Southern-style Apple-Bacon Roast Turkey
Makes 8 servings.

In many Southern homes, they do not stuff their turkey with stuffing.

Ingredients

• 1 - (14 to 15 pounds) turkey

• 8 - cups cold water

• 4 - large stalks celery

• 1 - Vandalia onion, quartered

• 1 - tart green apple, quartered

• 1/2 - cup bacon drippings

• 1 - teaspoon salt

• 1/2 - teaspoon pepper

• 1 - can chicken broth

• 2 - tablespoons butter

• 2 - tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º F.

See: Stuffing & Dressing Recipes.

1. In a large pot at moderate heat, remove the neck, heart, and gizzard from the turkey and place in pot.  Add the water and 2 celery stocks.  Bring water to a boil.  Reduce heat to moderate-low and simmer 1-hour.  

2. Strain the ingredients into a large measuring cup.  Return the stock to the pot.  Simmer until you reduce stock to 4-cups or 30-minutes.

3. Rinse turkey, both inside and out.  Pat the turkey dry.  Place the turkey into a large roasting pan.  

4. In the main cavity, place the onion, apple, and remaining 2 stalks celery.  Rub the outside of the turkey with the bacon drippings.  

5. Sprinkle with 1/2 - teaspoon salt and 1/4 - teaspoon pepper.  Cover the turkey with heavy-duty aluminum foil.  Pour turkey stock into the roasting pan.

6. Place turkey in oven, roast 1-1/2 hours, and remove foil.  Baste turkey with pan juices.  Insert the meat thermometer into thickest part of thigh.  

7. You want it to read 180º F., basting every 20 minutes with pan juices for another 1-1/4-hour.  Remove turkey from pan and place on platter.  Let turkey stand for 20 minutes.

8. Into a large glass-measuring cup, pour juices.  Spoon off all the fat.  If necessary, add enough chicken broth to pan juices to measure 2-1/2 cups.  

9. Into a saucepan at moderate-high heat, add butter and melt.  Whisk in flour and whisk for 2-minutes or until butter-flour begins to color.  

10. Slowly whisk in pan juices.  

11. You can use any juices from platter holding turkey.  Boil the gravy, for 8-minutes or until it thickens.  Season the turkey with the remaining salt and pepper.  Carve the turkey and serve.