Herb Roasted Turkey

Total Time: 4 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 8 fresh rosemary sprigs (about 1 package)
• 12 fresh thyme sprigs (about 1 package)
• 12 fresh sage sprigs (about 1 package)
• 2 (16 ounce) cans low sodium chicken broth (or 4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons italian seasoning
• 12 lbs thawed turkey

Recipe

• 1 day 1: remove giblets, neck, & heart from turkey. rinse turkey with cold water, pat dry. trim excess fat. sprinkle 4 teaspoons salt over and inside turkey. refrigerate uncovered for 24 hours.
• 2 day 2: preheat oven to 325 deg.
• 3 rinse turkey with cold water, pat dry. stuff body cavity with onion, celery, herbs, & pepper. lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. tie legs together with twine. place turkey breast-side-up, on a rack in a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. insert a meat thermometer into meaty part of thigh making sure not to touch bone. sprinkle turkey with ½ tsp salt and italian seasoning. cover breast with foil.
• 4 bake at 325 deg for 2 hours, basting turkey with 1/3 cup broth every 30 minutes.
• 5 remove foil, bake an additional 1 hour and 45 minutes or until thermometer reads 170 deg , basting turkey with remaining broth every 30 minutes. (usually i use my best judgment to determine when it's done for fear of drying the turkey).
• 6 remove turkey from oven. cover turkey with foil for 30 minutes. puncture skin under thighs to release juices for gravy. carve & serve.
• 7 note: if you run out of broth for basting, use melted butter.