Foolproof Brined Turkey

• Brine:
• 1 gallon plus 2 cups water, divided
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 6 sage leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• Turkey:
• 1 (12-pound) organic fresh turkey
• 10 flat-leaf parsley sprigs
• 2 sage leaves
• 2 celery stalks, quartered and divided
• 2 large carrots, quartered and divided
• 1 large white onion, quartered and divided
• 1 large Fuji apple, quartered and divided
• 1 lemon, quartered and divided
• Cooking spray
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups unsalted chicken stock, divided
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1. To prepare brine, combine 2 cups water, 1/2 cup sugar, and next 4 ingredients (through bay leaves) in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until salt dissolves. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Add sugar mixture and remaining 1 gallon water to a brining bag.
2. Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve neck. Trim excess fat; add turkey to brining bag. Seal bag; refrigerate 18 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Preheat oven to 500u0b0.
4. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Pat turkey dry. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. Place parsley, 2 sage leaves, 3 celery pieces, 3 carrot pieces, 1 onion quarter, 2 apple quarters, and 2 lemon wedges in body cavity. Secure legs with twine. Place turkey on the rack of a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Place turkey neck and remaining celery, carrot, onion, apple, and lemon in bottom of roasting pan; place rack with turkey in pan.
5. Bake at 500u0b0 for 45 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350u0b0 (do not remove turkey from oven). Place a foil tent over turkey breast. Pour 2 cups water in bottom of pan. Bake turkey at 350u0b0 for 45 minutes. Combine 1 1/2 cups stock and butter. Rotate turkey, and baste with 1/2 cup stock mixture. Bake 30 minutes; rotate turkey and baste with 1/2 cup stock mixture. Bake an additional 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 160u0b0. Remove from oven; place turkey on a cutting board. Baste with remaining 1/2 cup stock mixture. Let stand, covered, for at least 30 minutes; discard neck and skin.
6. Combine remaining 1/2 cup stock and flour, stirring with a whisk. Pour pan drippings through a sieve over a bowl; discard solids. Add flour mixture to drippings, stirring with a whisk. Place mixture in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes or until mixture thickens. Stir in ground pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Serve gravy with turkey.

gallon, sugar, kosher salt, black peppercorns, sage, bay leaves, turkey, turkey, parsley, sage, celery stalks, carrots, white onion, apple, lemon, cooking spray, water, chicken, unsalted butter, allpurpose, freshly ground black pepper, kosher salt

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/foolproof-brined-turkey (may not work)