Roast turkey stuffed with an old fashioned herbed bread dressing studded with walnuts and dried cherries.

Roasted Turkey with Old Fashioned Bread Dressing

Turkey:
10 pound whole turkey
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic

1. Remove giblets and neck from turkey. Rinse turkey with cold running water and drain well. Blot dry with paper towels.
2. Remove backbone and legs from turkey.
3. Sprinkle turkey with salt, pepper and garlic. Roast legs along with the breast in a shallow pan, on a rack in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for about 20 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reaches 170°F (80°C) in the breast and 180°F (85°C) in the legs.

Dressing:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
5 ounces onion, chopped
5 ounces celery, chopped
2 ounces walnuts, chopped
1 1/4 cup water
4 ounces sour cream
2 ounces dried cherries or cranberries
6 ounces herb dressing mix

1. In a saute pan, melt butter; add onion, celery and walnuts. Saute until crispy tender.
2. Add water, sour cream, cherries and seasoning packet from dressing (if appropriate). Bring to a boil.
3. Stir in bread crumbs and mix until liquid is absorbed.
4. Place in a prepared baking dish and bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).

Makes 12 servings.

Click here to watch step-by-step video for How to Carve a Turkey.

Recipe provided courtesy of the National Turkey Federation; From the "Cookin' Wild with Johnny" cookbook from America's Premier Smokehouse.