James Beard'S Favorite Roast Turkey & Stuffing

• 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)

1. 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.
2. 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.

ingredients, turkey, onion, parsley, salt, thyme, water, lemon, butter, freshly ground pepper, salt pork, flour, cognac, stuffing, butter, shallots, tarragon, salt, freshly ground pepper, pine nuts, bread crumbs, garlic

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/james-beards-favorite-roast-turkey-stuffing-50108032 (may not work)