View source for Roast Turkey with Corn Bread Stuffing

== Description ==
* Makes approximately 3 quarts, or 12 cups of stuffing
== Ingredients ==
* ¼ lbs [[butter]]
* 1 [[turkey meat|turkey]], fresh (12 – 16 lbs)
* ½ lbs [[salt pork]], thinly sliced

=== Corn bread stuffing ===
* 2 pack corn bread mix (10 oz)
* ½ cup [[celery]], chopped
* 1 [[onion]], medium, minced
* ½ cup [[butter]]
* 2 [[egg yolk]]s
* [[salt]]
* [[pepper]]

=== Turkey stock ===
* turkey [[giblets]] + neck and wings
* 3 cups [[water]]
* ½ [[onion]], small, sliced
* ½ [[garlic]] clove
* ½ [[bay leaf]]
* ⅛ tsp [[basil]], crumbled
* ⅛ tsp [[rosemary]], crumbled
* ⅛ tsp [[thyme]], crumbled
* ⅛ tsp [[salt]]

===Turkey giblet gravy ===
* ¼ cup pan drippings
* ¼ cup [[flour]]
* 1 cup [[water]]
* 2 cups [[turkey stock]]
* turkey [[giblets]], cooked, chopped
* [[salt]]
* [[pepper]]

== Procedures ==
# Preheat oven to 425°F.
# Cut [[butter]] into very thin slices; place in freezer to harden while you prepare bird.
# Wash [[turkey meat|turkey]] inside and out.
# Remove and reserve neck, giblets and wing tips.
# Pat dry with paper toweling.
# Starting at the breast, separate the skin from the [[meat]] by working your fingers between them.
# Slice your hand under skin as far as you can go and gently free the skin on both sides of the breast.
# Loosen it around the upper part of the legs, stopping about halfway down the legs.
# Insert slices of the cold [[butter]], first under the leg skin, then under the breast skin.
# Reshape the loosened skin on the bird by patting it gently back in place. It will sag a bit but don"t let that upset you; it will cook back in place.
# Wrap bird loosely in waxed paper and refrigerate while preparing stuffing.
# Fill cavity of [[turkey meat|turkey]] loosely with stuffing.
# Fasten neck skin of [[turkey meat|turkey]] to body with skewer.
# Push legs under band of skin at tail or tie to tail.
# Place slices of [[salt]] [[pork]] over breast and fasten with wooden picks.
# Place [[turkey meat|turkey]] on its side on rack in shallow open roasting pan.
# Cook for 15 minutes, then turn bird on other side and roast for 15 minutes longer.
# Lower temperature to 325°F.
# And continue to roast [[turkey meat|turkey]], turning the bird from side to side and basting often with the drippings from pan, for about 3½ to 4 hours, or until juices run yellow - no longer pink - when thigh is pierced with a fork.
# Roast [[turkey meat|turkey]] breast side up for the last 15 minutes of cooking time.
# Transfer [[turkey meat|turkey]] to serving platter and let rest 30 minutes before carving.
# Reserve all drippings in pan for gravy.

=== Corn bread stuffing ===
# Prepare [[corn]] bread, following label directions, or use your own favorite recipe. Cool.
# Crumble enough to make 7 cups and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
# Sauté [[celery]] and [[onion]] in [[butter]] in a large skillet until soft.
# Spoon vegetables and [[butter]] over [[corn]] bread crumbs.
# Beat [[egg yolk]]s in a medium-sized bowl; stir in stock and pour mixture over [[corn]] bread.
# Stir lightly to blend.
# Season with [[salt]] and [[pepper]] to taste.

=== Turkey stock ===
# Combine giblets, neck, and wing tips with [[water]] in a large saucepan; add remaining ingredients.
# Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until liver is tender.
# Remove liver and continue to simmer mixture for about 1 hour, or until remaining giblets are tender.
# Strain mixture; remove and chop giblets and liver for gravy.
# Reserve stock.

===Turkey giblet gravy ===
# Pour off all [[turkey meat|turkey]] fat from roasting pan into a glass measuring cup.
# Measure and return ¼ cup to pan.
# Sprinkle [[flour]] into fat; cook and stir 2 or 3 minutes over low heat.
# Add [[water]] and 2 cups of the reserved [[turkey stock]].
# Cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits in pan with wooden spoon, until gravy thickens and bubbles 2 minutes.
# Strain gravy into saucepan; add chopped giblets and reserved liver.
# Taste; season with [[salt]] and [[pepper]] if needed.

__NOTOC__
[[Category:Thanksgiving Main Dishes]]
[[Category:Basil Recipes]]
[[Category:Cornbread Recipes]]
[[Category:Salt pork Recipes]]
[[Category:Rosemary Recipes]]
[[Category:Turkey recipes]]
[[Category:Giblet Recipes]]
[[Category:Turkey stock and broth Recipes]]