No-Baste, No-Bother Roasted Turkey

By Joelene

Ingredients

• 1/2 stick salted butter, softened
• One 12-pound turkey, completely thawed and all giblets removed
• 2 Tbs. salt
• 2 tsp. pepper
• 2 stalks celery, cut in lengths to fit turkey cavity
• 1 medium sweet onion, such as Vidalia, cut in half
• 1 large carrot, cut in lengths to fit the turkey cavity
• apples-cut
• 2 cups boiling water

Preparation

Step 1

Adjust the oven racks so the covered roasting pan fit easily inside. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Coat a 12 lb bird inside and out with butter, salt and pepper. Then stuff with apples, celery, carrots and onion. Place the turkey, breast-side up, in a large roasting pan. Pour the boiling water into the pan. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and put the pan in the oven.

Start a timer when the oven temperature returns to 500 degrees. Bake for exactly 1 hour and turn off the oven. Do not open the oven door! Leave the turkey in the oven until the oven completely cools; this may take 4 to 6 hours.

Reserve the pan juices and refrigerate the turkey if it will not be served soon after roasting.