Christmas Turkey

Name: Christmas Turkey
Total time: 4 h 30 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 1 small turkey (13 to 14 pounds); Salt and pepper; 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) butter, softened; 4 large hard rolls (like Italian or kaiser); 1 1/2 cups milk; 1/3 cup lard; 1 large onion, chopped; turkey giblets, washed and chopped; 3 cups chopped celery; 2 tart apples, peeled and chopped; 15 pitted prunes, chopped; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts; 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

By William Norwich

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Rating: 4(5)
Notes: Read community notes

Featured in: Down Mexico Way

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Ingredients

Yield:10 servings

For the Turkey

1small turkey (13 to 14 pounds)
Salt and pepper
16tablespoons (2 sticks) butter, softened

For the Stuffing

4large hard rolls (like Italian or kaiser)
1½cups milk
⅓cup lard
1large onion, chopped
turkey giblets, washed and chopped
3cups chopped celery
2tart apples, peeled and chopped
15pitted prunes, chopped
½cup chopped walnuts
2teaspoons salt
1teaspoon black pepper
½teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Wash the turkey inside and out. Dry with paper towels. Set aside.
Step 3
In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt the lard and sauté the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the giblets and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the celery, apples, nuts and prunes, and sauté for 2 minutes. Drain the bread and add to the skillet. Stir in the seasonings. Sauté for 2 minutes, until the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat. Set aside and let cool. Spoon the stuffing into the turkey body and the neck cavities, cover with the skin flaps and sew up with kitchen twine. Rub the turkey with salt and pepper and then with 4 tablespoons butter.
Step 4
Place an adjustable V-shape roasting rack in a large, deep roasting pan. Arrange so the turkey (breast side down) sits high in the pan. Add enough water to cover the bottom, to keep the drippings from burning, but leave plenty of space between the water level and the turkey. Roast on the oven's lowest rack for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Turn the turkey breast side up on the V-shaped rack. Roast for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and rub with salt and pepper and 4 tablespoons of butter.
Step 5
Melt the remaining butter. Return the turkey to the oven and roast the turkey for 2½ to 3 hours or until the thigh juices run clear when pierced, basting with some of the remaining melted butter every 20 minutes. Add water to the pan as needed.
Step 6
Remove the turkey from the oven and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes, loosely covered with foil. Remove the stuffing to a bowl. Carve and joint the turkey as desired.
For the Stuffing
1. Step 2
  Break up the rolls into 1½-inch pieces and place in a bowl. Pour the milk over the bread and toss to coat. Set aside, tossing the bread occasionally to keep wet.