MARINATING TURKEY RECIPES

Steps:

• Remove any giblets from the cavity and reserve for stock or gravy. Pat turkey and turkey neck dry with paper towel; rub turkey all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt per pound of turkey, the pepper and the lemon zest, including the neck. Transfer to a 2-gallon (or larger) resealable plastic bag. Tuck herbs and 6 garlic cloves inside bag. Seal and refrigerate on a small rimmed baking sheet (or wrapped in another bag) for at least 1 day and up to 3 days, turning the bird over every day (or after 12 hours if brining for only 1 day).
• Remove turkey from bag and pat dry with paper towels. Place turkey, uncovered, back on the baking sheet. Return to the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours to dry out the skin (this helps crisp it).
• When you are ready to cook the turkey, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for one hour.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. In the bottom of a large roasting pan, add the cider and enough wine to fill the pan to a 1/4-inch depth. Add half the onions, the remaining 6 garlic cloves and the bay leaves. Stuff the remaining onion quarters and the lemon quarters into the turkey cavity. Brush the turkey skin generously with oil or melted butter.
• Place turkey, breast side up, on a roasting rack set inside the roasting pan. Transfer pan to the oven and roast 30 minutes. Cover breast with aluminum foil. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a thigh reaches a temperature of 165 degrees, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours more. Transfer turkey to a cutting board to rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• In a large bowl or jumbo resealable plastic bag, combine the buttermilk, 1 tablespoon each of the paprika, garlic powder and onion powder, 1 teaspoon of the cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add the turkey drumsticks and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat a tabletop deep-fryer or fill a large, wide pot with 3 inches of oil; heat the oil to 365 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking pan with paper towels and place a wire rack on top.
• In a large paper grocery bag, combine the flour with the remaining 1 tablespoon paprika, garlic powder and onion powder and 1 teaspoon cayenne, as well as 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Pat the turkey legs dry and add them to the bag. Fold the top of the bag to seal; shake vigorously to coat the turkey in the seasoned flour.
• Remove the turkey legs from the flour and shake off the excess. Fry the turkey in batches, turning occasionally, until deep golden brown, crispy and cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the meat, avoiding bone, should register at least 165 degrees F), about 16 minutes. Transfer the fried turkey to the prepared baking pan and keep warm in the oven while frying the remaining drumsticks. Return the oil to 365 degrees F between batches.