The Energy Efficient Christmas Dinner

Serves 8 Total time required: 3 hrs 20 mins*Ingredients :• 1x4-5kgturkey

•350gmincedpork

•250gbreadcrumbs

•5tbspchoppedherbs,thyme,rosemaryandparsley

• 1Onion

• 1headofcelery

•250gstreakybacon

• 12PorkChipolatas

• 1kgRoastingPotatoes

•500gCarrots

•500gparsnips

•500gsweetpotatoes

• 1onionsquash

•450gpeeledbrusselsprouts

• 10shallotsunpeeled

•2BayLeaves

•3tbspgravygranules

•50gButter

•SeaSalt&crackedBlackPepper

Prepare AheadEnsurethattheTurkeyandthemincedporkisthoroughlydefrostedinthemorningofcooking,toallow

themtocometoroomtemperature.

Energy efficiency tip 1 –

havingthefoodatroomtemperaturewillreducecookingtime,thereforesavingenergy.Plus,itwillmaketheturkeycookmorethoroughlyandkeepinthemoisture.

1. Washtheturkeyincoldwaterthendrythebirdverywell.

2.Mixthemincedporkwiththebreadcrumbsandchoppedwinterherbstocreatethestuffing,mixin75mloftheextravirginoliveoiland50gofbutter,beforetightlystuffingintobothendsoftheturkey.

Continued

MethodThisisaOneTray,OnePotChristmasdinner–sononeedforlotsofpotsandutensils.

Energy efficiency tip 2 – getthewholefamilyinvolvedincookingthemeal–it’llnotonlybefun,butyou’llsaveenergywithouthavingeverythingoninotherroomsofthehouse.

1. Placetheturkeyonaseparate,overlylargeroastingtrayontopofchoppedcelery,choppedonionandchoppedpeeledcarrots–thiswillpreventtheturkeyfromburningandalsohelpkeepthebirdmoist.

2.Laythestripsofbaconontopoftheturkeyanddrizzleoliveoilovertheturkeyandvegetables;seasonwithsaltandpepper;andplacetrayinoven.

3.Turntheovento180°Candroastforanhourandahalf.

Energy efficiency tip 3 – thereisnoneedtopre-heattheovenhoursbeforecooking.Astheovenheatsup,itwillcooktheturkeymorethoroughly,plusyou’llbesavingenergy.

4.Peel,topandtailthepotatoes;addthem(ontheirunflatedges)totheturkey,alongwiththreeglugsofvegetableoil.

5.Removethebacon,whichshouldnowbecrispy,andplaceonaseparateplate.Thiswillexposetheturkeyskinandenableittoturngoldenbrown.

6.Returntheturkeyandthepotatoestotheoven,reducethetemperatureto160-170°C,andleavetocookfor45minutes

7. Addtherestoftheroastingvegetables(peeledparsnips,sweetpotatoes,onionsquashandunpeeledshallots)andcookforafurtherhour.

Energy efficiency tip 4 – usingoneoverlylargeroastingtraytocooktheturkeyandallyourroastingvegetableswillnotonlysaveonwashingup,itwillsaveenergy,asonlyoneovenneedstobeon.

8. Bringonelargewater-filledpantotheboilonthestovewhentheturkeyhas25minuteslefttocook.Choptheremainingcarrotsandaddtothepan;addthesproutsatthesametime,and10minuteslateraddtheleekschoppedtothesamesizeasthecarrots.Addthechipolatasinwiththeroastingpotatoesatthesametime.

Energy efficiency tip 5 – youonlyneedonepotforthesprouts,carrotsandleeks.Therefore,byusingjustonehob,youaresavingenergy.

9.Nowchecktheturkeybypokingasmallknifeunderoneofitslegs-iftheliquidrunsclearitiscooked(ifpink,thencookawhilelonger).

10.Removetheturkeyfromthetrayithascookedin;leaveittorestonaservingdishforafurther10minutes.Turntheovenoff,andputthetraybackintheoventokeepthevegetableswarm.Alsoplacethebaconbackintheoventowarmupbeforeserving.

11. Whentheturkeyhasrested,removethebakingtrayofroastvegetablesandchipolatasfromtheovenandplacearoundtheturkey.Removethecarrotsandsproutsfromtheirpans,andservewithaspotofbutter.

12.Tomakethegravy,putthetrayoveramediumheat;pourinsomechickenstockorthepanwaterthecarrotsareboilingin.Thickenthemixturewith3tbspofgravygranules-thiswillmakethebaseforthegravy.Keepstirringthegravyandseasonwithsaltandpepper.

13.Strainthegravythroughasieve,pushingthroughallthejuices;pourthegravyallovertheturkeytokeepitwarm.

Christmas Dinner is served!*Thisrecipeisfora4-5kgturkey– timeswillneedtobeadjusteddependingonthesizeofthebird.

vegetablesRemove the

butter.

MerryChristm

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