Stuffed Holiday Turkey By Cindy Sanchez Each holiday families prepare their own traditional meal. These meals have been passed down from generation to generation, and with maybe a few new recipes sitting on the table, the core of the meal remains the same. The dishes are as varied as the families they have originated from but a turkey is part of just about everyone's holiday feast. But again, just as varied are the side dishes, so is the stuffing found in a roasted bird. Perhaps you are partial to a bread stuffing, or a meat stuffing, or a fruit stuffing. Whatever your preference there are a few universal healthy cooking guidelines to follow in preparing your stuffed turkey for your family's well being. Tips On Preparing & Cooking A Stuffed Turkey: * A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed one. * Never stuff a turkey until just before you are ready to place it in the oven. By stuffing it too early, bacteria is invited to take hold. * Placing a roasting bag, or even better a cheesecloth bag inside the turkey cavity to hold the stuffing makes for easy removal of the stuffing when cooking is complete. * Always stuff the turkey loosely. Compact stuffing will produce clumpy stuffing. * Close the opening with either kitchen twine and poultry needle or with poultry skewers. * Make sure the stuffing cooks to at least 165 degrees. * Never store a turkey with stuffing still inside. Again, you would be inviting bacteria to grow. Recipes: Favorite Bread Stuffing (Low-Fat) 1/2 cup water 1 onion, chopped 3 cups sliced mushrooms (about 1/2 lb.) 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced 4 cups cubed bread 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon marjoram 1/2 teaspoon sage 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup very hot water or vegetable stock Heat 1/2 cup water in a large pot or skillet. Add the onion and cook 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms & celery and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 350F. Stir in bread & spices, salt & pepper. Lower the heat & continue cooking for 3 minutes, then stir in the water or stock, a little at a time, until the dressing obtains the desired moistness. Spread in an oil-sprayed baking dish, cover & bake for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and bake 10 more minutes.
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