Roast Turkey With Sage And Thyme

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 (14 lb) frozen whole turkey, thawed (can use fresh turkey)
• 1/4 cup butter, softened and divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh sage leaf
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 pears or 1 apple, halved
• 2 celery ribs, halved
• 1 large onion, halved
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• flat leaf parsley or pecans or seckle pears or muscadine grapes or fresh sage leaves or fresh thyme sprig

Recipe

• 1 remove and discard giblets and neck from turkey. rinse turkey with cold water, and pat dry with paper towels.
• 2 loosen skin from turkey breast without totally detaching skin( sort of make a pocket). stir together 2 tablespoons, butter, salt and pepper. rub butter mixture evenly over turkey breast under skin. carefully place sage leaves and thyme sprigs evenly on each side of breat under skin. replace skin.
• 3 place pear halves, celery, onion, and garlic inside cavity. place turkey breast side up, on a lightly greased wire rack in an aluminum foil lined shallow roasting pan. rub entire turkey evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• 4 bake at 325f for 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours and 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°f basting turkey every 30 minutes with pan drippings. (prevent overcooking by checking for doneness after 2 hours)remove turkey from roasting pan, and let sand 20 minutes before slicing. garnish.