Aluminum Football (roast Turkey)

Total Time: 4 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 15
• 18 lbs turkey
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Recipe

• 1 prepare the bird for cooking. i generally inject the meat with a store bought herb-butter marinade, then salt and pepper inside and out. i recommend not stuffing the bird.
• 2 using heavy duty aluminum foil, the wide kind, lay out a sheet (approximately 3') on a flat surface. cover the sheet with a thin layer of olive oil.
• 3 place the bird in the middle of the sheet and fold the foil up over the bird pressing/molding the foil to the shape of the bird. make sure the top edges of the foil are tucked inside the bottom edges.
• 4 lay out another sheet and cover with oil just like before.
• 5 rotate the bird 90 degrees and place the bird in the center of the new sheet. fold over and mold into shape.
• 6 continue this process, rotating and molding as you go. after the first two sheets, you don't have to use anymore oil. do this for at least seven layers. you should end up with a turkey shaped "aluminum football".
• 7 roast at 475 degrees (yes 475) for 4 hours. if you've done this properly, you won't be able to even smell the turkey cooking.
• 8 when time is up, bring turkey out and start cutting and peeling back the foil. have a turkey baster handy and start transferring the drippings to another container. you'll get a lot of drippings. once you've gotten the bird uncovered (at least the top half), check for doneness with a meat thermometer. i've never had to put the bird back in--it's always been done, but if necessary return to the oven and cook till done.
• 9 once you've freed the bird from the foil, set aside for 15 minutes then slice it all up and put the juicy meat on a platter and serve.
• 10 use the drippings for dressing or gravy.