HERB-RUBBED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lowest position. Place turkey on roasting rack set in a large roasting pan. Working from both ends of the turkey,slide fingers under skin to separate it from the flesh (being careful not to tear skin). Spread herb rub under skin.
• Loosely fill neck cavity and large cavity with 4 cups stuffing. Using kitchen twine, tie legs together securely. Rub all over with butter, and season generously with salt and pepper. Place neck, giblets, and 3 cups water in bottom of roasting pan.
• Cover turkey loosely with aluminum foil. Roast 1 hour, then baste with pan juices every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted intothickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 125 degrees, 2 to 3 hours total.
• Remove foil; raise oven heat to 400 degrees. Roast, basting every 15 minutes, until thermometer inserted in thigh (avoiding bone) reaches 170 degrees, 45 minutes to 1 hour more (temperature will rise about10 degrees as turkey rests). If browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil; add more water if pan becomes dry.
• Transfer turkey to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil, and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving.Reserve pan with drippings for White-Wine Gravy. To carve: Remove and slice breasts; remove wings. Pull each leg away from body, cutting through thigh joint;cut through leg joint to separate thigh from drumstick.