Holiday Turkey
- 2 onions, cut into 8ths (4 pieces, then half crosswise)
- 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 4ths (halved lengthwise and crosswise)
- 3 celery ribs, cut into 4ths (same as above)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 whole turkey breast, figure on 1 . 25 lb. per person to be sure you have leftovers (buy several similar size breasts if necessary and increase all ingredients accordingly)
- 14 cup butter, room temperature (NOT margarine)
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 12 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt (Lawry's is named due to a quirk of Food.com, I use store brand)
- Heat oven to 400F You will reduce it later.
- Dump the vegetables into the bottom of a roaster.
- Add the chicken broth.
- You want about 1/2 of broth covering the bottom of the roaster so the vegetables dont burn.
- Rinse the turkey breast under cool water and dry with paper towels.
- Cut off any large wads of fat and discard.
- Set aside the gravy packet for later.
- Stir the butter, poultry seasoning and seasoned salt together.
- Gently insert your fingers under the skin to loosen the skin over the breast, leaving it attached at breastbone and sides.
- Smear the butter under the skin.
- Pat the top of the skin to distribute the butter evenly over the meat.
- Spray the skin generously with non-stick cooking spray or rub with some vegetable oil.
- Butter or margarine arent used as they contain water which will make the skin rubbery and the browning blotchy.
- Place the turkey breast on top of the vegetables.
- They act as a rack but wont leave dents in the bird.
- If you have a meat thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the breast and make sure it isnt touching bone.
- IMPORTANT: REDUCE THE OVEN TEMPERATURE TO 325F when you put the turkey into the oven.
- Roast according to the chart on the turkey wrapping.
- It should take between 2 and 2 1/2 hours.
- Multiple breasts will take about the same amount of time, because you go by individual weight, not cumulative weight.
- You can put more than one breast in a roaster, but if they are touching each other they won't brown where they touch.
- RESIST the temptation to baste.
- Every time you open the oven, heat escapes, resulting in uneven cooking and pale, spongy skin.
- Feel free to open the oven to put in side dishes, but have them ready to slide in before you open the oven.
- Occasionally, turn on the oven light and check for browning.
- If the skin is getting too brown, remove the turkey, close the oven, tent the turkey with foil and slide it back into the oven.
- Also check the liquid in the bottom of the roaster.
- Add broth or water as needed.
- 30 minutes before minimum time, check the temperature.
- Take the turkey out when it reads 155F There will be some carry over cooking and the temperature will go up to 165F within 15-20 minutes.
- Never rely on a pop-up timer in the bird, they are notoriously unreliable.
- Remove turkey from the roaster and place on a cutting board.
- Save the vegetables to make broth with the carcass tomorrow.
- They are overcooked and not good for eating as is.
- Tent the turkey with aluminum foil and set aside to rest at least 15 minutes; it will stay piping hot for a long time.
- Allowing meat to rest allows the juices to be reabsorbed, so the meat will be juicy.
- Pour the pan juices through a strainer into a large measuring cup.
- Add chicken broth to measure the amount of liquid called for on the gravy packet and follow directions on packet.
- When you are ready to serve the meat, cut down the side of the breast bone, following the ribs, cut off the entire breast half.
- Do the same on the other side.
- Slice the meat crosswise into serving slices.
- Cutting the meat this way gives it a more tender mouth feel.
- It wont be chewy or stringy.
onions, carrots, celery, chicken broth, turkey breast, butter, poultry seasoning, salt
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/holiday-turkey-468700 (may not work)