Cherry Pecan Stuffed Turkey Recipes

PECAN-CRUSTED STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap and pound to 1/4-inch thick (a meat mallet or wooden spoon works well). Pat the chicken dry and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Sprinkle the goat cheese lengthwise on one half of each breast; then sprinkle with dill, orange zest and more salt and pepper. Fold in the short ends--like folding a burrito--then, starting on the half with cheese, roll up into a tight cylinder. Close the seams with toothpicks.
• Whisk the eggs in a wide, shallow dish. In a separate dish, combine the breadcrumbs and ground pecans. Sprinkle the stuffed chicken with salt and pepper. Dip in the egg mixture and then in the breadcrumb mixture; shake off excess breading.
• Place the breaded chicken on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and spray with coconut oil. Bake to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Remove the toothpicks. Serve garnished with dill sprigs.

HOLIDAY TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY PECAN STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir the celery and onions in the saucepan and cook until they're tender.
• Stir the broth in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the stuffing, cranberries and pecans and mix lightly.
• Remove the package of giblets and neck from the turkey cavity. Rinse the turkey with cold water and pat it dry. Spoon the stuffing lightly into the neck and body cavities.* Fold the loose skin over the stuffing. Tie the ends of the drumsticks together. Place the turkey, breast side up in a shallow roasting pan. Brush with oil. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, not touching bone.
• Roast the turkey at 325 degrees F for 5 hours or until the thermometer reads 180 degrees F and the drumstick moves easily, basting occasionally with the pan drippings. Begin checking for doneness after 4 1/2 hours of roasting time. Allow the turkey to stand for 10 minutes before slicing. *Bake any remaining stuffing in a covered casserole along with the turkey for 30 minutes or until it's hot.

CHERRY, PEAR, AND PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine balsamic vinegar and cherry preserves for vinaigrette in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss mixed greens, pears, cherries, pecans, red onion, and vinaigrette in a large salad bowl.
• Evenly distribute salad among four individual salad bowls and top with Gorgonzola cheese.

TURKEY WITH CHERRY STUFFING

Steps:

• In a saucepan, saute celery and onion in butter until tender. Stir in thyme and poultry seasoning. In a large bowl, combine stuffing, raisins and celery mixture. Add broth and cherries; toss to mix., Loosely stuff turkey just before baking. Skewer openings; tie drumsticks together. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush with oil. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 4 to 4-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° for the turkey and 165° for the stuffing. Baste occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. , Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving the turkey. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy.

CHERRY-PECAN STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with racks in middle and lower thirds. On two rimmed baking sheets, arrange bread in a single layer. Toast until dry and pale golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium. Add onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onion and celery are softened, about 7 minutes. Add cherries, pecans, sage, and fennel seed and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Add parsley, eggs, and bread; stir to combine. Add broth in two additions, stirring until absorbed after each addition. Season generously with salt and pepper and transfer stuffing to dish. Bake on middle rack until deep golden brown on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

CHERRY PECAN STUFFING

Steps:

• Place the stuffing mix and broth in a large bowl. Let stand about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat on medium. Add celery, shallots, sage, and thyme. Cook for about 6 minutes or until softened.
• Stir the vegetable mixture into stuffing mixture.
• Add pecan and dried cherries.
• Transfer mixture to 2-quart square baking dish. Cover with foil and place in refrigerator overnight.
• The next day bake at 400 degrees F for about 45 minutes or until heat through.
• Let stuffing stand at least 15 minutes before serving.

PECAN-STUFFED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Put 6 tablespoons of the butter in a mixing bowl. Put the pecan meats into the container of an electric blender or spice mill and grind until fine. Do not grind too much, or you will make a paste. Add the pecans to the 6 tablespoons of butter. Add the Cognac, mustard, salt and pepper, and blend well with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
• Insert the fingers underneath the skin of the breast and thighs of each hen. Make a fairly deep cavity to hold the stuffing. Spoon an equal portion of the pecan mixture beneath the skin of each hen, distributing the mixture evenly throughout the cavity. It is best if you truss the hens with string.
• Sprinkle the hens with salt and pepper. Arrange the hens breast-side-up on a baking dish. Brush each with a tablespoon of oil. Place the hens in the oven, and bake 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain the potatoes, and cut them into very thin slices. There should be about 5 cups. Put the slices in a colander and run them under very hot tap water. Pat dry, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Scatter the potato slices and the necks of the hens around the birds. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and continue baking 10 minutes, basting occasionally. Stir the potatoes so that they bake evenly. Turn the hens breast-side-down, and continue baking 20 minutes. Turn the hens breast-side-up and continue baking 10 minutes.
• Untruss the hens, and cut them in half lengthwise. Serve the potatoes sprinkled with parsley. Broccoli with tomatoes is a good accompaniment.

PEAR STUFFING FOR TURKEY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion and celery over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in the bread crumbs, pears, broth, salt, pepper and sage. , Just before baking, loosely stuff turkey with stuffing. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan., Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 165° when inserted in center of stuffing and the thigh reaches at least 170°, basting occasionally with pan drippings. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.), Cover turkey and let stand for 20 minutes before removing stuffing and carving turkey. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy.

CHERRY-PECAN STUFFED TURKEY

Steps:

• For stuffing, in a medium skillet, cook onion in butter until tender but not brown. Stir in the Marsala, sherry or broth; salt; paprika; thyme and white pepper. Transfer the ingredients to a large bowl. Add bread crumbs, celery, cherries and pecans; toss to mix well. Drizzle with the chicken broth; toss.
• Spoon some of the stuffing into the neck cavity of the turkey; fasten the neck skin with a skewer. Lightly spoon the remaining stuffing into the body cavity. Tie the drumsticks to the tail. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer into the thigh muscle.
• Roast the turkey, uncovered, in a 325 degree F. oven for 3 to 3-3/4 hours or until the meat thermometer registers 180 degrees F. to 185 degrees F. (cut string between drumsticks when the bird is two-thirds done). Let roasted turkey stand, covered, 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

TURKEY WITH PECAN-CHERRY STUFFING

Steps:

• Thaw turkey breast, if frozen. Remove and discard skin. Cut slices 3/4 of the way through turkey at 1-inch intervals.
• Stir together rice, pecans, cherries and poultry seasoning in large bowl. Stuff rice mixture between slices. If needed, skewer turkey lengthwise to hold it together.
• Place turkey in crock pot slow cooker. Cover; cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or until turkey registers 170 degrees on meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast, not touching stuffing.
• Stir together preserves and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon over turkey; let stand 5 minutes. Remove skewer before serving.