ROAST TURKEY WITH WILD RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Dilute the chicken stock with the water.
• Rinse the wild rice in several changes of cold water and drain.
• Put the rice in a medium saucepan, add 5 cups of diluted chicken stock and bring to a boil over moderately high heat.
• Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the stock absorbed.
• The cooking time may vary from 35-60 minutes.
• If the rice is not done and the stock has boiled away, add another cup of stock; if the rice is done but stock remains, uncover and boil over high heat until evaporated.
• (The rice can be cooked up to 1 day ahead. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate.) In a large bowl, toss the cooked rice with the water chestnuts, water cress, scallions, almonds, and proscuitto.
• Season with pepper and salt, if needed.
• Let the stuffing cool thoroughly.
• In a medium saucepan, cover the turky neck, heart and gizzard with 4 cups of water.
• Add the onion, celery and a pinch of salt.
• Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 90 minutes, skimming occasionally.
• Strain the broth and set aside; you should have about 3 cups.
• Reserve the turkey gizzard and heart.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Spoon the stuffing into the check and neck cavities of the bird.
• Fold the neck skin over the stuffing and secure with skewers.
• Truss the bird with twine.
• Season the turkey liberally with salt and pepper and rub the butter all over.
• Wrap any leftover stuffing in a foil packet.
• Place the turkey, breast side down, on a foil-lined rack, in a roasting pan and roast for 2 hours.
• Turn the turkey breast-side up and roast for about 2 hours longer, basting often with the pan juices.
• Ten minutes before the roasting time is up, add the turkey liver to the pan.
• The bird is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the inner thigh registers 170 degrees.
• Transfer the turkey to a warm platter, reserving the liver.
• Let the bird rest for 30 minutes before carving.
• Heat the extra stuffing in the oven for about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the gravy.
• Pour all the juices into a large measuring cup.
• Spoon about 3 tablespoons of fat from the juices into the pan and set it over two burners.
• Stir the flour into the pan and cook over moderate heat for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits.
• Whisk in 1 cup of the reserved turkey broth until smooth.
• Whisk in the remaining broth and simmer until thickened.
• Degrease the remaining juices in the measuring cup and stir them into the gravy.
• Chop the gizzard, heart and liver finely and stir into the gravy.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour into a warmed gravy boat and serve alongside the carved turkey.