Sunnys Autumn Fried Turkey Food

SUNNY'S BUTTERFLIED GRILLED TURKEY WITH LEMON PEPPER GLAZE

Steps:

• For the brine: Combine the sage, thyme, lemon, salt, peppercorns and 1 1/2 gallons water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the salt is dissolved and the water is fragrant. Turn off the heat and let cool completely.
• Place the turkey in a roasting bag, large plastic bag or bowl large enough to fit it with still more space to give. Pour in the brining liquid and seal or cover. If there's not enough room for all of the liquid in the brine, be sure to at least include the herbs, lemon and peppercorns. Refrigerate at least overnight or up to 3 days. When ready to cook, remove from the refrigerator and discard all of the brining liquid and solids.
• For the turkey: Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Place the turkey cavity-side down on a wire rack resting in a roasting/baking dish and allow to sit on the countertop for about 2 hours to come to room temperature.
• Using kitchen shears or a knife, cut the backbone of the turkey out and break the breastbone to open up and flatten the bird by gently pressing down with the skin-side up. Flip over and pat dry. Using your finger, gently release the skin from the muscle of the turkey and insert the butter pieces between the skin and meat all over the bird. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle the skin with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the grill to 400 degrees F.
• Place the turkey over direct heat skin-side down. Lower the heat to 350 degrees F and close the lid of the grill. Cook until the turkey releases from the grates and reveals grill marks, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: Heat the olive oil and black pepper together in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Steep over medium heat until the oil smells and tastes like pepper, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the honey, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest and lemon juice to the same pan. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to simmer and slightly reduce. Remove from the heat and rest until it tightens a bit, about 2 minutes.
• Flip the turkey and glaze the skin with the lemon pepper glaze. Close the lid of the grill and continue to cook, glazing every 30 minutes, until an internal-read thermometer inserted in the thigh reads 160 degrees F, 1 to 2 hours. Remove the turkey form the grill and let rest at room temperature tented with aluminum foil for 30 minutes before carving.

SUNNY'S "HONEY, WHO PECANNED THE BIRD?"

Steps:

• For the turkey and brine: In a large pot on medium-high heat, add 6 quarts (1 1/2 gallons) water, the salt, peppercorns, lemon, sage and thyme. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook until the salt is dissolved and the water is fragrant. Let cool.
• Put the turkey in a roasting bag, large plastic bag or a bowl large enough to fit it with still more space to give. Pour in the brining liquid and seal or cover. If there's not enough room for all of the liquid in the brine, be sure to at least include the herbs, lemon and peppercorns in with the turkey for brining. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days.
• When ready to cook, remove from the refrigerator and discard all of the brining liquid and solids. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Place the turkey breast-side up on a wire rack resting in a roasting pan/baking dish and allow to sit on the countertop for about 2 hours to come to room temperature.
• For roasting: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using your finger, gently release the skin from the muscle of the turkey and insert the butter pieces between the layers all over the bird. Season the skin with salt and pepper. Put the roasting pan in the oven, pour the beer into the bottom of it and lower the heat to 350 degrees F. Roast, basting every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh reads 160 degrees F, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Let rest for 30 to 45 minutes before glazing and slicing.
• For the glaze: In a large nonstick pan on medium heat, add the pecans and cook, tossing, until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Remove the pecans to a plate and add the butter, paprika, pumpkin pie spice and sage to the same pan. Once the butter is melted and the pan is fragrant with sage, remove the sage and add the honey and pecans to the pan. Raise the heat until the mixture begins to simmer, then remove from the heat. Pour over the rested turkey, slice and serve.

SUNNY'S BUTTERFLIED ROAST TURKEY WITH EASY ORANGE SPICE RUB

Steps:

• For the brine: Combine the salt, peppercorns, thyme, sage, orange and 1 1/2 gallons water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the salt is dissolved and the water is fragrant. Turn off the heat and let cool completely.
• For the turkey: To brine the turkey, place the turkey in a roasting bag, large plastic bag or bowl large enough to fit it with still more space for the brine. Pour in the brining liquid and seal or cover. If there's not enough room for all of the liquid in the brine, be sure to at least include the herbs, orange and peppercorns. Refrigerate at least overnight and up to 3 days.
• When ready to cook, remove the turkey from the brine and discard all of the brining liquid and solids. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• To butterfly the turkey, using kitchen shears or a knife, cut out the backbone of the turkey. Break the breastbone to open up and flatten the bird by gently pressing down with the skin-side up. Flip over and pat dry. Using your finger, gently release the skin from the muscle of the turkey and insert the butter pieces between the skin and meat all over the bird.
• For the rub: In a medium bowl, mix together the cumin, paprika, chili powder, orange zest, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the rub in a small bowl and set aside.
• Drizzle the turkey with olive oil and sprinkle with the rub. Gently rub into the skin. Place the turkey cavity-side down on a rack in a roasting pan and allow to sit on the countertop for about 2 hours to come to room temperature.
• For the glaze: To the reserved 1 tablespoon of rub, stir in the honey and orange juice until smooth. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add 1 to 2 inches of water to the bottom of the roasting pan. Place the turkey in the oven, lower the heat to 350 degrees F and roast for 30 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oven and brush the glaze over the skin. Return to the oven and continue to roast, glazing every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh reads 160 degrees F, 1 to 2 hours.
• Let the turkey rest at room temperature before carving, tented with aluminum foil, until it comes up to 165 degrees F, about 30 minutes. Plate the turkey and garnish with orange slices and sage and thyme sprigs.

DADDY'S GAME CHANGING TURKEY WITH QUICK PAN GRAVY

Steps:

• Brine: In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the water, sage, thyme, lemon, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the salt is dissolved, and the water is fragrant. Turn off the heat and let the brine cool. Put the turkey in a roasting bag, a large plastic bag, or a bowl large enough to fit it with space for the brine. Pour in the brining liquid and seal or cover. If there is not enough room for all of the liquid in the brine, be sure to at least include the herbs, lemon and peppercorns. Refrigerate the turkey for up to 3 days. When ready to cook, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and discard all of brining liquid and solids. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• In a small bowl, mix the marjoram, sage, all the peppers, and salt to make the rub. Rub on all sides of the turkey, and drizzle with oil. Stuff the thyme, sage, and rosemary into the cavity, along with 4 of the garlic cloves, and 1 of the red onion quarters. Allow it to sit on the countertop for about 2 hours to come to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the remaining 2 garlic cloves, red onion quarters, and broth in the bottom of a roasting pan. Put the turkey on a rack in the roasting pan. Tuck the wing tips under and tie the legs together with butcher's twine.
• Put the turkey in the oven and lower the heat to 350 degrees F. Roast, basting every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted between the thigh and the body registers 160 degrees F, about 2 to 3 hours. Add more broth to the bottom of the pan so the drippings do not burn. Allow the turkey to rest under loosely tented aluminum foil for about 10 minutes. Remove the turkey from the pan to a cutting board. Arrange the carved turkey on a serving platter and serve with Quick Pan Gravy.
• Put the roasting pan on the stove top. Remove any large solids, like onions or stalks of rosemary, leaving only the pan drippings, softened garlic cloves, juices and fat. Turn the burner to medium-high heat and add the wine. Using a wooden spoon scrape up all bits from the bottom of the roasting pan. In a small bowl, mix together the flour and butter. Add it to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, while stirring. Cook for about 1 minute, and then whisk in the turkey broth and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and pour it into a serving bowl.