Ingredients
1 whole 12-15 lb. fresh turkey salt and pepper to taste 1 onion 3-4 T. unsalted butter, melted 2 C. chicken stock 1/4 C. maple syrup cranberry-bourbon relish (recipe follows)
Method
Preheat oven 350°F. Rinse turkey inside and out thoroughly.
Season cavity and the outside with salt and pepper.
Place onion in cavity, close with skewer and tie legs together. Place turkey breast-side up on rack in a large roasting pan.
Brush half melted butter over turkey.
Pour 1/2 C. stock into pan.
Roast turkey for 15 minutes per pound or until meat thermometer registers 180°F. in the leg and 170°F. in
the breast (about 3 hours). Baste turkey with pan juices and add 1/2 C. stock to pan every 45 minutes. Combine remaining butter with syrup and brush over turkey the last half hour of cooking.
Cranberry Bourbon Relish
2 C. bourbon 1/2 C. minced shallot zest of 1 large orange 2 (12 oz.) bags fresh cranberries 2 C. sugar 1 t. fresh grated ginger 2 t. ground black pepper
Combine in a non-reactive saucepan (not aluminum) the bourbon, shallots, ginger and orange zest. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until it reduces to a syrupy glaze (about 10 minutes). Add cranberries and sugar, raise heat and bring to a boil stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until cranberries start to burst. Remove from heat and add pepper. Cool and refrigerate until needed.
Serves 8 -10
