Nutty Stuffing Food

WINTER FRUIT AND NUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pears; sprinkle with sugar. Sauté until pears are golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to very large bowl; mix in cinnamon. Melt remaining 10 tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium heat. Add onions and celery; sauté until golden, about 15 minutes. Add wine and next 5 ingredients. Simmer until liquid is reduced almost to glaze and mixture is soft and moist, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Mix into pears. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Reheat to lukewarm before continuing.)
• Mix bread and pecans into fruit mixture. Season stuffing with salt and pepper.
• To bake stuffing in turkey:
• Loosely fill main cavity and neck cavity of turkey with stuffing. Generously butter baking dish. Spoon remaining stuffing into prepared dish. Cover dish with buttered foil, buttered side down. Bake stuffing in dish - alongside turkey or while turkey is resting - until heated through, about 25 minutes. Uncover stuffing in dish. Bake until top of stuffing is slightly crisp and golden, about 15 minutes longer.
• To bake stuffing in dish:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish. Bake uncovered until heated through, about 35 minutes.

APPLE WALNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly butter a bundt pan.
• In a dry saute pan set over medium heat, toast the walnuts until light golden brown, about 5 minutes; cool and chop.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the celery, onion, apple and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes; remove from the heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the stuffing mix, sage, thyme and walnuts. Mix together the stock, apple butter and egg in a separate bowl, then add it to the mixing bowl along with the sausage-vegetable mixture. Add 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and stir gently to combine thoroughly.
• Transfer the stuffing mixture to the bundt pan and bake until hot and golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes. If the top starts to get too brown, cover with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes in the bundt pan, then unmold onto a serving platter.
• Combine the apples, apple cider, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, cloves and salt in a Dutch oven or large, heavy pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until the apples are very tender, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Puree the apple mixture using an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender (be careful when blending hot liquids).
• Transfer the Dutch oven to the oven. Bake, uncovered, stirring every 20 minutes so that the bottom does not burn, until the mixture is very thick and a rich brown caramel color, about 3 hours. Let cool completely.

FRUIT AND NUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the celery, apples and onions and cook, stirring, until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley, sage, thyme, fennel, salt and pepper and cook for 1 more minute. Add the chicken broth and scrape up any brown bits that have formed on the bottom of the skillet, cooking for an additional minute. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooled mixture with the stuffing, apricots, cherries, pecans and beaten eggs and mix well. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• Bake until golden brown on top, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

MULTIGRAIN STUFFING WITH NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a 3-quart baking dish. Melt 8 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, apples and thyme, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft, about 3 minutes. Add the almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, dried blueberries and dried cranberries. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.
• Whisk the eggs and parsley in a large bowl. Add the bread, then pour in the broth mixture and toss.
• Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish and dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until golden, about 30 more minutes.

CRANBERRY-WALNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2- to 3-quart glass or ceramic baking dish.
• In a dry saute pan set over medium heat, toast the walnuts until lightly golden brown, about 5 minutes; cool and chop.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the celery, onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cranberries and cook to just slightly plump them, about 1 minute, and then remove from the heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the stuffing mix, sage, thyme and walnuts. Mix together the stock and egg in a large measuring cup, then add it to the mixing bowl along with the sausage-vegetable mixture. Add 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and stir gently to combine thoroughly.
• Transfer the stuffing mixture to the baking dish and bake until hot and golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve hot.

NUTTY STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together, and divide into 16 balls.
• Bake at 180C for 25 minutes.

ROLLED TURKEY BREAST WITH NUTTY FRUIT STUFFING

Steps:

• For the turkey: Place the turkey in a large bowl or pot, add the hard apple cider and salt. Then cover and refrigerate in the brine overnight.
• For the stuffing: In a large skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter, then add the celery and onions, and saute until soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the calvados, apricots, dates, salt and pepper. Stir and cook at a simmer until the liquid reduces and thickens, and the fruit is plump, about 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl, add the toasted bread, broth, pecans, sage, thyme and eggs. Add the vegetable mixture to bowl and mix to incorporate. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a casserole dish.
• Drain the turkey from the brine, rinse and pat all over to dry. Lay the turkey skin-side down on a work surface and use a sharp knife to butterfly the breast so that it lays flat. Sprinkle the turkey with 2 tablespoons of the Poultry Seasoning, then place 3 cups of the stuffing in the center of the breast and fold the ends of the turkey to cover. Flip the turkey over to seam-side down, and use kitchen twine to tie the turkey at 1-inch intervals.
• Place the remaining stuffing in the prepared casserole dish, and set aside.
• Arrange the sliced onions in the center of a roasting pan. Rub the turkey skin with the butter, sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Poultry Seasoning, and then place the turkey over the sliced onions. Roast, basting occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 hours.
• After about 1 hour 30 minutes, add the stuffing to the oven and bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the turkey from the pan and rest for 10 to 15 minutes, reserving the pan with the drippings for a later use.
• For the gravy: Place the roasting pan with the drippings on the stovetop set over medium-high heat. Pour in the wine to deglaze the pan. Use a spoon to scrape the bits from the bottom of the pan.
• In a medium bowl, add 1/4 cup of the chicken broth and the flour. Whisk to make a slurry.
• Add the remaining 1 cup chicken broth and the slurry into the roasting pan. Whisk until combined and smooth. Then simmer until the gravy reduces and thickens, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the strings from the turkey and carve it into slices. Serve the turkey with the stuffing and gravy.
• Place the marjoram, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in a spice grinder or blender and grind until powdery.

SAUSAGE NUT STUFFING CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Have ready an 18-20cm springform cake tin. Heat the oil and butter and gently fry the shallots and celery for 5 mins without colouring them. Tip into a bowl and add the breadcrumbs, sausagemeat, walnuts, orange zest and sage. Add plenty of pepper and a little salt, if using, and mix together with your hands. Add the egg, then mix well.
• Arrange the bacon slices in the tin, leaving 5cm strip on the base, then lay them up around the sides of the tin and let the excess hang over the edge. Carefully fill the tin with the stuffing mix, levelling it on top. Fold the bacon over the top of the stuffing, gathering and twisting the ends loosely in the centre. Scatter over the remaining walnuts, pressing them in slightly.
• Set the tin on a baking sheet to catch any juices that escape, then bake for 40-45 mins until the top is golden. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove onto a serving plate and scatter with parsley. Cut into wedges to serve.

APRICOT & HAZELNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Fry onions in the butter. Stir in nuts; fry until golden. Remove from the heat, add apricots, breadcrumbs, parsley and lemon zest. Mix in the egg and season. Use half to stuff the neck end of the turkey; shape the rest into balls.
• Put the balls in a buttered baking dish, then drizzle with oil. Bake for 30 mins until golden, or roast them around the turkey.

VEGAN STUFFING

Steps:

• Put the linseeds in a small bowl and mix with 2 tbsp water, then set aside for 5-10 mins until the water thickens to a gluey consistency. Meanwhile, put the onion in a food processor and whizz until finely chopped. Heat the oil in a frying pan, tip in the onion and cook for 5 mins until softened.
• Tip the nuts into the food processor and whizz until coarsely chopped. Sprinkle 3 tbsp of the nuts over a plate and set aside. Add the lentils, breadcrumbs, sage, apple, soaked linseeds (plus any liquid in the bowl), chopped onions and plenty of seasoning to the processor. Pulse to blend the mixture until just combined - don't chop too finely or the stuffing will lose its nice nutty texture.
• Oil and line a baking tray with foil. Remove the blade from the processor and oil your hands. Scoop out walnut-sized chunks of stuffing, roll into balls, then roll on the plate of chopped nuts to coat. Place on the prepared baking tray. Can be covered with cling film and chilled for up to two days or frozen for two months.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unwrap (if chilled) and bake for 25-30 mins until the nuts are a little darker and the balls have firmed up slightly - they will be softer than traditional stuffing balls but will firm up after a few mins cooling. If you're cooking from frozen, bake for 35-40 mins.

NUTTY RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a frying pan. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and saute over medium-low heat until tender/crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Add to the cooked rice and toss to mix.
• Add all the seasonings, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and salt & pepper to taste.
• Makes enough to stuff a 10-12 pound turkey. Or bake in a covered baking dish at 325 for 1 hour.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS & PINE NUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Put couscous in a large heatproof bowl, pour over stock, then cover with cling film for 5 mins until liquid is absorbed. Melt half the butter in a pan, then gently cook onion and garlic for 5-8 mins until soft. Set aside. Dry-fry pine nuts for a few mins until golden. Combine onions, pine nuts, apricots and herbs with couscous. Add a good squeeze of lemon juice, season, then stir in egg. Leave to cool.
• Using the back of a knife, stretch rashers to 1½ times their original length. Lay, slightly overlapping, on a large sheet of foil to form a rectangle. Make a few slashes in the thickest part of each chicken breast and lay between 2 sheets of cling film. Use the base of a heavy pan to bash the chicken until about 1cm thick. Arrange chicken over the bacon, fitting so there are no gaps, but leave a border on longer sides. (This helps to roll up the chicken.)
• Spoon stuffing over chicken in a strip along one of the longest sides. Using tin foil to help, roll bacon and chicken around stuffing like a log. Wrap tightly in foil, twisting the ends to secure, then chill for 2 hrs or up to 1 day.
• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Place chicken, join-side down, in a roasting tray. Cook for 30 mins, then unwrap foil and brush roast with remaining butter. Cook, uncovered, for 20-30 mins more until cooked through, and the stuffing is hot (a metal skewer inserted into the chicken's centre should come out hot). Cool and wrap in fresh foil to transport.