Traditional Turkey - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 18 lb turkey
1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 qts turkey stock
8 c prepared stuffing

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Place rack in the lowest position of the oven.
Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels.
Place the turkey breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan.
Loosely fill the body cavity with stuffing.
Rub the skin with the butter and season with salt and pepper.
Position aluminum foil over the turkey.
Place turkey in the oven and pour 2 cups turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan.
Baste all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan.
Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 to 2 cups at a time.
Remove aluminum foil after 2 1/2 hours.
Roast until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh reads 180 degrees, about 4 hours.
Let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving.