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Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing  (Serves 8)

This recipe is our Hoiday favorite.

Stuffing:

6 cups dry Italian bread, cut into cubes

1 cup milk

2 TB. unsalted butter

Try one of our recipes for Thanksgiving side dishes

2 TB. olive oil

2 onions, chopped

4 oz. pancetta, chopped

2 TB. fresh sage, chopped

1 cup coarsely chopped chestnuts *

1 apple, peeled and chopped

Salt and pepper

Turkey:

1 TB. chopped fresh rosemary

1 TB. chopped fresh sage

1 (12-14 lb.) turkey

Salt and pepper

1 cup dry white wine

To make the stuffing, put the bread cubes in a large bowl and add the milk.  Let soak for 10 minutes.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the oil.  Add the onions and pancetta.

Cook about 10 minutes until the onions are golden and pancetta begins to brown.

Stir in sage.  Remove from heat.

Squeeze the milk from the bread and place the bread in a large bowl. Add the chestnuts and apple.

Transfer the onion-pancetta mixture to the bowl.  Season with salt and pepper.

Mix well.  Allow to cool.  Stuffing can be refrigerated for 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350-degress F.

Combine the chopped rosemary and sage,

Lift the skin of the turkey and spread the herb mixture between the skin and the meat.

Fill the turkey with the stuffing.

Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan and bake for 1 hour.

After the first hour, begin to baste the turkey every 30 minutes with the wine and juices in the pan.

Roast an additional 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

The turkey is done when the temperature at the thickest part of the turkey reaches 175-degrees F.

Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes.

Transfer the stuffing to a bowl and carve the turkey.

NOTE:   You can roast the chestnuts yourself or purchase them packaged in cans, jars, or vacuum-sealed.                 Be sure the packaged chestnuts are not sweetened.   To learn how to roast chestnuts, click here.

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