is a good thing here in the Survival Guide that gives you the definitive answer as to how much turkey to buy and serve per guest. And a great section of Thanksgiving decorative crafts. I love the pressed leaf tray!

You will also need:	2 Asbestos Gloves (for the people putting the turkey in, and taking the turkey out)
	The Propane tank (filled)