1/2 cup apple cider or juice
1/2 cup apple jelly
1/3 cup butter, cubed
TURKEY:
1/3 cup minced fresh sage
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
2 tablespoons apple cider or juice
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons pepper
2 large apples, cut into wedges
1 large onion, cut into wedges
8 fresh sage leaves
1. Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, combine apple cider, jelly and butter. Cook and stir until butter is melted. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine minced sage and butter. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from the turkey breast; rub butter mixture under the skin. Brush turkey with apple cider. Sprinkle salt and pepper over turkey and inside cavity.
3. Place apples, onion and sage leaves inside the cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
4. Bake, uncovered, 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, basting occasionally with cider mixture. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand 20 minutes before slicing.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 3.5 hours + standing
YIELD: 14 servings.
A hint of apple flavor gives a slightly sweet spin to a holiday dinner’s main event. The lovely aroma wafting from your kitchen as this turkey cooks will have everybody talking.
Freeze option: Place sliced turkey in freezer containers; top with any cooking juices. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, gently stirring and adding a little broth or water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts
9 ounces cooked turkey: 506 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 191mg cholesterol, 466mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 66g protein.