Apple-Rosemary Roasted Turkey

onderful turkey for the holidays. I prefer my turkey cold rather than hot.

• Ready In: 104 hrs
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 13  lbs turkey
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pepper, divided
• 2  Granny Smith apples, quartered
• 1  onion, quartered and divided
• 8  sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2  sprigs fresh sage
• 1 (12 ounce) can  apple juice concentrate, thawed and divided
• 12  ounces apple cider (fill apple juice concentrate can 1 time)
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine, melted
• 2  cups water
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Remove giblets and neck from turkey, reserving neck. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Sprinkle outside of turkey and cavity with salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; stuff cavity with apple, half of onion, and 6 rosemary sprigs. Loosen skin from turkey breast without detaching it; insert remaining 2 rosemary sprigs and sage beneath skin. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
2. Stir together 1 cup apple juice concentrate, 12 oz apple cider and butter. Warm till butter is melted Attach needle to marinade injector, and fill with apple juice concentrate mixture according to directions. Inject marinade into turkey breast several times and into thighs and drumsticks.
3. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 330°, and bake 4.5 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into turkey thigh registers 170°. Cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Remove turkey from pan, reserving 1/2 cup drippings. Cool. Remove onion, apple, and rosemary from cavity, and discard; wrap turkey in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Chill 8 hours.
4. Bring 2 cups water, remaining apple juice concentrate, turkey neck, and remaining half of onion to a boil in a saucepan; boil 15 minutes. Pour through a wire-mesh strainer into a measuring cup, discarding solids.
5. Heat reserved drippings in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually add apple juice mixture, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened. Stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Chill 8 hours. Serve warm with turkey and whole-berry cranberry sauce, if desired.
6. NOTE: Turkey may be basted with apple juice concentrate mixture every 30 minutes if marinade injection isn't available.
7. Apple-Rosemary Turkey Breast: Substitute 1 (6-pound) bone-in turkey breast for whole turkey. Bake at 350º for 1 1/2 hours; cover and bake 1 more hour or until meat thermometer registers 175º. Yield: 8 servings.