A traditional chestnut stuffing, made with whole wheat bread and seasoned with thyme, marjoram, savory, and rosemary, is cooked in turkey for a memorable holiday meal.
INGREDIENTS (for 1 servings):
- 2 pounds chestnuts
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups minced onion
- 2 cups minced celery
- 1 1/2 loaves SARA LEE® Soft & Smooth™ Whole Grain White Bread, cubed
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon dried savory
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
With a sharp knife cut a cross on the flat side of each chestnut. Simmer, covered with water, in a saucepan for 5 minutes. Drain. While hot, remove the shells and inner brown skins. Cover with fresh water. Boil for 20 to 30 minutes until tender. Drain. Chop coarsely.
To prepare the stuffing, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in onions and celery, and cook until tender. Thoroughly mix in bread cubes and chestnuts. Season with thyme, marjoram, savory, and rosemary. Mix in enough chicken broth to moisten.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Wash turkey with cold water, and pat dry. Rub salt and pepper into body cavities. Loosely spoon stuffing into turkey. Close skin with skewers or kitchen twine, and tie drumsticks together. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
Roast turkey 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, until internal temperature of thigh reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) and stuffing reaches 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). A foil tent may be placed over the turkey during the last half of roasting time to avoid over browning. Remove from oven, place on platter, and allow the turkey to stand for 20 minutes before carving.
The original recipe, Roast Turkey With Tasty Chestnut Stuffing, was submitted by Christine L., and contains 1102 calories, 51.3 g fat, 263 mg cholesterol, 998 mg sodium, 76.6 g carbohydrates, 6.9 g fiber, and 78.9 g protein.