Trash talk, Turkey

I think I have survived the feast of Becoming an Outdoors Woman encampment. I'm still not hungry. I hope I feel like eating by Thursday.

Twenty women, a dozen dutch ovens, a trash can, and two cooking fires later, we had a meal fit for a Queen.

Speaking of Queens, our fearless leader, Vicky, was the Director of Turkey Cooking. Hey, wait a minute, I think I recognize the stance of this group! Are you guys state workers?!?! All you need are orange vests!!!

Here's the steps to cooking your Thanksgiving turkey under a trash can.

1. Clear a spot of leaves and other combustible material (unless you're also in charge of dinner entertainment).

2. Drive a clean stake through the center of a tube cake pan, and surround the pan with aluminum foil. Beat down that bird, girlfriend! The stake has to be low enough that the trash can will go over it.

3. Put the turkey, butt end first, over the stake.

4. Rub spices onto the turkey. Do not become too fond of massaging the turkey, please. Rebecca, let go of the bird!!

5. Fill the cavities in the bird and and under its skin with cut up onions, peppers, celery, whatever ya got. Rebecca, you're touching the bird again. Step away from the bird.

6. Upend a clean trash can over the now-relaxed fowl.

7. Scoop hot charcoal briquets around the base and on top of the trash can. Keep adding fresh charcoal throughout the process. Don't lift the trash can until time is up.

While the bird meditated in its spa setting, the ladies went into high gear with the cast iron.

Dot made beer bread. This is too simple to believe.
Flour and sugar.

A bottle of beer. ALL of the bottle, boys.

Charcoal over and under the cast iron spider, and go visit with the girls.

Susan's whipping up some sweet potato casserole. This stuff is so good, I'd shove old people out of the way to get it.

Look out Susan, the woman with the camera is stealing the secrets of your recipe!! Smack her with the spoon!

On the fire were also ovens with cobbler, dressing, green bean casserole, cornbread pudding, coffee. On the table was cranberry relish, pecan pies, and pumpkin bread. Men, we don't need no stinkin' men!

Oh!  Dot's bread is done! Yummy and easy, my kind of cooking!

8. Back to the bird saga. Three hours (for a 25 pound bird) after you put your turkey in its trash can sauna, scoop away the charcoal.

8. ooohhh.. are you ready?  Drumroll, please.

9. Ta-da!   Don't worry, it's supposed to look like that.

10. Ha, ha. The cook staff look a little skeptical, but Vicky kept assuring us that brown is cooking, black is done.

And oh, it's done perfectly. It opened up, gushing juices and releasing a delicious smelling cloud that brought all the gals rushing round.

More than enough to go around, the turkey was amazingly moist. I may never use my stove again.

Fun, food, feasting, and fellowship. We were thankful for every bite and every minute.

Tomorrow I'll tell you all about the after-dinner activities. Hint- not a one includes napping on trhe couch or football.

Happy Trails, and may you never talk trash about your adventures!