Shelly's Recipe

APPLE-BOURBON TURKEY BREAST

Category: Turkey

1 (6-lb.) bone-in turkey breast

Apple-Bourbon Marinade
2 cups apple juice
1/2 cup bourbon
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 large oven bag
2 celery ribs
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tbsp butter, melted
Garnishes: Key limes, papaya halves

Apple-Bourbon Gravy
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups reserved drippings
1/2 cup reserved Apple-Bourbon Marinade
Salt and pepper to taste
Rinse turkey breast thoroughly with cold water, pat dry, and set aside.

Apple-Bourbon Marinade: Stir together all ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Remove 1/2 cup Apple-Bourbon Marinade, and reserve for Apple-Bourbon Gravy. Pour remaining 2 cups Apple-Bourbon Marinade into a 2-gal. zip-top plastic freezer bag, add turkey breast. Seal bag, and chill at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours, turning occasionally. Remove turkey breast from bag, discarding marinade.

Place flour in oven bag, shake to coat inside of bag. Place bag in a shallow roasting pan, place celery and sliced onion inside bag. Brush turkey breast with melted butter, and place on top of vegetables in bag. Close bag with nylon tie, cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in top of bag.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of turkey breast registers 170 degrees. Remove turkey breast from bag to a serving platter. Pour bag drippings through a wire-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, discarding solids in strainer and reserving drippings (about 2 cups) in bowl for Apple-Bourbon Gravy. Garnish, if desired, and serve with gravy. Serves 6-8

Apple-Bourbon Gravy: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Gradually add reserved drippings and marinade to pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Note: If doubling the recipe, simply place both oven bags side by side in the same roasting pan, and bake as directed.