Old Fashioned Bacon Turkey

Ingredients

1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed

 8 cups prepared stuffing

 1/2 cup softened butter

 salt and pepper to taste

1 cup Bacon Rub

Directions

6 hours prior to cooking rub turkey with Bacon Rub and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position so the turkey will fit.

Rinse the turkey and pat dry. Place in a large roasting pan and loosely fill the cavity with stuffing. Rub butter all over the outside, and season with salt and pepper. Use a large sheet of aluminum foil to make a tent over the bird.

Place in the preheated oven, and here's where it gets interesting. Baste every 5 to 10 minutes - everywhere! Whenever you're not doing something, baste! If you are too busy to baste, take turns with someone else. After 2 hours, remove the foil tent. Keep roasting until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) when taken in the thickest part of the thigh. It should take about 4 hours total.