Cajun Roasted Turkey

Brine:

1 cup salt

1 cup brown sugar

2 oranges, quartered

2 lemons, quartered

6 sprigs thyme

4 sprigs rosemary

To make the brining solution, dissolve the salt and sugar in 2 gallons of cold water in a non-reactive container (such as a clean bucket or large stockpot, or a clean, heavy-duty, plastic garbage bag.) Add the oranges, lemons, thyme, and rosemary.

Note: if you have a big turkey and need more brine than this, use 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup brown sugar for every gallon of water.

Injection Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon concentrated liquid crab and shrimp boil (recommended: Zatarian's) exclude if you have allergies to shellfish (Lauren) or replace with liquid seasoning or spice of preference. I like Allegro liquid seasoning when I can get it...

1/4 cup apple cider

3/4 cup honey

1 (12-ounce) bottle beer

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon ground allspice

1/2 cup Creole seasoning

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup finely minced garlic

Prep:

1 (10 to 12-pound) turkey, rinsed well inside and out, patted dry

4 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 to 2 cups chicken broth, as needed for bottom of roasting pan

Directions:

Make the marinade by combining the Worcestershire sauce, crab boil, apple cider, honey, beer, salt, allspice, Creole seasoning, cayenne, olive oil, and minced garlic in a blender and process until very smooth, about 5 minutes. Fill a large syringe and inject turkey in the breast and thigh area, as well as the back, wings, and legs, with at least 2/3 of the marinade. You will have to fill the syringe numerous times.

Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F and line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil.

Season the injected turkey well both inside and out with the kosher salt and black pepper. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan lined with aluminum foil and pour the remaining marinade all over the turkey. Bake the turkey uncovered for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, add 1 cup of the chicken broth to the roasting pan, and continue to bake the turkey until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deepest part between the thigh and the leg registers 165 degrees F. (If the turkey begins to brown too much, tent loosely with aluminum foil until it is done. Also, add more broth as necessary to keep the bottom of the roasting pan from burning.)

When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and set aside to rest at least 20 minutes before carving.