Herb-Brined Roast Turkey

EQUIPMENT: Large (over 6-gallon) stockpot or other receptacle (holds a 15-18 pound bird)

The night before roasting, rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Reserve the turkey neck and giblets to use in gravy or stock.

In a very large stockpot, mix 2 gallons cold water with the salt, rosemary, thyme, sage, marjoram, celery seeds, and peppercorns, stirring until the salt dissolves. Place the turkey in the pot. Cover and place in a cold spot (lower than 40 degrees) or the refrigerator and let stand overnight.

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, mix the onion, carrot, and celery.

Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse well, inside and out, under cold running water. Pat the skin and body cavities dry with paper towels. Turn the turkey on its breast. Loosely fill the neck cavity with the onion mixture. Using a thin wooden or metal skewer, pin the neck skin to the back. Fold the turkey's wings akimbo behind the back or tie to the body with kitchen string. Loosely fill the large body cavity with the remaining onion mixture. Don't run the risk of baking the stuffing in the turkey, as the salty juices could ruin it. Instead, loosely fill the cavities with seasoning vegetables and bake the stuffing on the side. Place the drumsticks in the hock lock or tie together with kitchen string.

Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Rub all over with the butter. Tightly cover the breast area with aluminum foil. Pour 2 cups of the turkey stock into the bottom of the pan.

Roast the turkey, basting all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan (lift up the foil to reach the breast area), until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh (but not touching a bone) reads 180 degrees, about 4 1/2 hours. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them (about 1 1/2 cups at a time). Remove the foil during the last hour to allow the breast skin to brown.

Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. Meanwhile, make the pan gravy. Carve the turkey and serve the gravy alongside.