A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey , 18 pound
• 8 cups prepared stuffing
• 0.5 cups unsalted butter , softened
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1.5 quartss turkey stock , divided

Instructions

1. 1

   Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place a rack in the lowest position of the oven.

2. 2

   Remove turkey neck and giblets. Rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels, and place breast-side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.

3. 3

   Loosely fill turkey cavity with stuffing. Rub skin with butter, then season with salt and pepper.

4. 4

   Pour 2 cups of turkey stock into the roasting pan.

5. 5

   Loosely tent turkey with aluminum foil, and roast turkey for 2 ½ hours, basting with pan juices every 30 minutes. When drippings evaporate, add remaining stock to the pan, 1 to 2 cups at a time.

6. 6

   Remove foil and continue roasting until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 1 ½ hours more.

7. 7

   Transfer turkey to a large serving platter. Let stand for 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

8. 8

   Serve and enjoy!