GARRITY AND MOMMY'S BEST TURKEY RECIPE EVER --Thanksgiving Eve 2013 (Not sure why I never posted this?)

*** Not sure why I never posted this! I've used the recipe every single year since!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

Our favorite...making the star of the Thanksgiving Show: THE TURKEY x 2 this year!!!!

Grandma provided the turkeys! You and I cooked the turkeys! Below is a photo of the brining mixture!

Your favorite shown right now is The Pioneer Woman (The Cooker Show). So we decided to make our version of that brining recipe!

• My variation of The Pioneer Woman's turkey brine:
• In a brining bag I combined the following:
• 3 cups apple cider ( 1/2 gallon from the produce section at Wall-Mart)
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup kosher salt ( I used iodized table salt)
• 3 tablespoons tricolor peppercorns ( I ground mine)
• 5 whole bay leaves (fresh)
•  I used 5 x 1/2 t from a jar of minced garlic...1/2 t equals a clove if you wish to mince fresh garlic.
•  I used five little cuties...I peeled them over the bowl and pitched the peels in the brining mixture, and then quartered the little cuties and tossed them in as well.
• 4 fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves stripped off
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I couldn't locate brining bags at Wal-Mart, so I used Ziplock XXL bags (triple bagged to protect my fridge)

I put the ingredients into a large pan and brought to a boil. I removed the mixture from the heat and added two gallons of ice water.

I rinsed the turkey and removed the neck and little bag of goodies. Next, I put the turkey and brining mix in the bag, and placed the bag in the fridge overnight...or 9-10 hours.

You're asleep in our bed. I laid down to cuddle with you and baby Bingo has the hiccups!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING MORNING!

The turkey soaked all night, and when I woke up I remove she turkeys and disposed of the brining mixture.

I used a googled various methods of preparation methods and combined several..The Pioneer Woman's, A couple variations of "The Worlds Best Turkey Recipe" as well as a traditional turkey recipe...this is what I came up with.

I rinsed the turkey and placed it in a large roaster. 

I combined: 

• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 4 sprigs of chopped fresh rosemary
• The zest of one little cutie

I combined the mixture with a fork and smooshed  the concoction under the skin of the turkey.

2 large Granny Smith Apples

1 large onion 

I quartered two Granny Smith Apples and   1 half of a large onion; and stuffed them into the cavity of the bird.

Finally I placed the bird in the large roaster and poured an entire bottle of champagne inside and on top of the bird.

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I put the bird in a Reynolds turkey baking bag...and then took it out for fear of cooking something in plastic :/ 

***Bird was not cooked in a bag! I used tin foil only!

In my convection oven:

I preheated the oven (on speed bake)  to 300. I cooked the bird at 300 for 2 hours and 37 minutes.

I then took the bird out and tested the temp with a poultry thermometer...it registered about 150 at that point. So, I put another layer of tin foil over the existing layer and popped it back in the oven for another 1.5 hours at 400.

This is the end result:

The reviews were incredible! EVERYONE raved!!! Even people who are non- turkey people, LOVED this turkey!!!