Best Roasted Turkey With Shiitake Leek Pan Sauce And Candied Yams Recipes

KEYSHAWN'S MOM'S CANDIED YAMS

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 2-inch cubes. Place potatoes in large pot, cover with sugar, brown sugar and butter cook over medium heat until potatoes are fork tender (about 20 minutes) but not mushy.

ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• In the bottom of a roasting pan large enough to hold the turkey, combine celery, carrots and onions.
• In a small bowl combine fennel (if using), leeks, sliced orange and basil.
• Toss to mix.
• Place mixture in cavity of turkey.
• Place turkey on top of vegetables or on a rack over vegetables to cook.
• Make glaze: In a small bowl combine apple juice concentrate, water, orange juice, lemon or lime juice and soy sauce.
• Set aside.
• Place turkey in a preheated 400* oven 1/2 hour, then lower temperature to 350* and cook 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until an internal temperature of 180* to 185* is reached.
• After first half hour of cooking, baste bird every 10 to 15 minutes with glaze mixture.
• Remove turkey from oven and allow it to rest 20 minutes before carving.
• While turkey is resting, pour off all pan juices into a"de-fatting cup" and allow juices to separate from fat.
• When separated, carefully pour into a serving pitcher or gravy boat.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Place turkey on a platter for carving.
• Note: Removal of all skin before serving will lower fat content of each portion.
• Makes 12 servings.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERB RUB AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Make turkey:
• Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and place on rack set in large roasting pan. If not stuffing turkey, place herb sprigs in main cavity. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Brush turkey with oil. Rub herb mix all over turkey. Place turkey neck and giblets in roasting pan. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead if turkey is not stuffed. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before roasting.)
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Drizzle melted butter all over turkey. Pour 2 cups broth into pan. Roast turkey 45 minutes. Remove turkey from oven and cover breast with foil. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Return turkey to oven; roast unstuffed turkey 1 hour (roast stuffed turkey 1 hour 30 minutes). Remove foil from turkey; pour remaining 2 cups broth into pan. Continue roasting turkey until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F. or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour 40 minutes longer. Transfer turkey to platter; tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes. Reserve liquid in pan for gravy.
• Meanwhile, prepare gravy:
• Mix flour and Sherry in small bowl until smooth paste forms. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and rosemary and sauté until mushrooms begin to soften, about 3 minutes. (Can be made 3 hours ahead. Cover flour paste tightly. Let paste and mushrooms stand at room temperature.)
• Discard turkey neck and giblets from pan juices in roasting pan. Transfer pan juices to large glass measuring cup. Spoon off fat. Add enough chicken broth to measure 5 cups; add to saucepan with mushrooms. Add flour paste and whisk until smooth. Bring mixture to boil, stirring frequently. Boil until thickened to light gravy, about 10 minutes. Mix in cream, thyme and tarragon. Season with salt and pepper. Serve turkey with gravy.

CLASSIC CANDIED YAMS

Steps:

• Cut the sweet potatoes crosswise into 1-inch-thick rounds. Halve or quarter any extra-large pieces so that they are all similar in size.
• Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a small bowl. Add the sugar mixture to the Dutch oven and whisk until it forms a paste. Add the potatoes and stir well, spooning the sugar mixture over the potatoes to coat evenly.
• Cover and cook the potatoes, stirring occasionally and gently to avoid breaking them up, until they are just tender when pierced with the tip of a knife and the sauce resembles a thin syrup, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast until dark brown with a light scent of roasted nuts, about 8 minutes. Season the pecans with some salt while warm, let them cool completely and coarsely chop.
• Transfer the potatoes with their sauce to a large serving platter and sprinkle the pecans over the top.