Posted on 11/20/2002 7:24:23 PM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs
Roasted Free-Range Turkey with Pear Chestnut Stuffing
Serves 8 to 10 The stuffing may also be baked separately in a buttered casserole at 375° until heated throughout, thirty to forty-five minutes.
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 stalks celery, strings removed, cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 large onions, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 pound roasted chestnuts, shelled and chopped
27 slices stale white bread (1 1/2 pounds), crusts removed and cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 8 cups), lightly toasted
1 1/4 cups Homemade Turkey Stock, or low-sodium canned chicken broth, skimmed of fat
4 unripe Anjou pears, cored, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon salt
1 twelve- to fourteen-pound free-range turkey
1. Heat oven to 375°. Make stuffing: In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add celery and onions; cook, stirring, until translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons thyme, and sage, parsley, chestnuts, and bread. Add stock, 1/2 cup at a time, until bread becomes moist. Stir in pears; remove from heat.
2. Place remaining 1 stick butter, remaining 2 tablespoons thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt in food processor. Pulse until well combined; set aside.
3. Wash turkey, and pat dry. Place, breast side up, on a roasting rack set in a large roasting pan. Season turkey cavity with remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Fill cavity loosely with stuffing. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Fold neck flap over; secure with skewers. Rub thyme-butter mixture all over turkey.
4. Roast for 2 1/2 hours, basting often. Continue baking 30 to 45 minutes more, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 180°. If turkey becomes too brown, tent it with aluminum foil. Let cool for 20 to 30 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving.
I am fascinated by all the folks on here who put fruit in their turkeys. We may have to try that. My mother does all the cooking - my job is to make sure the Cowboys win (MUCH bigger job than cooking the entire meal, these days!) on Turkey Day.
OK, I'm going to break down and share our family recipes for Thanksgiving & Christmas. [PLEASE NOTE: I don't actually cook this stuff myself since I am totally incapable of preparing food successfully, but I eat this stuff twice a year and have been for over 40 years, so it's all safe):
Mimi's Sweet Potato Cassarole
10-15 tablespoons sugar (can use brown or white)
3 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 teaspoons Nutmeg
1/2 stick, salted, melted butter
1 1/2 cups orange juice
2 20 ounce cans sweet potatos
1 pkg larger marshmallows
Heat sweet potatos until boiling. Mash well in large bowl. Beat & add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter and OJ - you'll need to taste to see if you need to add more OJ. Pour into 7 1/2 x 11 buttered glass pan - place marshmallows on top. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake 20 minutes. This cassarole even wins over avowed sweet potato haters.
Dressing - Southern Cornbread
Make cornbread (w/o sugar) - Aunt Jemima's mix (white)
1 cup onions chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup bell pepper chopped
1/3 cup butter - melt in skillet throw in onions, celery, and bell peppers and sautee. Break up cornbread in large bowl. Add sauteed veggies, 2 BEATEN eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 can Chicken broth - Mix well. Put into greased glass pan and cook at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (don't forget to hop around the kitchen on one leg just after placing in oven - ha! gotcha)
Kentucky Pecan Pie (my great aunt's recipe - she's not from Kentucky so don't ask me why it's called Kentucky Pecan Pie - I just eat the stuff)
1 cup white corn syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup melted, salted butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 whole eggs -slightly beaten (oh, go all out and abuse them if you want but it won't taste as good as slightly beaten) 1 heaping cup shelled pecan (whole) - Sam's Club's are great.
Combine sugar, syrup, salt, butter, vanilla and mix well. Add slightly beaten eggs and mix well. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Put foil around edges, add peconas over all. Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake another 25 minutes. When cool, you may top with whipping cream or ice cream. This stuff is excellent.
Enjoy!
You'd rough up the Claus just for me? Awww, you sweetie. He's slick though, seen here trying to blend in .
Why Fintan, I know everything. ;-)
I wouldn't freeze this one, but thought I'd share it anyway. This is a tasty and pretty dish and a favorite of my whole family.
Carrot Souffle
2 pounds carrots -- cooked & mashed
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs -- beaten
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 pinch cinnamon
Combine all ingredients and pour into a buttered, 2-quart souffle dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake an additional 45 minutes. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
Prayers for the in-laws, IG.
DID loudly chanting antiwar protesters inspire Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to attack President Bush and impugn his motives in dealing with Iraq?
"It is clear that a lot of people in this administration have some old scores to settle," Clinton said Wednesday during a live broadcast of "Hardball with Chris Matthews" from the SUNY's Albany campus.
GOP spokesman Kevin Sheridan promptly characterized Clinton's comment as "a cheap political potshot."
Clinton may have been influenced by protesters who took her to task for supporting the resolution giving Bush wide leeway to attack Iraq. About 10 "hippie" students were bounced from the auditorium, but not arrested.
"It was the most raucous [show] we've had," Matthews said. "Maybe the times are getting sharper. Maybe the times are getting feisty. Clearly there's a lot of passion over this damn war."
Clinton seemed unfazed by the outbursts. "It's great to see all of this energy," she said. "For a long time, people said our college campuses were dead, but they're not. We have people willing to share their opinions." Page Six
Clinton pal in NYC (a Sikh who raised $500,000 for Hillary and has traveled to India with x42) is massive ($2.4 million) tax cheat, story here.
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