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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

BEST ROAST TURKEY RECIPE

BEST ROAST TURKEY RECIPE
It’s Thanksgiving week on the blog!! {Scroll to the bottom of the post for all Thanksgiving recipes and posts}
Last week my six year old had his tonsils out and because my husband would be traveling for work my mom was gracious enough to come down from Virginia to help me out during the week. She was a HUGE help with both my youngest during his recovery but also with my older two boys. It was her first time visiting since we moved in our new house and we had a great visit. One of the evenings she was here we went through old family recipes and decided to make a Thanksgiving meal together even if it was a month early so I could share the recipes with you here today. Today we, of course, start with the star of the show-the turkey! I love this Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe because it’s way too easy and almost fail-proof!
Roasting a Thanksgiving Turkey is easier than you think-a few simple steps will have your main dish perfectly cooked and ready for guests!

INGREDIENTS
  • turkey (recipe is based on 10-12 pounds, adjust cook time for smaller or larger bird)
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • 2 apples, halved
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and quartered
  • 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Remove defrosted turkey from refrigerator and allow to warm to room temperature 30-45 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a roasting pan with a rack and spray with nonstick spray.
  3. Remove neck and giblets from turkey cavity. Rinse with water and pat dry with paper towels. Move turkey to the rack.
  4. In a small bowl combine salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Use hands to rub mixture inside the cavity to coat. Add fresh herbs, onion, apple, and lemon to the cavity. Brush outside of turkey with olive oil or melted butter. Flip turkey over so that the breast side is down and brush remaining areas with butter or olive oil.
  5. Place turkey in the oven uncovered and cook for one hour. Lower heat to 350 degrees and cook another hour. Remove turkey from oven and carefully turn over so breast side is facing up. Return to oven and cook an additional 30 minutes or until a thermometer stuck in the thickest part of the thigh and/or breast reads 165 degrees. If your turkey is getting too brown on top loosely tent with aluminum foil.
  6. After removing from oven tent with aluminum foil and allow to rest 45 minutes before serving.
NOTES
Keep an eye on your turkey after the first hour of cook time. All ovens cook differently and cook times will vary. Estimate 15 minutes per pound for this recipe (stuffed turkeys will take longer.)


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