Tip: Unstuff your turkey instantly

Removing the stuffing from a roasted turkey is a cinch with a "stuffing bag":

To make the "stuffing bag" cut a piece of cheesecloth large enough to cover the inside of the body cavity, with several inches left over. For an average size turkey (about 16 lbs) cut a rectangle approximately 20 inches long and 8 inches wide. Fold it lengthwise and stitch along the two long sides of the cloth to form a bag.

Just before roasting, pull the ends of the drumsticks out of the plastic leg clamp and tuck the bag into the body cavity of the turkey with the unstitched edges hanging outside of the opening. Spoon dressing into the bag until the cavity is loosely filled, then fold it closed and tuck the edges of the bag inside the cavity opening. Replace the ends of the drumsticks in the leg clamp.

After the turkey is cooked, again remove the drumsticks from the leg clamp. Open the stuffing bag and spoon out enough dressing to allow you to grasp the edges of the bag. Pull the bag out of the turkey, dressing and all!

Double-Stuff the Turkey:

If family members prefer different kinds of dressing, the bag method is especially handy. Stuff the neck cavity with one kind of dressing and the center cavity with another.

These and lots of other great holiday tips are found in Holiday Fun Year-Round with Dian Thomas copyright 1995 by The Dian Thomas Company, P.O. Box 171107, Holladay, UT 84117 and on the Dian Thomas web site www.dianthomas.com. Used by permission.