Ingredients
1/2 cup apple cider or juice1/2 cup apple jelly1/3 cup butter, cubedTURKEY:1/3 cup minced fresh sage1/4 cup butter, softened1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)2 tablespoons apple cider or juice1-1/2 teaspoons salt1-1/2 teaspoons pepper2 large apples, cut into wedges1 large onion, cut into wedges8 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, combine apple cider, jelly and butter. Cook and stir until butter is melted. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine minced sage and butter. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from the turkey breast; rub butter mixture under the skin. Brush turkey with apple cider. Sprinkle salt and pepper over turkey and inside cavity.
Place apples, onion and sage leaves inside the cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
Bake, uncovered, 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, basting occasionally with cider mixture. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand 20 minutes before slicing.
