Calvados Apple Brandy Gravy Food

CALVADOS GRAVY

Steps:

• Strain drippings from roasting pan through a sieve, and press to extract liquids; reserve pan. (Shred neck meat and chop giblets if making giblet version, step 4; otherwise, discard.) Pour drippings into a glass measuring cup or a fat separator. Let stand until separated, about 10 minutes. Pour off fat.
• Place pan on stove across 2 burners. Add Calvados. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, scraping up brown bits and stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 2 minutes. Add reserved drippings and 4 cups stock; bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, whisk together remaining 1/2 cup stock and the flour until smooth. Slowly whisk stock-flour mixture into pan. Simmer until gravy is reduced by half and coats the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Add butter, and swirl pan until butter melts. Strain gravy through a fine sieve; discard solids. Return shredded meat and chopped giblets to gravy if desired. Serve immediately or keep warm over low heat.

ROAST TURKEY WITH APPLE-BRANDY GRAVY

Steps:

• Combine the salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and the sugar in a small bowl. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and reserve for the gravy (discard the liver). Transfer the turkey to a rimmed baking sheet and pat dry. Season the skin and inside the cavity with the salt mixture. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
• Remove the turkey from the refrigerator and rinse off the salt mixture; pat dry. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Place the apple, half of the onions, 2 garlic halves, the lemon and about 10 thyme sprigs in the cavity of the turkey; tie the legs together with twine and place breast-side up in a roasting pan. Melt 2 sticks butter with 6 thyme sprigs in a small saucepan over medium heat. Divide the melted butter in half. Brush the turkey with half of the melted butter and tent with foil. Transfer to the oven and roast 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, combine the chicken broth, bay leaves, reserved neck and giblets, and the remaining chopped onion, 2 garlic halves and 4 thyme sprigs in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until reduced to about 4 cups, about 1 hour. Strain into a clean saucepan; set aside for the gravy.
• Remove the turkey from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Divide the remaining melted butter in half (remelt if necessary). Uncover the turkey and brush with half of the melted butter. Return to the oven and continue roasting until browned and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Stir the honey into the remaining melted butter and brush all over the turkey; roast 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer to a cutting board and brush with any remaining honey butter; let rest 30 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, make the gravy: Pour out the fat from the roasting pan and discard. Set the roasting pan on 2 burners over medium-high heat; add the apple brandy and hard cider. Cook, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon, until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Add the reserved chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
• Mix the flour and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small bowl to make a paste; whisk into the roasting pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until thickened, about 25 minutes. Strain and keep warm over low heat. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.

APPLE BRANDY CORDIAL

Steps:

• I remove the seeds because I think they make it bitter if left in the apple.
• I don't use top shelf brandy, I use a less expensive brandy but not the cheapest either, something in between.
• I use a glass gallon screw-top jar.
• Combine all ingredients and place cover on tightly-invert jar, I always place it in a large pan, just in case it might leak.
• (although, this has never happened) Let jar stand 24 hours, turn jar upright and let stand another 24 hours.
• Repeat process until sugar dissolves.
• Store in a dark, cool place 4-6 weeks.
• Strain through cheesecloth into decanter.
• Note: I always use very dark red sweet apples and I think that it is the dark red skin that gives the brandy a nice color.

CALVADOS SAUCE

Steps:

• Put calvados, cider, and shallots in a saucepan.
• Bring to a rapid boil and simmer until volume is reduced by half.
• Strain out the shallots, return reduced liquid to pan.
• Bring to a boil and whisk in cream and butter just prior to serving.

CALVADOS APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Peel and core apples, then cut into 1-inch pieces. Bring apples, water, sugar, zest, and cinnamon to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
• Remove lid and simmer until most of liquid is evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes. Add Calvados and simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 minute. Mash apples with a potato masher or a fork to a coarse sauce, then cool.

CALVADOS (APPLE BRANDY) GRAVY

Steps:

• Place the sugar in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Place over medium heat, and cook until sugar is golden (do not stir).
• Carefully add cider, stirring constantly (mixture will bubble vigorously).
• Stir in brandy; cook 1 minute.
• Add broth, lemon juice, nutmeg and salt.
• Combine water and cornstarch, stirring with a wire whisk; add to the gravy. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.