Best Herbed Gravy Recipes

CLASSIC ROAST TURKEY WITH HERBED STUFFING AND OLD-FASHIONED GRAVY

Steps:

• Place oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 8-inch square baking dish or 2-quart casserole. Lightly brush roasting rack with vegetable oil and place in roasting pan.
• Remove plastic or paper packet of giblets from turkey (usually in small cavity). Remove from packaging and rinse; reserve gizzard and heart; discard floppy, dark purple liver. Remove neck from large cavity. Remove from packaging, rinse, and reserve. Using tweezers or needlenose pliers, remove any feathers and quills still attached to skin (kosher turkeys tend to require this more than others). Pull off and reserve any visible pale yellow knobs of fat from either side of tail (not found on all birds).
• Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry. Loosely fill small (neck) cavity with stuffing. Fold neck skin under body and fasten with metal skewer. Loosely fill large body cavity with stuffing. Transfer remaining stuffing to buttered dish and drizzle with 1/4 cup stock. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Transfer turkey, breast-side up, to rack in roasting pan. Tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks loosely together with kitchen string. Rub turkey all over with softened butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Tightly cover breast area with foil, leaving wings, thighs, and drumsticks exposed.
• Transfer gizzard, heart, neck, and reserved turkey fat to roasting pan around rack. Pour 2 cups stock into pan.
• Roast turkey 45 minutes. Baste with pan juices (lift up foil to reach breast area) and continue roasting, basting every 45 minutes, 1 1/2 hours more (2 1/4 hours total). Baste again and, if pan juices have evaporated into glaze, add 1 cup stock to pan. Roast another 45 minutes (3 hours total). Remove foil from breast area, baste, and add stock if necessary, until instant-read thermometer inserted into fleshy part of thigh (close to but not touching bone) registers 180°F, about 1 hour more (4 hours total).
• Insert instant-read thermometer into center of stuffing in body cavity. If thermometer does not read 165°F, transfer stuffing to microwave-safe baking dish and microwave on high until 165°F, about 3 minutes for 10 degrees. Cover and keep warm. Using turkey holders (or by inserting large metal serving spoon into body cavity), transfer turkey to large serving platter. Let stand 30 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, bake extra stuffing and make gravy: Raise oven temperature to 350°F. Remove giblets and neck from roasting pan and discard. Pour pan juices into measuring cup or gravy separator. Let stand until fat rises to top, 1 to 2 minutes, then skim off and reserve fat or, if using separator, carefully pour juices into measuring cup, reserving fat left in separator.
• Transfer foil-covered dish of extra stuffing to oven and bake 10 minutes. Meanwhile, add enough remaining stock to pan juices to total 4 cups. Measure turkey fat, adding melted butter if necessary to total 6 tablespoons. Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners on moderate heat and add fat. Whisk in flour, scraping up browned bits on bottom of pan, then cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Whisk in pan juice-stock mixture and bring to a boil, whisking often. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, whisking occasionally, until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes. Whisk in remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and keep warm. (Gravy can be kept warm over very low heat, covered, up to 20 minutes. If it thickens, thin with additional stock before serving. If skin forms on top, whisk well to dissolve.)
• When extra stuffing has baked 10 minutes, remove foil and bake, uncovered, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Pour gravy through fine-mesh sieve into large bowl, then transfer to gravy boat. Carve turkey and serve gravy and stuffing alongside.
• Test-Kitchen Tips:
• •To combat dryness, most frozen turkeys and some fresh are injected with a saline solution. This is not a good thing, though: Injected birds generally lack flavor and can have a mushy texture. For this reason, we recommend buying a fresh turkey and checking the label to be sure there aren't any additives. (Look for the words "all natural.") Don't be too concerned, though, with the many other terms that can be applied to turkeys, such as free-range, organic, or heritage. All can be excellent.
• •When buying a fresh bird, be sure to purchase it no more than two days before Thanksgiving. If you must get a frozen bird, defrost it in the refrigerator in a pan to catch drips, allowing a full 24 hours for each 5 pounds.
• •Warm, moist stuffing is an optimal environment for bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli to multiply, so it's important to follow safe procedures. Be sure to make the stuffing at the last minute so it can go into the bird warm. This helps it move above the "danger zone" (the optimal temperature range for bacteria growth) more quickly during roasting. When you remove the turkey from the oven, be sure to check the temperature in the middle of the stuffing to make sure it's 165°F, the temperature at which bacteria will be killed. If it's not 165°F, scoop it out of the cavity and microwave it as directed in the recipe.
• •More stuffing tips: Be sure not to overpack the cavities, as the stuffing will expand during cooking. Loosely fill the turkey, then spread the extra in a casserole dish (no more than 2 inches deep) and bake it after the turkey comes out (be sure to refrigerate it until then to impede bacteria growth). Drizzle the portion in the casserole dish with extra stock to make up for the juices it won't get from the turkey. If you want the stuffing that's cooked inside the turkey to be extra-moist (as opposed to having a crisp crust where it's exposed), cover the exposed portion with a small piece of aluminum foil.
• •Opinions vary on whether or not to stuff the bird-some people think it can cause uneven cooking. If you prefer not to stuff your bird, fill the cavities with a chopped vegetable and herb mixture that will impart its flavor to the meat and pan juices: Chop 1 onion, 1 celery rib with leaves, 1 carrot, and 3 tablespoons fresh parsley. Mix this with 1 teaspoon each dried rosemary, sage, and thyme. Sprinkle the cavities with salt and freshly ground black pepper and place the mixture inside. An unstuffed bird will take about 15 minutes to a half hour less to cook than a stuffed bird. When the turkey is cooked, tilt it to allow any juices that have collected in the cavity to drain into the pan. Do not serve the vegetable mixture, as it may not have cooked to a safe temperature.
• •This recipe can easily be scaled up to serve more people. Estimate about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per person. Cooking times (for a stuffed bird, cooked at 325°F to an internal temperature of 180°F) will be as follows: 8 to 12 pounds: 3 to 3 1/2 hours 12 to 14 pounds: 3 1/2 to 4 hours 14 to 18 pounds: 4 to 4 1/4 hours 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours 20 to 24 pounds: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours
• •Some experts prefer to cook their turkeys to an internal temperature of 170°F (rather than 180°F, as in this recipe). If you don't mind having the meat slightly pink, this is perfectly safe and makes it more moist. However, Rick Rodgers, who created this recipe, believes that the dark meat in particular does not achieve its optimum flavor and texture until it reaches 180°F. If you choose to stuff your turkey and cook it to only 170°F, its stuffing will almost definitely not reach the safe temperature of 165°F. When you remove the turkey from the oven, be sure to check the temperature in the center of the stuffing, and if necessary remove it and microwave it as directed in the recipe.
• •Letting the turkey stand for half an hour after it comes out of the oven is an essential part of the roasting process. When meat roasts, its juices move to the outer edge of the flesh. Letting it rest gives the juices time to redistribute, making for a moister turkey. An added bonus: The resting time provides an excellent window of opportunity to make the gravy and reheat the side dishes. There's no need to cover the bird-it'll stay warm enough, and covering it would only soften the crispy skin.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERBED BREAD STUFFING AND GIBLET GRAVY

Steps:

• Make turkey giblet stock and herbed bread stuffing.
• Roast turkey:
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper inside and out. Loosely fill neck cavity with some of stuffing. Fold neck skin under body and fasten with a small skewer. Loosely fill body cavity with some stuffing and tie drumsticks together with kitchen string. Transfer remaining stuffing to a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish and chill, covered. Secure wings to body with small skewers if desired for a nicer appearance.
• Put turkey on a rack set in a flameproof roasting pan. Roast turkey in middle of oven 30 minutes. Melt 1/2 stick butter. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and pour melted butter over turkey. Roast turkey, basting every 20 minutes, for 3 to 3 1/2 hours more, or until a thermometer inserted in center of stuffing in body cavity registers 165°F (thigh will be about 180°F). Transfer turkey to a heated platter and keep juices in pan. Remove skewers and discard string. Transfer stuffing from cavities to a serving dish and keep warm, covered. Let turkey stand at least 30 minutes and up to 45.
• Increase temperature to 375°F. Stir together chicken broth and water and drizzle over uncooked stuffing in baking dish. Dot stuffing with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and bake in middle of oven 40 minutes while turkey stands; for moist stuffing, bake covered entire time; for less moist stuffing with a slightly crisp top, uncover after 10 minutes.
• Make gravy:
• Skim fat from pan juices and reserve 1/4 cup fat. Add 1 cup giblet stock to roasting pan and deglaze over moderately high heat, scraping up brown bits. Add to remaining 3 cups stock and bring to a simmer. Whisk together reserved fat and flour in a large heavy saucepan and cook roux over moderately low heat, whisking, 3 minutes. Add hot stock to roux in a fast stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in additional juices from turkey platter and season gravy with salt and pepper.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERBED OYSTER STUFFING AND GIBLET GRAVY

Steps:

• Make the stuffing:
• In 2 shallow baking pans or jelly-roll pans arrange the bread cubes in one layer, bake them in a preheated 325°F. oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden, and transfer them to a large bowl. In a large skillet cook the bacon over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is crisp, transfer it with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, and pour off all but about 1/4 cup of the fat. In the fat remaining in the skillet cook the garlic, the onion, and the celery with the thyme and the sage over moderately low heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened and transfer the mixture to the bowl. Add the parsley, the melted butter, the oysters, the bacon, and salt and pepper to taste, toss the stuffing well, and let if cool completely. The stuffing may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. (To prevent bacterial growth do not stuff the turkey cavities in advance.)
• Rinse the turkey, pat it dry, and season it inside and out with salt and pepper. Pack the neck cavity loosely with some of the stuffing, fold the neck skin under the body, and fasten it with a skewer. Pack the body cavity loosely with some of the remaining stuffing and truss the turkey. Transfer the remaining stuffing to a buttered 3-quart baking dish and reserve it, covered and chilled.
• Spread the turkey with 1/2 stick of the butter and roast it on a rack in a roasting pan in a preheated 425°F. oven for 30 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325°F., baste the turkey with the pan juices, and drape it with a piece of cheesecloth, soaked in the remaining 1 stick butter, melted and cooled. Roast the turkey, basting it every 20 minutes, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours more, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the fleshy part of a thigh registers 180°F. and the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a skewer. During the last 1 1/2 hours of roasting, drizzle the reserved stuffing with the stock, bake it, covered, in the 325°F. oven for 1 hour, and bake it, uncovered, for 30 minutes more. Discard the cheesecloth and string from the turkey, transfer the turkey to a heated platter, reserving the juices in the roasting pan, keep it warm, covered loosely with foil.
• Make the gravy:
• Skim all of the fat from the roasting pan juices, reserving 1/3 cup of the fat, and add the wine to the pan. Deglaze the pan over moderately high heat, scraping up the brown bits, and boil the mixture until it is reduced by half. In a saucepan combine the reserved fat and the flour and cook the roux over moderately low heat, whisking, for 3 minutes. Add the stock and the wine mixture in a stream, whisking, and simmer the gravy, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add the reserved cooked giblets and neck meat, chopped, and salt and pepper to taste, simmer the gravy for 2 minutes, and transfer it to a heated sauceboat.
• Garnish the turkey with the parsley and thyme sprigs and serve it with the gravy and the stuffing.

HERBED PORK ROAST WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• Combine brown sugar and seasonings; rub over roast. Place roast, fat side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°. , Remove roast from pan. Pour pan drippings into a large measuring cup; add water to measure 2 cups. Place flour in a small saucepan; stir in pan drippings until blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve gravy with roast. Freeze option: Place sliced roast in freezer containers; top with gravy. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, gently stirring and adding a little water if necessary.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERBED BREAD STUFFING AND GIBLET GRAVY

Steps:

• Make turkey giblet stock and herbed bread stuffing.
• Roast turkey:.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry.
• Season with salt and pepper inside and out.
• Loosely fill neck cavity with some of stuffing.
• Fold neck skin under body and fasten with a small skewer.
• Loosely fill body cavity with some stuffing and tie drumsticks together with kitchen string.
• Transfer remaining stuffing to a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish and chill, covered.
• Secure wings to body with small skewers if desired for a nicer appearance.
• Put turkey on a rack set in a flameproof roasting pan.
• Roast turkey in middle of oven 30 minutes.
• Melt 1/2 stick butter.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and pour melted butter over turkey.
• Roast turkey, basting every 20 minutes, for 3 to 3 1/2 hours more, or until a thermometer inserted in center of stuffing in body cavity registers 165°F (thigh will be about 180°F).
• Transfer turkey to a heated platter and keep juices in pan.
• Remove skewers and discard string.
• Transfer stuffing from cavities to a serving dish and keep warm, covered.
• Let turkey stand at least 30 minutes and up to 45.
• Increase temperature to 375°F
• Stir together chicken broth and water and drizzle over uncooked stuffing in baking dish.
• Dot stuffing with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and bake in middle of oven 40 minutes while turkey stands; for moist stuffing, bake covered entire time; for less moist stuffing with a slightly crisp top, uncover after 10 minutes.
• Make gravy:.
• Skim fat from pan juices and reserve 1/4 cup fat.
• Add 1 cup giblet stock to roasting pan and deglaze over moderately high heat, scraping up brown bits.
• Add to remaining 3 cups stock and bring to a simmer.
• Whisk together reserved fat and flour in a large heavy saucepan and cook roux over moderately low heat, whisking, 3 minutes.
• Add hot stock to roux in a fast stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in additional juices from turkey platter and season gravy with salt and pepper.
• Note:.
• If you choose not to cook your stuffing inside the bird, your turkey will take less time to roast, only about 2 to 3 hours (thigh should register 170°F).

HERBED PORK ROAST AND CREAMY MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix together rosemary, parsley, thyme and garlic. Cut small slits over surface of roast and insert herb mixture into slits. Place in a roasting pan. Roast until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Remove roast from pan and let stand 10 minutes. Stir soup into pan drippings in roasting pan and heat over a medium flame. Gradually stir in skim milk. Continue to stir until mixture boils. Slice pork and serve with gravy.

HERBED SAUSAGE GRAVY OVER CHEESE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk and oil just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times. Roll to 1/2-in. thickness; cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter. Place a pinch of oregano in the center of each biscuit; top with a cheese cube. , Moisten edge of dough with water and pull up over cheese, forming a pouch; pinch tightly to seal. Place seam side down on a lightly greased baking sheet, pressing down lightly. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in milk and oregano. Mix flour and water until smooth; add to sausage mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve gravy with biscuits.

HERBED RIB EYE ROAST WITH RED WINE GRAVY

Steps:

• Add all chopped ingredents to small clay bowl.
• Drizzle in olive oil as you whisk to form a paste.
• Score the fat side of the roast with a knife and smear the herb paste all over the top.
• Put roast into a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 18 - 20 minutes a pound.
• Red Wine Gravy.
• Remove cooked roast from roasting pan and put on cutting board with well to rest.
• Put roasting pan across two burners of cook top on medium low. (drain any excess grease first)
• When browned bits are nice and hot pour in about 3/4 cup of red wine. Use one you would drink, I used a $3.97 bottle of Lucky Duck Shiraz from Wal-Mart. It is cheap, but good.
• Deglaze the pan with a whisk and cook for several minutes until somewhat concentrated.
• Pour liquid through a sieve to catch any crunchy burned bits. To it pour in about 2 cups of beef or chicken stock. Set liquid aside.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat melt 2-3 tblspns butter. When it bubbles at about 1/4 cup of flour.
• Whisk together and cook about 1 minute.
• Slowly add the liquid from the deglazing until it is smooth and silky.
• Add black pepper and salt to taste.
• Serve with roast and MASHED POTATOES!

CLASSIC ROAST TURKEY WITH HERBED STUFFING AND OLD-FASHIONED GRAVY RECIPE | EPICURIOUS.COM

Steps:

• Place oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 8-inch square baking dish or 2-quart casserole. Lightly brush roasting rack with vegetable oil and place in roasting pan.
• Remove plastic or paper packet of giblets from turkey (usually in small cavity). Remove from packaging and rinse; reserve gizzard and heart; discard floppy, dark purple liver. Remove neck from large cavity. Remove from packaging, rinse, and reserve. Using tweezers or needlenose pliers, remove any feathers and quills still attached to skin (kosher turkeys tend to require this more than others). Pull off and reserve any visible pale yellow knobs of fat from either side of tail (not found on all birds).
• Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry. Loosely fill small (neck) cavity with stuffing. Fold neck skin under body and fasten with metal skewer. Loosely fill large body cavity with stuffing. Transfer remaining stuffing to buttered dish and drizzle with 1/4 cup stock. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Transfer turkey, breast-side up, to rack in roasting pan. Tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks loosely together with kitchen string. Rub turkey all over with softened butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Tightly cover breast area with foil, leaving wings, thighs, and drumsticks exposed.
• Transfer gizzard, heart, neck, and reserved turkey fat to roasting pan around rack. Pour 2 cups stock into pan.
• Roast turkey 45 minutes. Baste with pan juices (lift up foil to reach breast area) and continue roasting, basting every 45 minutes, 1 1/2 hours more (2 1/4 hours total). Baste again and, if pan juices have evaporated into glaze, add 1 cup stock to pan. Roast another 45 minutes (3 hours total). Remove foil from breast area, baste, and add stock if necessary, until instant-read thermometer inserted into fleshy part of thigh (close to but not touching bone) registers 180°F, about 1 hour more (4 hours total).
• Insert instant-read thermometer into center of stuffing in body cavity. If thermometer does not read 165°F, transfer stuffing to microwave-safe baking dish and microwave on high until 165°F, about 3 minutes for 10 degrees. Cover and keep warm. Using turkey holders (or by inserting large metal serving spoon into body cavity), transfer turkey to large serving platter. Let stand 30 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, bake extra stuffing and make gravy: Raise oven temperature to 350°F. Remove giblets and neck from roasting pan and discard. Pour pan juices into measuring cup or gravy separator. Let stand until fat rises to top, 1 to 2 minutes, then skim off and reserve fat or, if using separator, carefully pour juices into measuring cup, reserving fat left in separator.
• Transfer foil-covered dish of extra stuffing to oven and bake 10 minutes. Meanwhile, add enough remaining stock to pan juices to total 4 cups. Measure turkey fat, adding melted butter if necessary to total 6 tablespoons. Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners on moderate heat and add fat. Whisk in flour, scraping up browned bits on bottom of pan, then cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Whisk in pan juice–stock mixture and bring to a boil, whisking often. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, whisking occasionally, until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes. Whisk in remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and keep warm. (Gravy can be kept warm over very low heat, covered, up to 20 minutes. If it thickens, thin with additional stock before serving. If skin forms on top, whisk well to dissolve.)
• When extra stuffing has baked 10 minutes, remove foil and bake, uncovered, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Pour gravy through fine-mesh sieve into large bowl, then transfer to gravy boat. Carve turkey and serve gravy and stuffing alongside.
• Test-Kitchen Tips:
• •To combat dryness, most frozen turkeys and some fresh are injected with a saline solution. This is not a good thing, though: Injected birds generally lack flavor and can have a mushy texture. For this reason, we recommend buying a fresh turkey and checking the label to be sure there aren't any additives. (Look for the words "all natural.") Don't be too concerned, though, with the many other terms that can be applied to turkeys, such as free-range, organic, or heritage. All can be excellent.
• •When buying a fresh bird, be sure to purchase it no more than two days before Thanksgiving. If you must get a frozen bird, defrost it in the refrigerator in a pan to catch drips, allowing a full 24 hours for each 5 pounds.
• •Warm, moist stuffing is an optimal environment for bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli to multiply, so it's important to follow safe procedures. Be sure to make the stuffing at the last minute so it can go into the bird warm. This helps it move above the "danger zone" (the optimal temperature range for bacteria growth) more quickly during roasting. When you remove the turkey from the oven, be sure to check the temperature in the middle of the stuffing to make sure it's 165°F, the temperature at which bacteria will be killed. If it's not 165°F, scoop it out of the cavity and microwave it as directed in the recipe.
• •More stuffing tips: Be sure not to overpack the cavities, as the stuffing will expand during cooking. Loosely fill the turkey, then spread the extra in a casserole dish (no more than 2 inches deep) and bake it after the turkey comes out (be sure to refrigerate it until then to impede bacteria growth). Drizzle the portion in the casserole dish with extra stock to make up for the juices it won't get from the turkey. If you want the stuffing that's cooked inside the turkey to be extra-moist (as opposed to having a crisp crust where it's exposed), cover the exposed portion with a small piece of aluminum foil.
• •Opinions vary on whether or not to stuff the bird—some people think it can cause uneven cooking. For more on the subject, see our turkey primer. If you prefer not to stuff your bird, fill the cavities with a chopped vegetable and herb mixture that will impart its flavor to the meat and pan juices: Chop 1 onion, 1 celery rib with leaves, 1 carrot, and 3 tablespoons fresh parsley. Mix this with 1 teaspoon each dried rosemary, sage, and thyme. Sprinkle the cavities with salt and freshly ground black pepper and place the mixture inside. An unstuffed bird will take about 15 minutes to a half hour less to cook than a stuffed bird. When the turkey is cooked, tilt it to allow any juices that have collected in the cavity to drain into the pan. Do not serve the vegetable mixture, as it may not have cooked to a safe temperature.
• •This recipe can easily be scaled up to serve more people. Estimate about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per person. Cooking times (for a stuffed bird, cooked at 325°F to an internal temperature of 180°F) will be as follows:
• to 12 pounds: 3 to 3 1/2 hours
• to 14 pounds: 3 1/2 to 4 hours
• to 18 pounds: 4 to 4 1/4 hours
• to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
• to 24 pounds: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours
• •Some experts prefer to cook their turkeys to an internal temperature of 170°F (rather than 180°F, as in this recipe). If you don't mind having the meat slightly pink, this is perfectly safe and makes it more moist. However, Rick Rodgers, who created this recipe, believes that the dark meat in particular does not achieve its optimum flavor and texture until it reaches 180°F. If you choose to stuff your turkey and cook it to only 170°F, its stuffing will almost definitely not reach the safe temperature of 165°F. When you remove the turkey from the oven, be sure to check the temperature in the center of the stuffing, and if necessary remove it and microwave it as directed in the recipe.
• •Letting the turkey stand for half an hour after it comes out of the oven is an essential part of the roasting process. When meat roasts, its juices move to the outer edge of the flesh. Letting it rest gives the juices time to redistribute, making for a moister turkey. An added bonus: The resting time provides an excellent window of opportunity to make the gravy and reheat the side dishes. There's no need to cover the bird—it'll stay warm enough, and covering it would only soften the crispy skin.

PORK CHOPS WITH HERBED GRAVY

Steps:

• In a resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, paprika and garlic powder. Set aside 2 teaspoons flour mixture for gravy. Add chops to remaining flour mixture; shake to coat., In a skillet, brown pork chops in oil for 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to a greased shallow 1-qt. baking dish. Add onion to skillet; cook and stir until tender. Stir in reserved flour mixture until blended; cook and stir for 1 minute or until lightly browned. Gradually stir in water. Add the bouillon, basil and thyme. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Pour over pork., Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with tomato. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 160° and tomato is heated through.

TOFU TURKEY WITH HERBED BREAD STUFFING AND WILD MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• 1. To prepare tofu, mash well. Line an 11-inch colander with a single layer of moistened cheesecloth and transfer tofu to colander. Press down to make flat and fold edges of cheesecloth over tofu to smooth. If tofu is medium textured, place a flat object over the surface of the tofu and weigh down with a heavy object for 1 hour. 2. Mix Homemade Stuffing Seasoning ingredients well. 3. For stuffing, sauté vegetables in oil. Sprinkle seasonings, including salt and soy sauce, over vegetables. Add bread cubes and parsley, and mix well. If bread cubes are very dry, add 1/4 to 1 cup water (start with less). Stir and cover to steam a little longer. 4. Preheat oven to 400°. Hollow out tofu to within an inch of colander. Pack in stuffing and cover it with the remaining tofu. Pat down surface so it is flat and firm. 5. Flip filled tofu onto lightly-oiled baking sheet so the flat surface faces down. Remove cheesecloth. 6. Mix basting liquid and brush tofu with half of it, then cover tofu with aluminum foil or with an ovenproof bowl which is a bit larger than the shaped tofu. Bake for an hour. Remove foil, baste again, and return tofu turkey to oven to bake uncovered until "skin" becomes golden brown, about an hour more, basting again halfway through. 7. To prepare gravy, sauté onions and mushrooms in oil. In a small bowl, whisk flour with enough of the measured water to form a thin paste. Add remaining water and soy sauce to vegetables in pot. Bring to boil and cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add flour mixture and stir well. Cook uncovered until desired consistency is reached, about 15 minutes stirring occasionally, adding a little more water toward the end of cooking only if gravy is too thick. 8. To serve, with 2 to 4 spatulas transfer tofu turkey to serving platter and garnish. Serve gravy on the side.

HERBED GRAVY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in the flour until incorporated. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Add the oregano and thyme. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in the strained pan juices or apple juice and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Whisk in the butter, salt and pepper until smooth. Pour into a pitcher and serve.

HERBED TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Pour drippings and loosened browned bits into a 2-cup measuring cup. Skim fat, reserving 1/4 cup. Add enough broth to the drippings to measure 2 cups. , In a small saucepan, combine flour and reserved fat until smooth. Gradually stir in the drippings mixture. Stir in the thyme, sage and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.

HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE WITH HERBED GRAVY

Steps:

• Slice carrots into thin discs, boil in water until soft.
• Put broccoli into colander, pour hot carrots and water over broccoli. This will steam the broccoli till just tender while draining the carrots. Set aside.
• Cut chicken breast into 1/4" cubes. Saute in oil until no longer pink.
• Put chicken, broccoli and carrots into 8-9" deep dish pie plate and stir to mix up.
• To make gravy, saute onion and garlic in butter. Add flour, stir to mix well.
• Remove from heat, add chicken broth, milk, salt and pepper. Return to medium-high heat, and bring to a boil for about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat, add rosemary and fat free half and half.
• Pour gravy over vegetables. Carefully put pie crust over top, pinch edges and cut out a couple of round holes in top of crust for ventilation. Gently brush egg beaters (or beaten egg) lightly over entire crust.
• Bake in preheated oven at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Then turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake another 30 minutes.

HERBED TURKEY BREAST IN GRAVY WITH CREAMED ENGLISH PEAS AND CRANBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the cranberries: In a saucepan over medium-high heat bring the cranberries, orange juice and zest, allspice, and sugar to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberry skins begin to burst, 10 to 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until thickened and the liquid has reduced. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• For the turkey: Blend the fresh herbs, salt, and pepper with 1 tablespoon oil and rub over the turkey breast.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining1 tablespoon oil. Sear the turkey breast until browned, reduce the heat, flip the breast, and add the chicken stock to fill the pan up to 1/4-inch. Cover the pan and cook until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove the turkey from the pan and keep warm.
• For the gravy: Place the turkey pan over medium heat, stir in the flour, and whisk until well blended. Add the chicken stock, thyme, and sage. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until thickened. Strain sauce into a clean pan and whisk in the butter. Keep on low heat to keep warm.
• For the peas: Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Blanch the peas and drain them. Pour out the water from the pan. In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, and white pepper and whisk together until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream, reduce the heat to medium-low, and then add the cheese and peas, cooking until thickened and peas are softened, 10 to 12 minutes.
• For the potatoes: Peel and slice the potato on the bias.
• Heat the oil in a saute pan over high heat and heat until just about smoking. (It's important to have high heat so you get a good browning!)
• Add the potato slices to the pan and cook for 3 minutes on one side. Flip the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives. Turn off the heat.
• For plating: Plate the creamed peas in the center of the plate. Slice the turkey breast on the bias and place on top of the peas. Drizzle the cranberry sauce on the side of the peas. Spoon the gravy over turkey breast.

HERBED SAUSAGE GRAVY OVER CHEESE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk and oil just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times. Roll to 1/2-in. thickness; cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter. Place a pinch of oregano in the center of each biscuit; top with a cheese cube., Moisten edge of dough with water and pull up over cheese, forming a pouch; pinch tightly to seal. Place seam side down on a lightly greased baking sheet, pressing down lightly. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in milk and oregano. Mix flour and water until smooth; add to sausage mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. For each serving, spoon about 1/3 cup gravy over two biscuits.

HERBED PUMPKIN GRAVY

Steps:

• Stir oats into 3 cups water in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the oats are tender and the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Stir 2 cups hot water into the cooked oats. Strain water to use as 'oat broth' into a large sauce pan. Save cooked oats for another use.
• Stir pumpkin puree, sugar, herbes de Provence, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder into the oat broth with a whisk until smooth; add olive oil and stir to combine. Thin the gravy with more hot water, if desired. Place the saucepan over medium heat, bring the gravy to a simmer, and cook until hot, about 10 minutes.

HERBED BEEF ROAST WITH TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°; line a 13 x 9 inch pan with foil, and coat with cooking spray.
• Combine the mince garlic, and next 5 ingredients in a small bowl.
• Rub mixture over rump roast; place roast in prepared pan.
• Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion reads 145° (medium rare); let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare jasmine rice according to package directions.
• Tomato Gravy: melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.
• Slowly whisk in broth; bring to a boil; whisk in tomato paste and next 3 ingredients; decrease heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
• To serve: cut roast in slices; serve with hot cooked rice and Tomato Gravy.

HERBED PAN GRAVY

Steps:

• The giblets and neck from a turkey make a great flavorful stock that helps ensure a rich, tasty gravy, but you may substitute more chicken broth if you prefer.;
• To make giblet stock: Place giblets (except liver), neck and water in a large saucepan. (Reserve the liver for another use or discard.) Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming and discarding any foam, for 1 hour. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• To make gravy: After removing the turkey from the roasting pan, pour any pan juices and fat into a large glass measuring cup and place in the freezer so the fat rises to the top, about 10 minutes. Skim the fat off with a spoon and discard. (Alternatively, pour the pan juices and fat into a fat separator then pour the defatted juices into a large measuring cup.) Add any accumulated juices from the resting turkey to the defatted pan juices; add the reserved giblet stock plus enough chicken broth so the combined liquids measure 5 cups total.
• Whisk 1/2 cup chicken broth and flour in a small bowl until smooth.
• Set the roasting pan over two burners on medium-high heat. Add deglazing liquid; bring to a boil and cook, scraping up the browned bits from the pan, until the liquid is reduced, about 3 minutes. Add the 5 cups of liquid from Step 2. Increase the heat to high and return to a boil, whisking often and scraping up any remaining browned bits. Boil until reduced to 2 3/4 cups, 8 to 12 minutes. Whisk the reserved broth-and-flour mixture into the roasting pan. Boil, whisking constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the gravy through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup. Stir in herbs, if using. Taste and season with salt (if needed) and pepper.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per 3-tablespoon serving: 34 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 2 mg cholesterol; 2 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 0 g fiber; 56 mg sodium; 11 mg potassium.
• 0 Carbohydrate Servings
• Exchanges: 1/2 fat
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare through Step 1 and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

HERBED BROWN GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium high heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, herbs, salt and pepper and stir well.
• Stir the flour into the vegetables and stir to coat them.
• Whisk in the chicken stock, making sure to keep lumps from forming.
• Add the bay leaf and the Kitchen Bouquet and reduce the heat to medium low.
• Let the gravy simmer for 10-15 minutes, until thickened.
• Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and discard vegetables.