Basic Turkey Recipe

Posted By Tessie2.

Ingredients.

18 pounds Turkey
8 cups stuffing bread cubes
1 cup Chicken or turkey stock


Honey Glaze.

2 cups Orange juice
1/2 cup Honey
2 Oranges -- zest only


Basic Gravy.

3 cups Chicken or turkey stock
1/4 cup Flour
1 cup Ice water
1/2 cup Whole milk
salt and pepper -- to taste



Directions:

Prepare turkey as directed on package. Preheat the oven to 375F degrees. Just before roasting, loosely stuff the openings of the turkey with your favorite stuffing. Close the openings with small skewers. Fasten the legs by tying the ends of the drumsticks together with butcher's twine. Turn the wings back and tuck them under the turkey body. Place the turkey on a roasting rack with the breast side up in a large roasting pan.

Cover the turkey with a foil tent and place in oven. After 30 minutes, baste turkey with Honey Orange Glaze. Continue to cook for approximately 3 to 3-1/2 hours, basting with juices every 20 minutes. Remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the breast reaches 170F degrees, and the thigh registers 185 degrees. Remove stuffing immediately and keep warm. Prepare the gravy.

Honey/Orange Glaze: Combine ingredients in saucepan and heat until warm. Stir until all mixed. Set aside.

Gravy: Mix flour and water together. When turkey is done, remove to a platter. Pour excess fat from roast pan, leaving 2 tablespoons. Place pan on stovetop over medium-high heat. Deglaze pan by pouring in 3 cups stock, and gently scrape with the smooth edge of a spatula across pan bottom. Gradually whisk flour and water mixture into stock. Simmer 5 minutes over medium heat. Whisk in milk, and simmer for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.