ROAST TURKEY WITH BACON, TARRAGON AND APPLEJACK GRAVY

Steps:

• MAKE TURKEY:.
• Stir jelly, 1/2 cup butter, apple juice concentrate and 2 tablespoons tarragon in small saucepan over medium heat until butter and jelly melt.
• Remove glaze from heat. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature and rewhisk before using.).
• Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 375°F
• Place small rack in center of large roasting pan.
• Melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add mushrooms, onion and carrot; sauté until dark brown, about 12 minutes.
• Sprinkle vegetables and turkey neck pieces around rack in pan.
• Stir remaining 6 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons tarragon in heavy small saucepan until butter melts.
• Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry with paper towels.
• Place turkey on rack in pan.
• Starting at neck end, slide hand between skin and breast meat to loosen skin.
• Brush 3 tablespoons tarragon butter over breast meat under skin.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing loosely into main cavity.
• Brush remaining tarragon butter over outside of turkey.
• Sprinkle turkey with salt and pepper.
• Tuck wing tips under turkey; tie legs together to hold shape.
• Roast turkey 45 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; add 1 cup broth to pan.
• Cover turkey loosely with foil.
• Roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F., adding 1 cup broth and basting with pan juices every 1/2 hour and brushing with 1/3 cup glaze twice during last 2 hours, about 4 1/4 hours longer if unstuffed or 4 3/4 hours longer if stuffed.
• Transfer turkey to platter.
• Tent with foil; let stand 1/2 hour.
• Reserve pan juices.
• MAKE GRAVY:.
• Mix 1/2 cup glaze and flour in small bowl to blend.
• Strain pan juices into large measuring cup, pressing on solids; spoon off fat.
• Add enough broth to measure 6 cups.
• Sauté bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp.
• Pour off fat.
• Add broth mixture to saucepan and bring to boil.
• Whisk in glaze-flour mixture and tarragon, then applejack.
• Simmer until thickened to sauce, about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.