What You Need:
- 3/4 C butter, cubed
- 1 1/2 C celery, chopped
- 3/4 C onion, chopped
- 9 C day old whole wheat bread, cubed
- 3 C apples, chopped fine
- 3/4 C raisins
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. thyme
- 1/2 tsp. sage
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 (14 lb.) whole turkey, thawed
- 1 C butter, melted
How to Make It:
- Place the cubed butter in a Dutch oven pan over medium heat.
- Once the butter has melted add the celery and onion.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bread cubes.
- Add the apples and raisins and continue stirring to incorporate.
- Sprinkle in the salt, thyme, sage and pepper.
- Clean and prepare the turkey being sure to remove the neck and giblets.
- Stuff the turkey with 4 C of the prepared stuffing.
- Brush a rack with some of the melted butter and place it in a shallow roasting pan.
- Place the turkey breast side up on the rack in the pan and tie the legs together with twine.
- Use the remaining melted butter to brush the entire turkey.
- Bring the oven temperature up to 325 degrees.
- Bake the turkey, uncovered, 4 hours being sure to baste every 30 minutes with the pan drippings.
- If the turkey begins to over brown cover it loosely with a foil tent.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and all it to rest 30 minutes before carving.
Serves 14
The stuffing may be baked outside of the turkey. Place the stuffing in a 3 qt casserole dish and cover. Place it in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30 minutes remove the foil and continue baking 10 minutes or until lightly browned.