Sunday, Sunday

I woke up at 2:00 AM and couldn't fall back asleep until after 4:00 AM! I seriously considered just staying up, but finally decided that was just dumb. But, as a result, I didn't wake up on Sunday until after 9:00!!

I warmed up a cup of coffee and then posted the Blog entry and the photos I took yesterday. Dammit! It's too late now to make my honey marinade for the turkey breast (it has to be in the marinade for a minimum of six hours and smoking it will take another four or five hours, you see.) So, we'll have to smoke it old school, I guess.

I got another cup of coffee and drank it, sitting on the couch, listening to Sunday Morning, Over Easy. When the show was over (about 11:45 AM) I got my lazy butt up and hopped into the shower. I got dressed in my chore pants and a tee-shirt (it's windy and chilly and only supposed to get to a high of 67 degrees f. today, you see).

I went out in the garage and pulled out the grill. I took the time to clean out the ashes and un-burnt charcoal. Then I got one of my tinfoil roasting pans (I buy them whenever they are on sale). I put it on the "smoke-side" of the grill, filled it about 1/2 full of water and then added my aromatics: celery, carrots, two yellow onions and a whole head of smashed garlic (nothing peeled, just rough chopped). This will be my drip pan, but should also impart some flavor to the bird.

I filled the charcoal chimney and wadded up a piece of newspaper under it. Then I fired it up. I took the stock pot (remember the corn I soaked?) and filled it about half full with cold water. Then I dumped in half a bag of mesquite wood chips to soak.

Back inside, I washed my hands and then got out the turkey breast. I rinsed it and patted it dry. I went out back and picked some nice sage leaves from the herb garden. I slid my fingers under the skin and added a pat of butter and a sage leaf in several spots. I massaged that in and then heavily seasoned it with salt and pepper.

I checked the charcoal, spread it out a bit and then topped it with some of the wet mesquite chips. I cleaned off the two grille grates I am using and then set the turkey breast over the drip pan. I inserted the thermometer probe in the thickest part of the breast and set the alarm for 170 degrees F. Then I closed it up. I'll keep an eye on it and, whenever the smoke stops, either add more wet chips or more charcoal for the next four to six hours...

Next, I spread the three bags of cedar chips on the tree garden and over the mulch I laid down next to the north-side of the entry way. I trimmed the top of the lilac and mulched it as well. I took some photos for you and then got the riding mower gassed up and checked the oil. It was 2:15 PM, BTW.

But, before I start cutting the lawn, I checked the coals and they were about worn out. So, I started another chimney full of charcoal in the garage apron. I cut the front lawn and then checked on the charcoal. It had gone out, so I got another sheet of newspaper, and lit it under the chimney. Then I took a bathroom break. Back outside, I grabbed the remote garage door opener, shut the door and headed out back.

I checked on the charcoal and added it to the grille. I topped it with more of the wet mesquite chips (I had dumped the rest of the bag into the stock pot, BTW). I finished the entire grass cutting just after 4:00 PM.

The turkey breast is at 164 degrees F. and I am about out of mesquite chips! So, I will have to trust the hardwood charcoal to finish cooking it.

So, I shut up the garage and went inside. Now, long time readers will appreciate my fascination with grilled or roasted asparagus. The flavor is SO different. I doubt I will ever eat boiled or even steamed asparagus again. Well, today I'm gonna try the same treatment on Brussels sprouts.

Now, I love them the way my Mom made them, just boiled with butter, salt and pepper. And, they really rock the way Carla makes them (with vinegar and bacon). And, I was in Heaven with the bacon and cream sauce I made last. But, today, I trimmed the stems and took of the outer leaves of a whole container of them. I cut each one in half, place them on a half-sheet pan and drizzled them with olive oil, then added salt and fresh ground pepper.

I put them in a preheated 400 degrees F. oven and set the time for 40 minutes.

Then I addressed the radishes. You can check out my recipes section for the details, but I made them into a salad with a cucumber and some red onions.

I pulled out the Brussels sprouts when the timer went off, sprinkled them with a little more kosher salt and then went out to check on the turkey breast. It's at 169 degrees, so I added a bit more charcoal and let it go. It looks beautiful, BTW!

At 5:30 PM, the thermometer alarm went off, so I pulled the turkey breast and put it on a platter to rest.

I took the Brussels sprouts out of the oven and then cut a few slices of the turkey. I was just about to eat when my daughter Melissa called. We chatted for a little while and then she said her dinner was done and she had to go.

So, back to my own Sunday supper: The turkey was excellent! It was moist and tender with a definite smoky flavor. The radish salad was okay, but a little too sweet for my taste (I had just eyeballed the ingredients and apparently put in too much sugar). Finally, the Brussels sprouts: I hated them! They were cooked perfectly, but had a different flavor that I really didn't like. I was very, very disappointed!

I cleaned up and wandered in to watch my Sunday night shows.