Roasted herbed turkey & cranberry apple stuffing

ROASTED HERBED TURKEY

1 fresh turkey (10-12 lbs)
8 bacon slices
1 ½ cloves garlic (minced)
1 cup olive oil
2 tbsps. fresh rosemary (chopped)
1 tbsp. fresh oregano (chopped)
1 tbsp. fresh basil (chopped)
1½  tsps. sage (ground)
1 tsp. fresh thyme (chopped)
Salt & black pepper to taste

– wash turkey well and pat dry
– in a medium bowl add olive oil, garlic, rosemary, oregano, basil, sage, thyme, salt, pepper and mix well
– Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
– place washed turkey in a roasting pan
– rub seasoned oil well over entire turkey to coat
– lay bacon slices over turkey to cover
– fill roasting pan with water to ¼
– stir remaining seasoned oil into pan water
– place covered roasting pan in pre-heated oven at 325F
– cook for 3½  – 4 hours, until fully cooked basting regularly
– remove lid and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes until golden

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CRANBERRY APPLE STUFFING

2 cups cubed whole wheat bread
3 ¼ cups cubed white bread
3 stalks celery (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
1 tsp. sage (dry)
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 1/2 tsps. rosemary (dry)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
2  apples (cored and chopped)
1 cup dried cranberries
¼ cup raisins
2 tbsps. fresh parsley (chopped)
½ cup butter (melted)
Salt and pepper to taste

– on a lightly greased baking sheet spread out bread cubes evenly in a single layer
– place baking sheet in oven pre-heated to 350F
– bake for 3-5 minutes (until lightly toasted)
– remove from oven and let cool
– in a large bowl add toasted bread cubes, celery, onion, apples, cranberries and fold even
– in a small bowl add sage, poultry seasoning, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper and mix well
– drizzle melted butter over bread cube mix and fold
– sprinkle seasoning mix over top evenly and fold until blended
– add parsley and fold until blended
– spoon into washed turkey cavity