Paramount Citrus

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Zest an orange using a zester or a fine grater; set aside.
• Juice four oranges with a citrus reamer or juicer; set aside.
• Remove giblets and neck from turkey.
• Rinse turkey with cold running water and drain well.
• Blot dry with paper towels inside and out.
• In a small bowl, whisk fresh orange juice, orange zest, butter, peppercorn and fresh basil.
• Rub the mixture all over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle generously with salt.
• Sprinkle inside the turkey with salt and pepper.
• Put onion, carrots and celery inside the cavity for flavor.
• Close up the cavity with string.
• Make sure the turkey’s legs are tied together, held close to the body, and tie a string around the body to hold the wings in close.
• Place turkey in a large roasting pan.
• Roast for 30 minutes on lowest rack in the oven.
• Remove turkey from oven and cover with aluminum foil. Lower oven temperature to 350°F.
• Insert a (digital probe?) thermometer into the thickest part of the breast.
• Bake (uncovered or covered?) until thermometer reads 180°.
• Let turkey rest, loosely covered, for 15 minutes before carving.