Brown Rice ‘n’ Apple Stuffed Turkey

We made this smaller turkey for Super Bowl Sunday. None of us like eating stuffing after it was in a bird, but we made it and put it in to help flavor the turkey. The turkey came out nice and tender and very flavorful.

Cost: About $15.50 ($1.54 per serving) - Chicken broth ($0.85), apple juice ($1.69), raisins ($1.99), celery ($1.49), apple ($1.00), 12-pound turkey ($8.40)

Prep: 1 hour

Bake: 3 hours + 20 minutes standing

Yield: 6 servings with leftovers

• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 cup uncooked long grain brown rice
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup chopped tart apple
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 turkey (10 to 12 pounds)

1. In a saucepan, combine the broth, 1/3 cup apple juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice and raisins. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40-50 minutes or until rice is tender.
2. Meanwhile, in a nonstick skillet, cook celery and onion in butter for 2 minutes. Add apple; cook and stir for 3 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Combine the rice mixture, apple mixture, poultry seasoning, pepper and remaining apple juice and salt.
3. Just before baking, loosely stuff turkey. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325 for 2 3/4 to 3 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 180 for the turkey and 165 for the stuffing. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.)
4. Cover turkey and let stand for 20 minutes. Remove stuffing and carve turkey, discarding skin. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy.

Stuffing may be prepared as directed and baked separately in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 325 for 25 minutes. Uncover, bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through.

Nutrition: (3 ounces cooked turkey with 3/4 cup stuffing) 286 calories, 8 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 51 mg cholesterol, 443 mg sodium, 37 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 17 g protein.