Herb Roasted Turkey

This recipe I borrowed from allrecipes.com and comes from the kitchen of Lisa Hamm. If you are nervous about cooking the turkey for your Thanksgiving Dinner this year, this recipe is great! Our turkey always turns out moist and flavorful. Not dry and bland like some grouchy turkeys can be. Remember to give your turkey plenty of time to thaw. And allow extra time for baking (like an hour.... or two).









1 (12 pound) whole turkey
3/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon ground sage
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups water

1 Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Clean
turkey (discard giblets and organs), and place in a roasting
pan with a lid.
2 In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder,
dried basil, ground sage, salt, and black pepper. Using a
basting brush, apply the mixture to the outside of the
uncooked turkey. Pour water into the bottom of the roasting
pan, and cover.
3 Bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until the internal
temperature of the thickest part of the thigh measures 180 degrees
F (82 degrees C). Remove bird from oven, and allow to
stand for about 30 minutes before carving.