The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

One of my passions is cooking. Last year I posted a video on how to smoke a turkey on a gas grill. My friends and family loved it so much that they’re begging me to do it again this year. (I just might!)

I thought it would be the perfect time to repost that video to show you how easy it really is to make. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Sincere wishes to you and yours this holiday season!

 

Grilled Stuffed Flank Steak

Cooks Illustrated is one of my favorite cooking magazines. It does not have a lot of recipes in each issue but what is included is well tested and generally very good. This month’s issue has a grilled stuffed flank steak that just looked fun so I had to try it.

Here is the recipe.

Depending on the steak’s size, you may have between 8 and 12 pinwheels of stuffed meat at the end of step 2. Freezing the steak for 30 minutes will make butterflying easier. You will need both wooden skewers and twine for this recipe.

Ingredients

2 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)

1 small shallot , minced (about 2 tablespoons)

2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves , finely minced

1 teaspoon sage leaves , finely minced

2 tablespoons olive oil , plus extra for oiling grate

1 flank steak (2- to 2 1/2-pounds) (see note)

4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

4 ounces thinly sliced provolone

8–12 skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Instructions
  1. Combine garlic, shallot, parsley, sage, and olive oil in small bowl. Following illustrations below, butterfly and pound flank steak into rough rectangle. With steak positioned so that grain runs parallel to edge of counter and opened side faces up, spread herb mixture evenly over surface of steak. Lay prosciutto evenly over steak, leaving 2-inch border along top edge. Cover prosciutto with even layer of cheese, leaving 2-inch border along top edge. Starting from bottom edge and rolling away from you, roll beef into tight log and place on cutting board seam-side down.
  2. Starting ½ inch from end of rolled steak, evenly space 8 to twelve 14-inch pieces of butcher’s twine at 1-inch intervals underneath steak. Tie middle string first; then working from outermost strings toward center, tightly tie roll and turn tied steak 90 degrees so seam is facing you. Skewer beef directly through outermost flap of steak near seam through each piece of string, allowing skewer to extend ½ inch on opposite side. Using chef’s knife, slice roll between pieces of twine into 1-inch-thick pinwheels. Season pinwheels lightly with kosher salt and black pepper.
  3. Turn all burners to high and heat with lid down until very hot, about 15 minutes. Scrape grate clean with grill brush. Dip wad of paper towels in oil; holding wad with tongs, wipe cooking grate. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s).
  4. Grill pinwheels directly over hot side of grill until well browned, 3 to 6 minutes. Using tongs, flip pinwheels; grill until second side is well browned, 3 to 5 minutes longer. Transfer pinwheels to cooler side of grill, cover, and continue to cook until center of pinwheels registers 125 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 1 to 4 minutes (slightly thinner pinwheels may not need time on cooler side of grill). Transfer pinwheels to large plate, tent loosely with foil, and let rest 5 minutes. Remove and discard skewers and twine and serve immediately.

Ginger-Soy Grilled Steak

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons oriental sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 1 1/2-pound top sirloin steak (about 1 inch thick)

Preparation
Blend first 5 ingredients in processor until almost smooth; pour into 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Mix green onions into marinade. Add steak and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day, turning steak occasionally.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Pour marinade into small saucepan and bring to boil; then pour into small bowl. Grill or broil steak to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steak to cutting board. Cut steak crosswise on diagonal into thin slices. Serve steak with marinade as sauce.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Grilled Tomato & Cheese Pizzas for Gas Grill

Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup water (8 ounces), room temperature
  • 2 cups bread flour (11 ounces), plus more for work surface
  • 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast

Topping

  • 1 1/2 pounds medium plum tomatoes (5 to 6), cored, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch dices
  • 3/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 6 ounces fontina cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese , finely grated (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
  • Spicy Garlic Oil
  • Coarse salt

Preparation
The pizzas cook very quickly on the grill, so before you begin grilling them, be sure to have all the equipment and ingredients you need at hand. Equipment includes a pizza peel (or a rimless baking sheet), a pair of tongs, a paring knife, a large cutting board, and a pastry brush; ingredients include all the toppings and a small bowl of flour for dusting. Timing and coordination are crucial; if you are unsure of your skill level, try cooking the first two pizzas one at a time, then work up to cooking the final two in tandem. The pizzas are best served hot off the grill but can be kept warm for 20 to 30 minutes on a wire rack in a 200 degree oven.

Makes four 9-inch pizzas

1. FOR THE CRUST: Combine oil and water in liquid measuring cup. In food processor fitted with plastic dough blade or metal blade, process bread flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and yeast until combined, about 5 seconds. With machine running, slowly add liquid through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms tacky, elastic ball that clears sides of workbowl, about 1 1/2 minutes. If dough ball does not form, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until dough ball forms. Spray medium bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray or rub lightly with oil. Transfer dough to bowl and press down to flatten surface; cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

2. When dough has doubled, press down gently to deflate; turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces. With cupped palm, form each piece into smooth, tight ball. Set dough balls on well-floured work surface. Press dough rounds with hand to flatten; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. FOR THE TOPPING: Meanwhile, toss tomatoes and table salt in medium bowl; transfer to colander and drain 30 minutes (wipe out and reserve bowl). Shake colander to drain off excess liquid; transfer tomatoes to now-empty bowl and set aside. Combine cheeses in second medium bowl and set aside.

4. Gently stretch dough rounds into disks about 1/2 inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Working one piece at a time and keeping the rest covered, roll out each disk to 1/8-inch thickness, 9 to 10 inches in diameter, on well-floured sheet of parchment paper, dusting with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. (If dough shrinks when rolled out, cover with plastic wrap and let rest until relaxed, 10 to 15 minutes.) Dust surface of rolled dough with flour and set aside. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking sheets of rolled dough on top of each other (with parchment in between) and covering stack with plastic wrap; set aside until grill is ready.

5. TO GRILL: Light all burners and turn to high heat, cover grill, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes; scrape cooking grate clean with grill brush.

6. Lightly flour pizza peel; invert 1 dough round onto peel, gently stretching it as needed to retain shape (do not stretch dough too thin; thin spots will burn quickly). Peel off and discard parchment; carefully slide round onto hot side of grill. Immediately repeat with another dough round. Cook (with grill lid down) until tops are covered with bubbles (pierce larger bubbles with paring knife) and bottoms are grill marked and charred in spots, 2 to 3 minutes; while rounds cook, check undersides and slide to cool area of grill if browning too quickly. Transfer crusts to cutting board browned sides up. Repeat with 2 remaining dough rounds.

7. Brush 2 crusts generously with Spicy Garlic Oil; top each evenly with one-quarter of cheese mixture and one-quarter of tomatoes. Return pizzas to grill and cover grill with lid; cook until bottoms are well browned and cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes, checking bottoms frequently to prevent burning. Transfer pizzas to cutting board; repeat with remaining 2 crusts. Sprinkle pizzas with basil and coarse salt to taste; cut into wedges and serve immediately.

STEP BY STEP: Grilled Pizza 101

  1. Shape dough into 4 smooth, tight balls.
  2. With pin, roll each dough ball on parchment paper to form 9-inch round.
  3. Stack dough rounds, separated by parchment.
  4. Arrange lit coals in even layer over three-quarters of grill.
  5. Invert dough round onto floured peel, remove parchment, and slide onto grill. Cook 2 dough rounds at once.
  6. Using tongs, lift up dough round and peek to make sure it’s not scorching. If it’s cooking too fast, slide pizza to cool part of grill.
  7. Transfer dough round to cutting board, browned side up. Brush dough round with garlic oil and top with cheese mixture and tomatoes.
  8. Return pizza to grill and cover grill to help cheese melt.

Grilled Lobster with Ginger, Garlic, and Soy Sauce

Ingredients

For food safety, it is very important to grill the lobsters immediately after they have been boiled and split.

  • 1 1/2 cups olive oil
  • 9 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 6 2-pound live lobsters
  • 6 tablespoons chopped green onions

Preparation
Cook first 4 ingredients in medium saucepan over low heat until garlic and ginger begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Set aside. (Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Rewarm before using.)

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Drop 1 lobster headfirst into large pot of boiling water. Cover; cook 3 minutes (lobster will not be fully cooked). Using tongs, transfer lobster to baking sheet. Return water to boil. Repeat with remaining lobsters.

Transfer 1 lobster, shell side down, to work surface. Place tip of large knife in center of lobster. Cut lobster lengthwise in half from center to end of head (knife might not cut through shell), then cut in half from center to end of tail. Use poultry shears to cut through shell if necessary. Repeat with remaining lobsters.

Place lobster halves, meat side up, on barbecue. Brush meat with some basting sauce; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover barbecue; grill lobsters until just opaque in thickest portion of tail, about 9 minutes. Remove from barbecue; arrange lobsters on platter. Brush with more sauce and sprinkle with green onions. Serve, passing remaining sauce separately.

Makes 6 servings.