Prairie Rub Food

GRILLED TURKEY WITH PRAIRIE RUB

Steps:

• Pat the turkey very dry, inside and out. Sprinkle the breast cavity with salt and pepper. Put the bay leaves, garlic and onion inside the cavity. Mix the brown sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic, mustard, paprika, ginger, orange peel, pumpkin pie spice, cayenne, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Pulse the rub in a spice grinder in a few batches until finely ground. Spread the Prairie Rub over the entire turkey.
• Prepare an outdoor charcoal grill over a medium-high heat for both direct and indirect grilling. Position a drip pan under the grate on indirect side of the grill.
• Put the turkey breast-side up over the drip pan. Toss 1 cup of the wood chips onto the coals. Cover the grill and rotate the lid so that the vent holes are directly over the meat. To maintain a medium-low smoky fire, add about a dozen pieces of charcoal and another cup of wood chips to the fire whenever the fire dies down. Rotate turkey about every 45 minutes to prevent the side near the coals from overcooking. Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves, garlic and onion before carving.

PRAIRIE-RUBBED SPICED BRINED ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Brine: A day before serving, heat 3 quarts of water, salt and sugar in a stockpot, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from heat, add remaining water and stir. Cool to room temperature. Lower turkey into brine. Cover and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
• Rub: Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Pulse mixture in a spice grinder in a few batches until finely ground. Seal in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Drain and pat turkey very dry inside and out. Place onion, garlic and bay leaves inside the cavity. Set bird breast-side up on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Brush with butter and spread 1/2 cup Prairie Rub over entire bird. Tent bird with aluminum foil.
• Roast turkey for 2 hours. Remove foil. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer registers 170 degrees F in the thigh of the bird, about 30 minutes more. Remove turkey from the oven and set aside to rest 20 minutes. Before carving, remove and discard onion, garlic, herbs and bay leaves.