Ultimate Roasted Turkey On The Light Side

== Description ==
Source: Christmas With Southern Living 2003 - Southern Living
Garlic, onion, and apple fill the turkey cavity with aromatic appeal, while a sage and poultry seasoning mix rubbed under the skin gives this roasted bird added pizzazz. You'd never guess this was a light recipe.
== Ingredients ==
* 3/4 cup apple cider
* 5 tablespoons dark corn syrup, divided
* 1 (12-pound) fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
* 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
* 1 tablespoon rubbed sage
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 4 garlic cloves, sliced
* 4 onions, quartered
* 4 Golden Delicious apples, cored and quartered
* 1 teaspoon butter
* 1 (14-ounce) can low-sodium fat-free chicken broth
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* Garnish: fresh sage
== Directions ==
# Combine cider and 4 tablespoons corn syrup in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.
# Remove from heat, set aside.
# Remove giblets and neck; reserve for making homemade broth.
# Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry.
# Trim excess fat.
# Place turkey, breast side up, in a broiler pan coated with cooking spray.
# Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck over turkey.
# Combine poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and pepper.
# Using fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey at neck area, working down to breast and thigh area.
# Rub seasoning mixture under skin.
# Place half of garlic, 4 onion quarters, and 4 apple quarters into body cavity.
# Tie legs together with heavy string, or tuck them under flap of skin.
# Arrange remaining garlic, onion, and apple around turkey in pan.
# Roast at 375° for 45 minutes.
# Baste turkey with reserved syrup; cover with aluminum foil.
# Bake 1 1/2 more hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh reaches 180°, basting turkey and vegetables with cider syrup 4 times at regular intervals.
# While turkey bakes, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
# Add reserved giblets and neck; sauté 2 minutes on each side or until browned.
# Add broth, and bring to a boil.
# Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes.
# Pour broth through a wire mesh strainer into a bowl, discarding solids.
# Reserve broth.
# When turkey is done, carefully transfer it to a carving board, reserving drippings in pan for gravy.
# Transfer apple and onion quarters to a serving platter.
# Cover turkey with aluminum foil, and let rest 15 minutes before carving.
# Discard skin, if desired.
# Carve turkey, arranging slices on serving platter with onion and apple; keep warm.
# Place a zip-top plastic bag inside a 2-cup glass measuring cup.
# Pour pan drippings through a wire mesh strainer into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to top).
# Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag.
# Drain drippings back into broiler pan, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat.
# Combine 1/4 cup reserved broth and cornstarch, stirring well; add to remaining broth.
# Combine broth mixture, remaining 1 tablespoon corn syrup, and drippings in broiler pan or large saucepan on stovetop over medium heat, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of pan.
# Bring to a boil; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute or until slightly thickened.
# Serve gravy with turkey. (Gravy will be dark and thin.)
# Garnish, if desired.
Yield: 12 servings
Category:Main Dish Poultry Recipes
Category:Poultry Recipes
Category:Christmas Main Dishes
Category:Cider Recipes
Category:Dark corn syrup Recipes
Category:Corn syrup Recipes
Category:Turkey meat Recipes
Category:Poultry seasoning Recipes
Category:Sage Recipes
Category:Salt Recipes
Category:Pepper Recipes
Category:Garlic Recipes
Category:Garlic cloves Recipes
Category:Onion Recipes
Category:Apple Recipes
Category:Golden Delicious apple Recipes
Category:Butter Recipes
Category:Chicken stock and broth Recipes
Category:Cornstarch Recipes
Category:Main Dish Recipes
Category:Stock and broth Recipes
Category:American Main Dishes
Category:American Recipes
Category:American Meat Dishes
Category:Southern Main Dishes
Category:Southern Recipes
Category:Southern Meat Dishes
Category:Cooking spray Recipes