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Thanksgiving: Old-Fashioned Roasted Turkey

Source of Recipe

From "The Southern Living Party Cookbook"


Recipe Introduction

"There is no reason to get all bent out of shape about cooking a turkey. It is nothing more than a big chicken. That's it. Just think 'big chicken' and all that anxiety melts away. If you are still nervous, enlist the help of a family member. My brother-in-law Randy has always been my holiday helper. He is my support system, my rock. He makes me laugh just as I am about to have a full-on come-apart. Find your Randy and I can assure you, you will sail through the holidays."

List of Ingredients

◦  1 (14- to 16-pound) whole fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
◦  5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
◦  1 Tbsp salt
◦  2 tsp seasoned salt
◦  1 tsp poultry seasoning
◦  1 tsp garlic powder
◦  1 tsp paprika
◦  ½ tsp ground ginger
◦  ½ tsp black pepper
◦  ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
◦  ¼ tsp dried basil
◦  1 cup water


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey; reserve them for another use. Pat the turkey dry, and remove excess skin. Brush the turkey with 3 tablespoons of the melted butter. Stir together the salt, seasoned salt, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, ground ginger, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and dried basil, and rub thoroughly in inside and on outside of bird. Tie the ends of the legs together with kitchen twine, and tuck the wing tips under. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Add 1 cup water to the pan, and cover with aluminum foil.

Bake in the preheated oven on the lowest rack for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Uncover, and brush the turkey with the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Continue roasting, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of the thigh registers 170° F and the skin is browned, about 15 minutes. (If the turkey is overbrowning, reduce the temperature to 300° F for the last half hour of roasting.) Remove from the oven. Cover with aluminum foil, and let rest 15 minutes before slicing and serving.


Serves 16