Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings

Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings

Serves 4

9½ pts per serving

400 g whole turkey, oven-ready
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
500 g potato(es), scrubbed
4 medium parsnip(s), halved lengthways
2 medium red green or yellow pepper(s), deseeded and cut into large chunks (optional)
60 g pork sausage
1 shallots, finely chopped
25 g fresh breadcrumbs
2 teaspoon fresh or dried herbs, mixed
1 quantity dried prunes, 12 prunes
3 medium rasher streaky bacon, stretched with knife and cut into 4
3 medium carrot(s), sliced
350 g cabbage, shredded
4 teaspoon gravy powder
4 tablespoon cranberry sauce
1 teaspoon salt
450 g brussels sprouts
1/2 teaspoon pepper

1.	Preheat oven to Gas Mark 7/220°C/425°F. Remove giblets from turkey.
2.	Position turkey in large roasting pan. Cover loosely with foil. Roast for 40 minutes.
3.	Reduce oven to Gas Mark 4/180°C/350°F. Roast turkey, covered with foil, for 2 1/2 - 3 more hours, basting occasionally.
4.	Put oil into separate roasting tin. Add potatoes and parsnips. Toss to coat. Season. One hour before turkey is done, put into oven. After 20 minutes add peppers (if using), tossing together.
5.	Mix sausagemeat, shallot, breadcrumbs and dried herbs. Season and shape into 8 balls. Put in baking dish, cover and roast for 30 minutes.
6.	Wrap prunes in bacon. Put in baking dish; roast for 20 minutes.
7.	Check that turkey is thoroughly cooked by piercing thickest part of its thigh with a skewer. If juices run clear, it is cooked, but if there is still a trace of pink, it needs extra time. Before carving, allow the bird to rest for 15 minutes, covered with foil to keep it warm.
8.	Whilst turkey is standing, put sprouts and carrots on to cook. Cook the cabbage lightly, then make the gravy.
9.	Carve turkey, serve with roast potatoes, vegetables, stuffing balls, bacon-wrapped prunes, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Tip

It is vital to defrost a frozen turkey thoroughly before cooking. Thaw it in the refrigerator 2-3 days before Christmas Day, to allow it to defrost slowly. Refer to thawing times recommended on the packaging for the size of bird that you have bought. Decide what time you want to eat, then calculate how long the turkey takes to cook and work out a timetable.