Roast Turkey With Cranberry-Apricot Stuffing

14 pounds Honeysuckle White Whole Turkey, thawed
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
6 cups bread, torn into large pieces (day-old, baguette preferred)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups chicken broth, boiling
1/2 cup cranberries, dried and chopped
3/4 cup apricots, dried and chopped
3 tablespoons rosemary, fresh and minced
3 tablespoons thyme, fresh and minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

1. Place bread in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until translucent. Add the broth and pour the mixture over the bread. Stir to make sure all bread chunks become soaked. Let stand for 15 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the bread with your hands to make a thick paste. Add the dried fruit, herbs, salt and pepper, and continue to work the mixture with your hands until well blended.
3. Preheat oven to 325 F.
4. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and set aside for gravy (see giblet gravy recipe). Rub the turkey inside and out with the salt and pepper mix.
5. Fill the body and neck cavities loosely with the stuffing. Fasten the flaps with turkey skewers. Tie the legs together at the bottom using kitchen thread.
6. Place the turkey, breast side up, in a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 12 to 15 minutes per pound, basting it often with pan drippings.
7. When the breast is golden, cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil. Continue to cook, basting the legs, until a thermometer registers 175 F. to 180 F. in the thickest part of the thigh, (near the body but not touching the bone). Remove and let stand for 20 minutes, loosely covered with the foil before carving.

Chicken Piccata

Ingredients

2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 extra-large egg
1/2 tablespoon water
3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
Good olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
1/2 cup dry white wine
Sliced lemon, for serving
Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.
For the sauce, wipe out the saute pan with a dry paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate. Spoon on the sauce and serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

Beer-in-the-Rear Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 (3-pound) chicken
• Seasoned salt
• Paula's House Seasoning, recipe follows
• 1 (12-ounce) can beer
• 1 sprig rosemary
• Assorted barbecue and hot sauces, your choice

Directions

Wash and drain the chicken and pat dry. Season the chicken inside and out with the seasoned salt and House Seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to cook.

Prepare the charcoal grill. When the coals are hot and glowing, carefully push them over to the sides of the grill, leaving an open space in the middle of the grill. Open the can of beer and pour off approximately 1/4 cup. Insert the sprig of rosemary into the can, then place the beer can, keeping it upright, into the rear cavity of the chicken. Carefully place the chicken, standing up on the beer can, in the center of the grill, making sure not to spill the beer. Cover the grill and cook the chicken for approximately 1 hour, rotating the chicken as necessary. The chicken is done when the juice runs clear when pierced with a fork.

Carefully remove the beer can from the chicken using mitts and discard the can. Cut the chicken into halves or quarters.

Note: 1 chicken serves 2 to 4, depending on appetites. My crowd can all eat a half a chicken each, easy.

Paula's House Seasoning:

1 cup salt

1/4 cup garlic powder

1/4 cup pepper

Combine ingredients in a small bowl.

Garlic Chicken with Orzo Noodles

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked orzo pasta

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces

salt to taste

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

2 cups fresh spinach leaves

grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Preparation/Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo pasta, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the garlic and red pepper 1 minute, until garlic is golden brown. Stir in chicken, season with salt, and cook 2 to 5 minutes, until lightly browned and juices run clear. Reduce heat to medium, and mix in the parsley and cooked orzo. Place spinach in the skillet. Continue cooking 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.