CHRISTMAS CROWN RECIPES

Steps:

• Prepare the stuffing: melt the butter in a frying pan, add the onion and bacon, and cook until the onion is soft and both the onion and bacon are golden. Transfer to a large bowl, mix in the remaining stuffing ingredients, and leave until cold. Place the lemon zest, parsley stalks, thyme, and celery into the cavity of the turkey. Fill the neck end with stuffing. Put the leftover stuffing into an ovenproof dish and set aside. Shape the stuffed end of the turkey into a neat round and secure the loose skin with fine skewers. Tie the legs with string to give a neat shape.  Weigh the turkey and calculate the cooking time, allowing 20 minutes per 500 grams. Arrange two large sheets of foil across a large roasting tin.  Place the turkey on top and spread the butter over the bird, concentrating on the breast in particular. Season with a little salt and plenty of pepper. If you are using the bacon rashers, overlap them across the turkey, again concentrating on the breast.  Fold the sheets of foil loosely over the turkey, leaving a large air gap between the turkey and the foil.  Cook the turkey in a preheated oven at 220°C/gas mark 7 for 30 minutes.  Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C/gas mark 3 and cook for the remainder of the calculated cooking time. Thirty minutes before the end of the cooking time, fold back the foil and remove the bacon (if used), to allow the breast to brown, then baste with the cooking juices.  To check if the turkey is thoroughly cooked, pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a fine skewer: the juices should run clear, not pink or red. Lift the turkey on to a warmed serving platter, cover with fresh foil, and leave to stand in a warm place for 30 minutes before carving. Meanwhile, put the dish of stuffing in the oven and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Spoon all but two tablespoons of fat from the roasting tin, leaving behind the cooking juices. Place the tin over a low heat on the hob, add the flour, and cook, stirring, for one minute. Add the stock and port, Madeira or sherry to taste, then cook, stirring, until thickened. Season to taste, and add some redcurrant jelly if you think the gravy is too sharp. To make bread sauce insert the cloves into the onion. Put it into a pan with the milk, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, remove from the heat, cover, and leave to infuse for one hour.  Strain the milk and return to the pan. Gradually add the breadcrumbs, then bring to a boil, stirring.  Simmer for two to three minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, and stir in the butter. Carve the turkey and serve with the extra stuffing, gravy, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, bacon rolls, and chipolatas.

Steps:

• Prepare the stuffing: melt the butter in a frying pan, add the onion and bacon, and cook until the onion is soft and both the onion and bacon are golden. Transfer to a large bowl, mix in the remaining stuffing ingredients, and leave until cold. Place the lemon zest, parsley stalks, thyme, and celery into the cavity of the turkey. Fill the neck end with stuffing. Put the leftover stuffing into an ovenproof dish and set aside. Shape the stuffed end of the turkey into a neat round and secure the loose skin with fine skewers. Tie the legs with string to give a neat shape.  Weigh the turkey and calculate the cooking time, allowing 20 minutes per 500 grams. Arrange two large sheets of foil across a large roasting tin.  Place the turkey on top and spread the butter over the bird, concentrating on the breast in particular. Season with a little salt and plenty of pepper. If you are using the bacon rashers, overlap them across the turkey, again concentrating on the breast.  Fold the sheets of foil loosely over the turkey, leaving a large air gap between the turkey and the foil.  Cook the turkey in a preheated oven at 220°C/gas mark 7 for 30 minutes.  Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C/gas mark 3 and cook for the remainder of the calculated cooking time. Thirty minutes before the end of the cooking time, fold back the foil and remove the bacon (if used), to allow the breast to brown, then baste with the cooking juices.  To check if the turkey is thoroughly cooked, pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a fine skewer: the juices should run clear, not pink or red. Lift the turkey on to a warmed serving platter, cover with fresh foil, and leave to stand in a warm place for 30 minutes before carving. Meanwhile, put the dish of stuffing in the oven and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Spoon all but two tablespoons of fat from the roasting tin, leaving behind the cooking juices. Place the tin over a low heat on the hob, add the flour, and cook, stirring, for one minute. Add the stock and port, Madeira or sherry to taste, then cook, stirring, until thickened. Season to taste, and add some redcurrant jelly if you think the gravy is too sharp. To make bread sauce insert the cloves into the onion. Put it into a pan with the milk, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, remove from the heat, cover, and leave to infuse for one hour.  Strain the milk and return to the pan. Gradually add the breadcrumbs, then bring to a boil, stirring.  Simmer for two to three minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, and stir in the butter. Carve the turkey and serve with the extra stuffing, gravy, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, bacon rolls, and chipolatas.