Picadillo-stuffed turkey (l a times)

12 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 quarts Water
½ cup Plus 2 tb vinegar
1 (12-pound) turkey
¼ cup Lemon juice
¼ cup Salt
Butter, softened
12 smalls Cloves garlic, pureed
½ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup Oil
1½ pounds Lean ground pork
1 tablespoon Salt
1 cup Fine-chopped onion
6 Pimiento-stuffed green olives
2 tablespoons Capers, minced
1½ teaspoon Ground oregano
½ teaspoon Poultry seasoning
¼ cup Olive oil
6½ cup Picadillo Stuffing
Oil or melted butter
2 cups Giblet stock or water
1 Onion, chopped
1 (4-oz) jar chopped pimientos with liquid
½ cup Seedless raisins
2 cups Applesauce
3 Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
Formatted by Manny Rothstein

Directions

TURKEY

PICADILLO STUFFING

TURKEY

Combine 1 quart water with ½ cup vinegar. Rinse turkey in vinegar mixture, drain well and soak in remaining quart water mixed with lemon juice. Drain well and pat dry.

Loosen skin over turkey breast with fingers, starting at neck opening and moving toward tail. Be careful not to tear skin.

Rub salt into bird cavity, over skin and between skin and flesh. Put softened butter under skin covering breast.

Combine garlic, pepper, oregano, poultry seasoning and olive oil in bowl. Place bird in non-reactive container. Rub skin all over with garlic marinade and dribble with remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Next day, remove bird from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. Just before roasting, stuff bird partly through neck opening with Picadillo Stuffing. Sew shut with cotton thread or secure with skewers. Stuff bird through tail ¾ full to allow for expansion. Sew or skewer shut.

Truss bird. Rub turkey all over with oil or melted butter. Place turkey breast-side down on rack in roasting pan. Pour stock and chopped onion into pan.

Roast turkey at 325 degrees, basting often, until nicely browned and thermometer inserted into deepest part of thigh reads 175 degrees (155 degrees. Manny), about 15 minutes per pound. Halfway through, turn bird over and continue roasting. Remove from oven and let stand 30 minutes before carving.

PICADILLO STUFFING

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown pork slightly and add salt. Remove to separate bowl and set aside.

Discard all but 1 tablespoon browning oil. Reduce heat to medium-low, add onion and saute 5 minutes.

Add olives, capers, pimientos and their liquid and cook 5 minutes.

Add raisins and reserved pork. Cook, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove pan from heat. Add applesauce and eggs. Mix well. Stuffing may be made day ahead. Refrigerate or freeze if not using immediately. Do not stuff turkey until just before roasting.

Makes 12 to 15 servings.

Each of 12 servings contains about: 920 calories 3,637 mg sodium 361 mg cholesterol 66 grams fat 15 grams carbohydrates 67 grams protein 0.59 gram fiber.

From Julie Miranda, Copyright Los Angeles Times, November 16, 1995 Submitted By MANNY ROTHSTEIN On 11-25-95

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