Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

*To peel chestnuts, make a small cut on the flat side of each chestnut,
making sure to cut all the way through the outer skin. Place chestnuts in a
medium-size saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Then reduce heat to low.  Remove several chestnuts from the water and peel
them with a sharp paring knife, being sure to remove both the outer peel
and the dark inner skin that is attached to the meat. If the chestnuts cool
before you have a chance to peel them, place them back in the water to
heat, as it is virtually impossible to remove the inner skin when the
chestnut is cool.
Remove giblets and neck from the turkey; set aside. Rinse the turkey well
inside and out until the water runs clear. Pat it thoroughly dry. Carefully
separate the skin from the breast by running your fingers between the skin
and the meat, being careful not to poke any holes in the skin. Spread the
butter on the meat.
Bring the water to a boil in a vegetable steamer over high heat. Add the
chestnuts, cover, and steam until they are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove
the steamer basket from the heat.
In a medium-size bowl, gently break the chestnuts into bite-size pieces.
Mixing well after each addition, stir in the pork, shallots, herbs, salt
and pepper, garlic and eggs. Chop giblets and add them to the mixture,
mixing well.  To test for seasoning, pinch off a teaspoon of the mixture
and cook it in a small skillet over medium heat until it is cooked through.
Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
Fill the turkey with as much stuffing as it will hold, but don't pack it
tightly.  Truss the turkey.  Place the turkey in a large roasting pan, and
pour wine around it. Roast at 350 F. until turkey is golden, basting every
30 minutes with pan liquids.  If the breast is browning too quickly, cover
it loosely with aluminum foil. After 2 hours, add the onions and carrots to
the pan, spacing them evenly around the turkey. The turkey is done when the
skin is golden, the thigh is tender when pressed, and the leg joints move
easily up and down in their sockets, 3 to 3 1/2 hours more.
Remove turkey from the oven and from the roasting pan; let it rest for at
least 30 minutes or as long as 45 minutes before carving. While it is
resting, turn the turkey over so it is resting on its breast. Prop the legs
so they are slightly higher than the breast, allowing juices to run back
into the breast meat. Reduce the cooking juices slightly over medium-high
heat, about 2 minutes, scraping up any brown bits. Season to taste with
salt and pepper.  Strain juices and pour into a gravy boat.
Scoop out the stuffing into a serving dish and keep warm while you carve
the turkey.  Serve; pass the gravy boat.
Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
The stuffing is good for any poultry, and can be cooked on its own and
served as a side dish to pork roast as well. To cook the stuffing
separately, bake it in a covered dish at 350 F. until it is nearly cooked
all the way through, about 30 minutes.  Then remove the cover and continue
cooking until it has browned slightly on top and is clearly cooked through,
an additional 10 to 15 minutes.  If you cook the stuffing separately, your
turkey may take slightly less time to cook.
Also good accompanied by either a red Burgundy or a Volnay.
From _Farm House Cookbook_ by Susan Herrmann Loomis. New York: Workman
Publishing Company, Inc., 1991.  Pp. 174-175. ISBN 0-89480-772-2.
Electronic format by Cathy Harned.
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

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