Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Gravy
- 1 small (8 to 10) pound turkey, thawed, rinsed and giblets removed
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 2 cups mushrooms
- 2 teaspoons celery seed
- Butter
- Salt and pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground sage
- 6 cups plain stuffing croutons, store bought
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup water
- In a non-stick skillet, cook bacon until crisp.
- Remove bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Allow bacon to cool and crumble.
- Add onions and celery to bacon fat and cook until tender.
- Stir in mushrooms and cook until golden.
- Stir in seasonings.
- Remove skillet from heat and let cool.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Soak 3 cups stuffing croutons in water.
- Squeeze out water from croutons so that they are moist but not soggy.
- In a large bowl, combine dry and moist croutons with onion mushroom mixture.
- Mix in eggs and moisten with water if necessary.
- Fill cavity of turkey with stuffing.
- Cover opening of cavity with foil.
- Tuck wings under turkey.
- Make a small slit in neck skin and tuck legs through slit to secure.
- Transfer leftover stuffing to a baking dish, cover with foil and bake alongside turkey.
- (This may need to be moistened.)
- Place stuffed turkey in roasting pan.
- Rub turkey with butter and season.
- Roast uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue roasting for approximately 3 hours or 15 to 20 minutes per pound.
- Baste the turkey with its drippings occasionally as it cooks.
- Turkey is done when pricked with a knife on the thigh the juices run clear.
- When turkey is done, transfer to a cutting board and cover with foil.
- Allow turkey to rest so that juices can be reabsorbed.
- Place roasting pan over medium high heat.
- Skim off excess fat with a spoon and reserve in a bowl.
- Add 3 cups hot chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
- Using a wooden spoon, scrape up brown bits stuck to bottom of pan.
- In a small dish, combine into a paste 3 tablespoons flour with 3 tablespoons of reserved fat.
- Whisk flour mixture into simmering gravy.
- Season with salt and pepper.
turkey, bacon, onion, celery, mushrooms, celery, butter, salt, ground sage, stuffing croutons, eggs, water
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/roast-turkey-with-stuffing-and-gravy-recipe.html (may not work)