8 Treasure Stuffed Turkey With Shiraz Honey Jus Food

POP'S EIGHT TREASURE RICE FLAMBEE AND GRAND MARNIER ORANGES

Steps:

• Wash and soak the sweet rice overnight.
• Add the rice to a medium sized pot and pour enough water to cover about 1-inch more than the level of the rice. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the rice from the heat and let cool.
• Coat the inside of a large, shallow bowl or deep plate with oil or non-stick spray. Place a thin layer of the cooked rice into the bottom of the bowl. Cover the entire inner surface of the bowl, making sure that there are not any gaps or holes. Press the nuts and fruits into the rice layer. Be sure that the pattern is comprised of different nuts and fruits so that each piece of the rice will contain all of the components.
• Add the bean paste above the rice layer. Make sure that the paste is just about flush with the top of the bowl. Cover the paste with another layer of rice.
• Place the rice-coated bowl into a large bamboo steamer. Using high steam, cook the filled bowl for 2 hours until the rice and the nuts are very soft.
• Flip the bowl over onto a plate. In a sautee pan, add butter and sautee the oranges. Deglaze with Grand Marnier and flambe. Pour on top and serve as soon as possible. Plating: Slice the rice dome in slices like you would a round cake or a pie and serve.

JUNE'S OZONI

Steps:

• Make chicken stock by cooking chicken breasts in 8 cups boiling water and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook in boiling water for 10 minutes, (add dried scallops here if you like) then lower heat and cook for about 30 minutes. While making stock, wash and drain all vegetables. Cut mizuna into 2 strips (you won't need much of this-just to add green color). Slice the kamaboko fairly thin. Put a few mochi into toaster and toast until puffy.
• Remove chicken from stock onto a plate. While chicken is cooling, strain the soup in either cheesecloth or some kind of cloth to strain* to a clean pot. Add the carrots and daikon and cook until tender (about 10 to 15 minutes). (Shred 1 breast of chicken and add to broth. Save the rest to make chicken salad or whatever for another time.) Check flavor and add salt if needed. Just before serving, put mizuna in soup just to parboil-must be crunch/crisp. Put toasted mochi in a bowl, pour the soup over mochi, then put several slices of kamaboko on top and serve.

SALT-CRUSTED PRIME RIB WITH STAR ANISE-SHIITAKE MEAT JUS

Steps:

• Pre-heat large, roasting pan in a 550 degree oven. Rub meat with oil. Mix the ground peppers and salt together. Generously coat the meat, patting the mix in. (This should be done at least 4 hours in advance, preferably overnight). Place in heavy roasting pan and in oven and roast until brown, about 30 minutes. Turn oven down to 325 degrees, cover the meat with foil to prevent burning and roast, 2-3 hours, depending on weight. I shoot for medium rare, about 130 degrees. Let meat rest on a cutting board for 15-20 minutes before slicing. Place roasting pan on high heat on the stove. Add shallots and mushrooms to brown, about 5 minutes. Deglaze with wine and scrape off drippings and reduce by 75%. Add stock, star anise, soy sauce, thyme and simmer for 20-30 minutes, about 50% reduction. Check for seasoning. Remove star anise and transfer to a blender. Blend and add butter and check for flavor. Reserve warm.

STUFFED NANKING BRINED TURKEY WITH FIVE TREASURE SWEET RICE

Steps:

• Make brine:
• Remove neck, giblets, and liver from turkey and reserve for another use. Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry.
• Place whole nutmeg in center of 9-inch-square of cheesecloth. Using back of knife or cleaver, smash nutmeg. Add Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, coriander seeds and mace (if using), gather cheesecloth around spices, and tie tightly with kitchen string.
• In large stock pot over high heat, bring 2 gallons water to boil. Add spice package and ginger, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes. Stir in salt, remove from heat, and let cool. Strain out and discard spice package and ginger.
• Place turkey in cooled brine (brine should completely cover turkey; if it doesn't add additional chicken stock) and refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Make stuffing:
• In large pot, soak rice in enough water to cover by 2 inches for 4 hours, then drain and set aside. In small, dry skillet over moderate heat, toast pine nuts, shaking skillet occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove freom heat and set aside.
• In medium saucepan over high heat, combine 1 cup water, chestnuts, and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until chestnuts are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in butter and continue to cook, uncovered, until most of liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In heavy, large skillet over moderately high heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add shallots and garlic and sauté until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add sausage and mushrooms and sauté 2 minutes. Add rice and sauté, uncovered, until grains are coated with oil, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately low and slowly pour in stock. Continue cooking until rice is translucent and stock is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
• When rice is room temperature, stir in pine nuts, chestnuts, salt, and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Remove turkey from brine and place, breast side up, on wire rack set over paper towel-lined, rimmed baking sheet to drain completely. Pat dry. Loosely fill large body cavity (and neck cavity if desired) with stuffing. Fold neck skin under body and secure with skewers. Tie legs together with kitchen string and tuck wings under bird or secure with kitchen string or skewers.
• Brush melted butter over breast side, then transfer turkey, breast side down, to rack set in large roasting pan. Brush other side with melted butter. Add 2 cups water to pan and roast 45 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Remove turkey from oven and flip over so breast side faces up, then return to oven and roast, adding water if pan juices evaporate, 45 minutes.
• Raise oven temperature to 425°F and roast until thermometer inserted in center of body cavity (stuffing) registers 165°F (fleshy part of thigh will be about 180°F; do not touch bone) and juices run clear when thigh is pierced with skewer, about 45 minutes. If skin starts to brown too much, tent breast with foil.
• Transfer turkey to platter, remove skewers, and discard string. Transfer stuffing from cavity to serving dish and keep warm, covered. Let turkey stand 30 minutes before carving.

CLASSIC STUFFED TURKEY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the onions, celery and mushrooms in butter until tender. Add broth and seasonings; mix well. Place bread cubes in a large bowl; add mushroom mixture and toss to coat. Stir in enough warm water to reach desired moistness. , Just before baking, loosely stuff turkey. Place any remaining stuffing in a greased baking dish; cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together with kitchen string. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush with melted butter., Bake turkey, uncovered, at 325° for 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° for the turkey and 165° for the stuffing, basting occasionally with pan drippings. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.), Bake additional stuffing, covered, for 30-40 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until lightly browned. Cover turkey with foil and let stand for 20 minutes before removing stuffing and carving. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy.