Jeff, have you ever smoked a whole turkey? I've smoked a turkey roast and it turned out pretty well. My MIL has an iron-grip over the T-Day menu, which is fine by me, but I do think I'll smoke a few Turkey breasts and undermine her whole operation.

This is a menu I could get behind.

Great trivia game idea, if you're buying one:
Wits and Wagers

Essentially, everyone turns in an answer and you make bets on whose you think is correct. It's a good equalizer because it's just as easy (or easier) to win by winning the bets than by answering the questions correctly.

Even the cab?

My mom smokes the whole turkey. If you do it right, it's superb.

Lots of times. It's kind of tough to soak in brine due to the size, so I normally just rub on the Morton Tenderquick salt liberally and let it sit in the fridge for a day or two. I then smoke the turkey for 1-2 hrs and then do the remaining cooking in a big roasting pan in the oven. I suppose you could do all of the cooking in your smoker, but I always worry that it will dry out and after an hour or two you won't get any additional smoke penetration.

I get no fight from my MIL. My late FIL used to smoke turkeys every year as long as anyone can remember. I am not sure anyone in my wife's family would even eat a non-smoked turkey.

Unfortunately, that would not fly in our household. You can only win by knowing answers. So games like the one where everyone makes up a phony word definition and you have to guess the correct one.....those are not a big hit.

I like landpoke's puzzle idea. Folksy, but still fun. Might not fly with lots of little dudes running around the house, though.

My MIL makes it every year. I hate it.

Amen. The worst are the Funyun things that they put on the top. Green Bean Casserole truly is one of the most disgusting dishes in Western Cuisine. It's what you would give to a foreigner to freak them out.

No Barbara. I don't drink, but I thought it was unnecessary to make that point when complimenting SU on his menu. Thank you for giving me the chance to clarify.

That reminds me when my in-laws had a Japanese family over for their first Thanksgiving dinner. They tolerated the turkey, and seemed confused by the gravy and especially the stuffing. Their kids wolfed down the steamed broccoli though.