Thanksgiving Roast Turkey
Tidbits... I celebrate Thanksgiving every year with love and an abundance of memories and appreciation of all things good in my life that continue to bless me every day.
Ingredients
- Whole fresh turkey - 12 -15 pounds (Cleaned)
- Herbs -sage, thyme, parsley - to taste (rub)
- Butter - 25 g softened
- Salt and Pepper - to taste
- Bread Chestnut Stuffing
- Bread Cubes Toasted - 12 cups
- Chestnuts - 2 cups (about 20) Boiled
- Sausage (optional) - 2 removed from casings
- Giblets - Cut in small Pieces
- Sedano - 2 stalks
- White onion - 2 medium diced
- Sage leaves fresh - about 20 leaves chopped
- Parsley - 1 bunch
- Melted butter - 200 g
- Broth (bouillon) - 500 ml
Instructions
- Wash turkey and pat dry with a towel. Rub inside with softened butter, salt, pepper and mixed herbs. Place turkey breast side up in large baking pan.
- Make broth with giblets and bouillion cube.( or homemade chicken broth. Set aside.
- Cut a slit in each chestnut and boil for 10 minutes. Discard water, peel and chop chestnuts in small pieces.
- In a large skillet over low heat, melt butter and cook sausage, chopped giblets, celery and onion until light gold and meat is no longer pink (about 10 minutes.) Add sage and chestnuts and cook an additional 5 minutes. In a large bowl add this mixture to toasted bread cubes. Pour a small amount of broth stirring until well coated. Add more as needed. The mixture should be moist but not too wet.
- Put turkey in a large baking pan with sides. Stuff turkey with mixture and any leftover stuffing can be baked separately in a buttered dish at 375˚ for 25 - 30 minutes.
- With kitchen string, tie in legs and fold wings underneath close cavity with a skewer or kitchen string. Pour about 1/2 cup broth in pan under turkey.
- Bake at 375˚F in preheated oven. After two hours turn down to 325˚F and cover. Baste with butter every 45 minutes. After 3 hours use a meat thermometer putting it under thick part of thigh but not touching bone. It should read 180˚F.when it is done. (Cooking time varies approximately 20 minutes per pound of turkey stuffed or 15 minutes per pound unstuffed)
- Remove from oven and let rest for at least 20 minutes. Place on large serving platter. Happy Thanksgiving!
