Herb-Roasted Turkey

• 1 (14-lb.) whole fresh turkey*
• Kitchen string
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 garlic bulb, halved
• 1 cup dry white wine
• Garnish: fresh sage leaves

1. Remove giblets and neck from turkey, and rinse turkey with cold water. Drain cavity well; pat dry. Tie ends of legs together with kitchen string; tuck wingtips under. Place, breast side up, on a lightly greased roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 400u0b0. Stir together thyme, next 2 ingredients, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper; rub mixture into cavity of turkey. Rub butter over turkey. Sprinkle remaining salt and pepper over outside of turkey; rub into skin. Arrange onions and next 3 ingredients around base of turkey in roasting pan; add wine and 1 cup water to pan.
3. Place turkey in oven; reduce oven temperature to 325u0b0. Bake at 325u0b0 for 3 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of thigh registers 160u0b0.
4. Remove turkey from oven; increase heat to 425u0b0. Baste turkey with pan juices, and let stand 15 minutes; return to oven. Bake at 425u0b0 for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and thermometer registers 165u0b0.
5. Let turkey stand in pan 30 minutes; transfer to a serving platter. Reserve pan drippings for Easy Turkey Gravy, if desired.
6. *Frozen whole turkey, thawed, may be substituted.
7. Recipe brought to the table by chef Frank Stitt of Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham, Alabama.

fresh turkey, kitchen string, thyme, ground sage, tarragon, salt, pepper, butter, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, white wine, sage

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/herb-roasted-turkey-0 (may not work)