CIDER-BASTED TURKEY WITH ROASTED APPLE GRAVY

Steps:

• For turkey:
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325°F
• Combine first 5 ingredients in small saucepan.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; bring liquid to boil.
• Set liquid aside.
• Mix 2 quartered apples, onion, thyme, sage leaves and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in large bowl.
• Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry.
• Sprinkle main cavity with salt and pepper.
• Spoon apple mixture into main cavity.
• Tuck wing tips under turkey; tie legs together loosely.
• Place turkey in large roasting pan.
• Rub turkey breast and legs with butter.
• Pour half of basting liquid over turkey.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast turkey 30 minutes.
• Pour remaining basting liquid over turkey.
• Roast 2 hours, basting frequently with pan juices and adding 1 cup (or more) water to pan if juices have evaporated.
• Add all apple slices to pan juices around turkey.
• Cover turkey loosely with foil to keep from browning too quickly.
• Continue to roast until apples are tender, turkey is deep brown and thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, basting frequently with pan juices, about 1 hour 30 minutes longer.
• Transfer turkey to platter.
• Tent loosely with foil; let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature of turkey will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
• For gravy:
• Using slotted spoon, transfer apples from pan juices to bowl.
• Pour pan juices into 4-cup measuring cup.
• Spoon off fat and discard.
• Add enough chicken broth to pan juices to measure 4 cups.
• Transfer broth mixture to large saucepan; simmer 5 minutes.
• Add reserved apples; simmer 2 minutes.
• Mix apple cider and cornstarch in small bowl.
• Whisk into gravy.
• Boil until gravy thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Discard mixture from turkey cavity.
• Serve turkey with gravy.