Apple And Honey Flavored Roasted Turkey

Total Time: 27 hrs Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 (20 lb) whole turkey
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened or 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth or 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups apple juice or 2 cups apple cider
• 2 red apples (sliced)
• 4 lemons
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• salt and black pepper

Recipe

• 1 place the turkey as wrapped in the refrigerator for a day or two to defreeze.
• 2 unwrapped the turkey and place outside in a big pot; cover it with cold water, change the water every 30 minutes (it will take at least six hours to thaw);.
• 3 stick your hand in the cavity and remove any organs, or "things" you may find inside of the turkey cavity and trim excess fat.
• 4 under cold water, rub the turkey gently with your fingers to make sure it is clean.
• 5 when the turkey is clean, soak it with two squeezed lemon juice for 30 minutes and rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels.
• 6 place the turkey, breast side up on roasting pan with rack.
• 7 into main cavity, sprinkle squeezed fresh lemon juice; add lemon peels and 1 bunch fresh thyme cavity. fill the turkey body (main) cavity with apple slices.
• 8 tuck wings; tie legs together.
• 9 mix the paprika, garlic, black pepper and salt.
• 10 rub the skin and the cavity with the softened butter or oil, and season well with the mixed spices.
• 11 combine the apple juice, honey and the chicken or vegetable stock; stir until honey dissolves.
• 12 pour 3 cups of the mixed stock into the bottom of the roasting pan.
• 13 cover the turkey with an aluminum foil making it like a tent.
• 14 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 15 place turkey in oven and start roasting; remove aluminum foil after 2 ½ hours.
• 16 cover the turkey generously with the juices on the bottom of the pan; repeat glazing every 20 minutes. whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 cup at a time.
• 17 roast until turkey is deep brown and thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°f, it will take 2 ½ to 3 hours.
• 18 transfer the turkey to a large cutting board; remove the stuffing (the apple slices, lemon peels and thyme) and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. serve it warm.