Classic Roast Turkey

Ingredients 1 fresh or thawed frozen turkey (about 12 pounds) 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted Your favorite stuffing recipe, or Wild Rice, Bacon, and Onion Dressing Or instead of stuffing: 2 medium yellow onions, 1 peeled and left whole, 1 peeled and quartered 2 medium carrots, peeled and quartered 2 medium stalks celery, cut into chunks 4 sprigs parsley 2 whole bay leaves Giblet Gravy Nutritional Information 1 serving with gravy: Calories 348 Saturated Fat 2g Total Fat 11g Protein 50g Carbohydrate 2g Fiber 2g Sodium 527mg Cholesterol 152mg

This simple recipe is guaranteed to produce a juicy, golden-brown bird. Makes 12 servings Preparation time: 30 minutes Roasting time: 4 hours Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove giblets and neck from turkey and reserve for gravy. Rinse turkey inside and out under cold running water; drain well and pat dry with paper towels. Step 2: Rub neck and body cavities with salt and pepper. If using stuffing, spoon loosely into cavities and truss (see How to Truss a Turkey). If not using stuffing, place whole onion in neck cavity. Place carrots, celery, quartered onion, parsley, and bay leaves inside body cavity, then truss. Step 3: Place turkey, breast-side-up, on a rack in a large roasting pan, brush with butter, and tent loosely with foil. Lift foil and baste generously with pan drippings every half hour. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the meatiest part of the thigh but not touching the bone registers 180°F to 185°F, about 4 hours. Step 4: About 30 minutes before turkey is done, remove foil and baste again. When turkey is done, transfer to a heated platter and let stand while you make gravy. Remove vegetables and bay leaves before serving. How to Make Giblet Gravy Wild Rice, Bacon, and Onion Dressing Find out more about buying, thawing, stuffing, trussing, roasting, and carving a turkey PHOTO: © Lou Wallach