Roasted Turkey Thighs Stuffed With Dried Cranberries Mushrooms And Sausage Food

TURKEY THIGHS WITH PICKLED CRANBERRIES AND ONIONS FOR TWO

Steps:

• Finely grate 1/2 teaspoon zest from the lemon and put it in a small bowl with the garlic and thyme. Halve the lemon and squeeze 1 tablespoon of the juice into the bowl. Mix everything into a paste.
• Pat the turkey thighs dry and season with salt and pepper. Smear turkey with the paste and place thighs on a plate. Refrigerate, uncovered, so the skin can dry out, for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Meanwhile, squeeze the remaining juice from the lemon halves into a medium bowl. Add the onion, cranberries, lime juice, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt, tossing well. Let the mixture sit at room temperature, tossing occasionally, until the onions wilt and turn pink, 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate until serving. (These can be made up to 3 days in advance.)
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put turkey thighs on a baking pan and dot with butter. Roast the thighs for 40 to 50 minutes, until the skin is crisp, the meat is cooked through and the juices run clear. (No need to rest here.)
• Serve turkey with a little of the cranberries and pickles on top, with herbs scattered over everything.

CRANBERRY STUFFED TURKEY BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
• With a sharp knife, butterfly breasts open to lay flat. Place each breast between two sheets of waxed paper, and flatten with a mallet. Spread the prepared stuffing to within 1/4 inch of the edge of each breast. Sprinkle each one with chopped pecans and dried cranberries, reserving some of the cranberries for garnish. Roll up tightly in a jellyroll style, starting with the long end. Tuck in ends, and tie in sections with string, about 4 sections around the middle and one running the length of the roll to secure the ends.
• Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully brown rolls on all sides.
• Place skillet in oven, uncovered. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature is at 170 degrees F (78 degrees C) when taken with a meat thermometer. Do not let these get overly dry.
• Allow rolls to set for 15 minutes before removing string, and slicing into 1/2 to 3/4 inch circles. Leave one roll whole, and slice the other for presentation. Stuffing will be spiraled into meat. Present on your prettiest platter on a bed of curly lettuce, and garnish by sprinkling with the remaining 1/2 cup pecan halves and the reserved dried cranberries.

GLAZED ROAST TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. In 10-inch skillet, melt 1 cup butter over medium heat. Cook celery and onion in butter, stirring frequently, until onion is tender. Stir in about one-third of the bread cubes. Place in large bowl. Add remaining bread cubes and remaining stuffing ingredients; toss.
• Stuff turkey just before roasting. Fill wishbone area with stuffing first. Fasten neck skin to back with skewer. Fold wings across back with tips touching. Fill body cavity lightly. (Do not pack--stuffing will expand while cooking.) Tuck drumsticks under band of skin at tail, or tie together with heavy string, then tie to tail.
• Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush with 2 tablespoons butter. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone. Do not add water.
• Roast uncovered, following Timetable for approximate total cooking time. Thermometer will read 165°F when turkey is done, and the drumstick should move easily when lifted or twisted. Thermometer placed in center of stuffing will read 165°F when done. If a meat thermometer is not used, begin testing for doneness about 30 minutes before Timetable indicates. (See Timetable for Roasting Poultry for exact times.)
• In 1-quart saucepan, mix all glaze ingredients. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. Brush glaze on turkey about 20 minutes before turkey is done.
• Place a tent of foil loosely over turkey when it begins to turn golden. When two-thirds done, cut band of skin or string holding legs. When turkey is done, place on warm platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Let stand about 15 minutes for easiest carving. To serve, brush again with glaze before carving.