The Well-Dressed Turkey

2006 marks the 10th Anniversary of Thanksgiving Dinner at Cafe Drake. In a decade we've experimented with various recipes and alternate methods of preparation for the meal's centerpiece dish, but have yet to serve a dry or bland bird. A couple of general tips to follow include buying the best quality turkey you can afford, and never cooking any fowl past 170 degrees (insert thermometer in the joint, or areas of darkest meat). The recipe below is what we'll be trying this year, and as it's a subtle tweak on past experiences, Cafe Drake feels confident in recommending it to you.

If you're still unsure of your bird basting skills, go to www.spendidtable.org for that wonderful NPR staple's annual live webcast, where you can submit live questions to the immensely wise Lynne Kasper between 11am and 1pm (ET) during The Weeknight Kitchen's "Turkey Confidential."


Apricot Glaze
1 Cup apricot nectar
1 Cup apricot preserves
2 Tablespoons fresh gingerroot, peeled and minced
1 Tablespoon honey

Combine apricot nectar, preserves, ginger and honey in a small heavy saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 1-¼ cups, about 15 minutes.


Herb Butter
3/4 Cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh sage
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Blend ¾ cup butter, 3 tablespoons sage, salt and pepper in small bowl. Set aside.

Roasted Turkey
1 21-Pound WHOLE TURKEY, fresh
32 Ounces TURKEY BROTH, divided
1 Teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 Teaspoon chopped fresh sage
As needed salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400º F.
Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper.
Place turkey on rack, and set in large shallow roasting pan. Slide fingers under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin.
Spread half of herb butter over breast under skin. Place remaining herb butter in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted. Brush herb butter over outside of turkey. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey.
Roast turkey for ½ hour. Reduce oven temperature to 325ºF and continue to roast turkey another 1-½ hours, basting occasionally with pan drippings. (Add broth to pan if pan drippings evaporate).
Bring apricot glaze to simmer. Brush turkey with ½-cup glaze; tent turkey with heavy-duty foil. Roast turkey 1 hour.
Remove foil; roast another ½ hour, brushing remaining glaze over turkey. Turkey is done when button head of timer "pops" up and the internal temperature measures 170 degrees F in the breast.
Place turkey on platter, loosely tent with foil. Let stand ½ hour before carving.