1. Dry brine should be done 36-48 hours in advance. Once the turkey is thawed, remove carefully from packaging and remove giblets from both the body and neck cavity. Don’t forget to check them both!
2. Use paper towels to pat the turkey dry, inside and out. Rub about 2 tablespoons of salt inside the turkey cavity and remaining tablespoon on the outside of the turkey all over the breasts, thighs, and legs.
3. Place the turkey in a roasting pan or on a platter, cover in foil, and store in fridge until ready to cook
4. On the day of roasting, take the turkey out and pat dry with paper towels. No need to rinse off the dry brine! Let it sit at room temperature for 60-90 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 425. Position rack on the lowest setting of the oven.
6. Stuff the cavity: sprinkle freshly cracked pepper inside, then add celery, lemon, apple, sage, and parsley. Don’t be afraid to shove everything in there tightly. Tie the legs together using kitchen twine.
7. Place a V-shaped rack in the roasting pan and brush it with some melted butter.
8. Brush the skin of the turkey all over with melted butter. Place the turkey on the rack in the pan, breast side down. Bend and tuck the wing tips behind the back so they don’t burn.
9. Roast for 40 minutes, basting with butter after 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees.
10. Use clean rubber kitchen gloves to turn the turkey breast side up on the rack. Add 2 cups of stock or water to the bottom of the roasting pan.
11. Continue to roast, basting with the remaining butter until it’s used up and then using pan juices to baste every 30 minutes.
12. Roast for 90 minutes more until golden. After about 2 1/2 hours total, begin testing for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast away from the bone; it should register 165-170 degrees.
13. Transfer to a cutting board and cover loosely with aluminum foil so it can rest for 30 minutes. Use the pan juices to make gravy.

Easy Gravy

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat melt the butter. Whisk in flour and cook for one minute, stirring continuously. Whisk in pan drippings. If you have more than a cup of drippings, use it and reduce the amount of broth! If you don’t have a full cup, use more stock.
2. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Stir in salt, pepper, thyme and sage. Simmer for 5 more minutes, gradually adding more broth if gravy becomes too thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.