JAMES BEARD'S FAVORITE ROAST TURKEY & STUFFING

JAMES BEARD'S FAVORITE ROAST TURKEY & STUFFING image

Yield serves 8 -10

Number Of Ingredients 22

Ingredients:
18- to 20-pound turkey with the liver, gizzard, and heart reserved
1 onion, stuck with 2 whole cloves
1 sprig parsley
salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 quart water
1/2 lemon
8 to 12 Tablespoons butter, softened
freshly ground pepper
strips of fresh or salt pork (or substitute bacon rinds)
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup Cognac or Madeira (optional)
Stuffing:
1 to 1-1/2 cups butter
1 cup finely chopped shallots (or substitute finely chopped scallions)
1-1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon, or 3 Tablespoons fresh tarragon, finely chopped
salt
1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup pine nuts
10 to 12 cups fresh bread crumbs
1 or 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped (optional)

Steps:

Make the stuffing first. Melt 1/2 cup of the butter in a heavy skillet (12 inch if possible). Add the shallots or scallions and the tarragon, and allow to cook until the shallots are just wilted. Add 1 Tablespoon of salt, the pepper and pine nuts, and then additional melted butter as needed: I should say another 1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on the amount the shallots have absorbed. Finally, add the crumbs and toss well. Taste the mixture and, if required, add more of any of the ingredients. A clove or two of garlic may also be added to the mixture. Remove the neck from the bird, if that has not already been done, and put the neck in a 2-quart saucepan with the liver, gizzard, heart, and the onion, parsley, 2 teaspoons of salt, and the thyme. Add the water, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, skimming. Then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Drain and reserve the stock for the sauce. If you like, chop the gizzard, heart, and liver to add to the sauce.