- Whole turkey (not brined)
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme, etc.)
- 1/2 of an onion
- 1 red apple
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 gallon vegetable broth (not low- or no-sodium)
- 1 c kosher salt
- 1/2 c brown sugar
- 1 T whole black peppercorns
- 1/2 T whole allspice berries
- 1/2 T crystallized/candied ginger
Combine all brine ingredients in large pot, bring to boil. Stir to dissolve contents, then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate, covered, until completely chilled.
Early in the morning of the day of serving, pour the brine into a large, clean bucket. Add a gallon of heavily iced water.
Remove giblets and neck, if present. Compost that shit. Gross. Place bird breast end first into bucket and soak for 6-8 hours. Flip bird over once, half way through soaking.
Heat oven to 500°.
Remove bird from brine, rinse thoroughly, inside and outside. Soak in a sink or bucket of clean water for 15 minutes, then pat dry. This is to help reduce the amount of salt near the outside of the turkey, to cut down on the saltiness of the gravy made from the drippings.
Microwave onion and apple in some water on high for five minutes. Add cinnamon stick, allow it to steep for a few minutes.
Place bird on a rack in a roasting pan; tuck the wings under themselves.
Place apple, onion, cinnamon stick (not the water) and herbs in the cavity. Coat the bird with canola oil to promote browning.
Insert probe thermometer in deepest part of white meat, going in from the side, making sure not to touch the keel bone or ribs.
Fold aluminum foil into triangle large enough to cover breast, coat with canola oil, then press onto turkey so that it conforms to its shape, then remove it and set aside.
Place bird in oven legs first, if possible, to keep the white meat away from the heat.
Roast 30 minutes, cover breast with foil, reduce heat to 350. Roast until probe thermometer reaches 161° (approx. 90 min for 14-lb bird). Allow bird to rest, covered, for 20-30 min.
Don’t forget the Turkey Gravy, Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Apple-Cranberry Pie, and Pumpkin Pie!