Holiday Hens With Fig Glaze And Cornbread Stuffing Recipes

FIG-GLAZED ROAST TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Begin by re-hydrating the figs. In a large mixing bowl combine the figs, honey, lemon juice; cover with the warm water. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 20 to 25 minutes until the figs are tender and soft. Pour off the liquid and reserve for the glaze.
• Meanwhile, heat a little extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat and gently saute the onions with rosemary. Add the sweet Italian sausage and continue to saute until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. When done, scrape it all into the bowl with the figs, Add the cornbread pieces and season well with salt and pepper. Give it a good toss until it's well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, and 1/2 cup stock, and pour that over the cornbread. (Add up to 1/2 cup more stock if the stuffing is dry. ) Stir the stuffing together and set it aside while you work on the turkey.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse the bird thoroughly inside and out with cold water, and pat dry with paper towels. Using your fingers, gently lift the skin from the turkey breast and using 1 stick of butter, massage it onto the breast meat. Sprinkle the cavity and skin liberally with salt and pepper. Stuff the bird with the cornbread stuffing and truss it (or just cross the legs over one another and tie with a piece of kitchen twine). Put the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan, and place in the oven.
• In a small saucepan set the fig liquid over medium heat and bring to a simmer to reduce, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar; simmer, cook until syrupy. Cut up the remaining stick of butter and whisk it into the balsamic mixture. Use the glaze to baste the turkey.
• Roast the turkey for 2 hours. About 20 minutes before the turkey in done, baste the turkey with the fig glaze, coating it well. Continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh registers 170 degrees F. The thigh juices will run clear when pricked with a knife, about 3 hours total (15 minutes per pound). If the legs or breast brown too quickly during roasting, cover them with foil. Transfer turkey to a cutting board, loosely covered with foil to rest for up to 30 minutes before carving.

ROASTED CHESTNUT, FIG AND CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together and bake for 25 minutes in a small roasting pan at 375 degrees.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes, or until soft and caramelized. Add sage and scrape into a large mixing bowl. Add the cornbread pieces, season well with salt and pepper, and give it a good toss until it's well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, cream, and stock, and pour that over the cornbread. Stir the stuffing together and stuff the cavity of the turkey. You could also spoon it into a buttered baking dish and put it in the oven along with the turkey. Bake until hot and crusty on top, about 30 minutes.

CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Melt butter and sweet vegetables until tender. Add ham and cook over low heat for 2 more minutes. Set aside to slightly cool. Whisk together eggs, stock, cream and herbs and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Combine all items, including cornbread, in a 4-quart lasagna pan and cook covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook for additional 20 minutes or until crusty.

FIG-GLAZED ROAST TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Combine the figs, honey and lemon juice in a large bowl; add 3 cups warm water. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside until the figs are tender and soft, 20 to 25 minutes. Pour off the liquid into a separate bowl; set aside.
• Make the stuffing: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and gently saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the sausage and saute until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Scrape the sausage mixture into the bowl with the figs. Add the cornbread pieces and season well with salt and pepper. Give it a good toss until it's well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, heavy cream and 1/2 cup stock; pour over the cornbread-sausage mixture and stir to combine, adding up to 1/2 cup more stock if the mixture is dry. Set aside while you work on the turkey.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse the turkey thoroughly inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Using your fingers, gently lift the skin from the turkey breast and massage the 1 stick softened butter onto the breast meat. Sprinkle the cavity and skin liberally with salt and pepper. Stuff the bird with the cornbread stuffing. Cross the legs over each other and tie with kitchen twine. Put the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan and place it in the oven. Roast 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: Bring the reserved fig liquid to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook until reduced by half, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook until syrupy, about 8 more minutes. Cut up the remaining stick of butter and whisk it into the glaze.
• After the turkey has roasted 2 hours, baste it with the fig glaze and continue roasting until a thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh registers 170 degrees F, 30 minutes to 1 hour more. (If the legs or breast brown too quickly during roasting, cover them with foil.) Transfer the turkey to a platter or cutting board, loosely cover with foil and let rest up to 30 minutes before carving. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.