CARVE TURKEY BREAST RECIPES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 450°F.
• Place the 2 onion halves next to each other in the center of a roasting pan. Line up the carrots, celery and parsnip on either side. If using the garlic, tuck it in among the other vegetables.
• Rinse the turkey breast and pat dry with paper towels. Working your hand carefully under the skin of the turkey to avoid tearing it, separate the skin from the meat on both sides of the breast, but do not detach it. Pat the meat dry with a paper towel. Rub butter over the meat under the skin on each side of the breast. Season with the salt and pepper. Pull the skin down to cover the meat. If necessary, stick toothpicks through the skin and the ribs to secure the skin. Set the breast, skin side down, on top of the vegetables. Pour in 3 cups of the broth. Roast for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Turn the breast to rest on one side and baste with the liquid in the pan. Roast for another 30 minutes. Turn the breast to rest on the opposite side and baste again with the pan liquid. Roast for another 30 minutes. Turn the breast skin side up and baste again. If the liquid has begun to evaporate, add the remaining 1 cup broth to the pan. Roast for another 30 minutes, baste and then continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part away from the bone registers 165°F, 2 to 2 1/2 hours total at 20 minutes per pound. If the top of the breast begins to overbrown, tent loosely with aluminum foil.
• Remove the turkey breast from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Let it rest for 20 minutes. (The internal temperature of the meat will rise to 170°F during the first 10 minutes of resting, and the juices will settle.) Carve into slices and serve immediately. Serves 10 to 12.
• Adapted from Williams-Sonoma, <i>Essentials of Healthful Cooking</i>, by Mary Abbott Hess, Dana Jacobi &amp; Marie Simmons (Oxmoor House, 2003).

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix all of the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl.
• Put the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
• Generously season the turkey cavity with salt and pepper, to taste. Brush the turkey with olive oil, and rub it with the seasoning mixture. Tie the legs together loosely to hold their shape, and tuck the wing tips under.
• Roast the turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh registers 165 to 170 degrees F, about 3 hours.
• Transfer the turkey to a platter. Tent it very loosely with foil, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes (the internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees). Reserve the juices in the pan.
• Gravy: Scrape the juices and browned bits from the roasting pan into a large glass measuring cup. Spoon off the fat, reserving 2 tablespoons. If necessary, add enough stock to the juices to measure 1 2/3 cups.
• Heat the reserved 2 tablespoons fat in a heavy, large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, and shallots, and saute for 2 minutes. Add the flour and whisk until golden, about 4 minutes. Add the degreased pan juices, and the 2 cups stock. Bring to a boil, whisking until smooth. Reduce the heat and simmer until the gravy is reduced to the desired consistency, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the lemon juice, and the sour cream. Season the gravy with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour the gravy into a serving bowl. Carve the turkey and arrange it on a serving platter. Serve the turkey with the gravy.