Roasted Turkey with Cranberry and Merlot Sauce

Serves 12

Ingredients:

One 16-pound turkey, legs tied and giblets reserved

1 celery rib, thinly sliced

1 carrot, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

8 thyme sprigs

2 rosemary sprigs

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

4 cups water

4 1/2 cups Turkey Stock (made from Pan Juices from Turkey) or low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°. Set the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan and scatter the turkey heart, gizzard and neck, the sliced celery, carrot, onion and garlic and the herb sprigs all around. Season the turkey with salt and pepper. Add 2 cups of the water to the pan and roast the turkey for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups of water to the roasting pan. Cover the turkey with foil and roast for about 1 hour and 15 minutes longer, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the inner thigh registers 170°.

Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest for 30 minutes. Strain the pan juices into a large heatproof measuring cup, pressing on the solids. Skim the fat.

Pour the pan juices into a medium saucepan. Add 4 cups of the Turkey Stock and boil until reduced to 5 cups, about 5 minutes. In a bowl, whisk the flour with the remaining 1/2 cup of stock, then whisk the mixture into the stock. Boil, whisking, until the gravy is thickened. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.

Cranberry and Merlot Sauce:

2 (12-ounce) bags fresh cranberries

1 3/4 cups Merlot

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

 zest of one orange

Combine all ingredients except cranberries in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cranberries cook for 6 minutes. Cool and transfer sauce to bowl. Cover and refrigerate until cold.