My Favorite Roasted Turkey Recipe

Remove giblet package from turkey. Place neck, heart and gizzards in saucepan and cover with four cups of water. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. I don't like using the liver, as I think it gives the giblet broth a bitter taste.

Rinse turkey and dry well inside and out with paper towels. Make stuffing according to recipe. Spoon stuffing lightly into turkey neck cavity, pull skin over and secure with skewer. Spoon more stuffing lightly into body cavity and fasten closed according to Turkey 101. Melt together 2 Tbsp. solid shortening and 1/3 cup butter. Place stuffed turkey in a roasting pan and brush with melted butter mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Soak a four-layer piece of cheesecloth in the butter/shortening mixture and place on top of the turkey.

Roast turkey according to cooking charts, for stuffed turkey. Baste with pan juices every 1/2 hour. You can remove the cheesecloth from the turkey half an hour before you take it out of the oven, if you like, but you don't have to. When turkey is done, remove from pan, remove stuffing from cavities, cover, and let rest 15-20 minutes to let juices redistribute while you make the gravy.