Hey Everyone,

I am planning to do the minion method tomorrow evening to smoke two 7 lb+ pork shoulders. Once they are done (Thursday mid-morning), I am planning on re-firing the WSM up to 350 and loading in a 13 lb turkey and a couple of quail. I am planning on wrapping the butts in foil and putting them in my Coleman cooler with a couple of towels. I figure I can add in a heating blanket to keep them above 140 F if I need to as the turkey is cooking. The plan is to pull the butts and carve the birds all around the same time. I am figuring about 3 hours for the turkey.

My questions are as follows:

1. Have you guys had success with the minion method/do you recommend doing it? I have to do the butts over night in order to have the turkey out on time also.

2. I am using the apple brine recipe on the website (turkey is currently in brine). I am planning on going 36 hours, as I have read that 24 isn't quite long enough. Has anyone had any success with 36 hrs.

3. Do you see any great mishaps in the Plan

Sounds like a good plan. Minion is great. One thing I've learned to do is after you initially fill the charcoal ring, pack it all in, then top it off. Much slower/longer burn that way.

If you don't want to use an electric blanket in the cooler, put a few bricks in the oven. When heated, wrap them in towels and put them in the cooler w/ your butts.

Matt,

I have an 18 lb turkey in the apple brine as we "text". I will only brine for 24 hours; I have had good results from the apple brine and 24 hours.

And, yes, I have done boston butts, cleaned the smoker out and then smoked a turkey. Just be sure that you have enough time between finishing the butts and eating turkey time.

Merry Christmas!