Roast Turkey with Oyster Dressing

Ingredients

• Whole turkey
• 3 cups of water
• Salt
• Loaf of stale bread
• 1 large onion
• 3 celery sticks
• Parsley
• Thyme
• 1/2 pound of sausage
• Pepper
• Cooking oil
• 3 dozen oysters
• Flour

Directions

1. Wash and clean a whole turkey.
2. Pour 3 cups of boiling water onto the turkey.
3. Once plump or tender rub with salt.
4. Take your loaf of stale bread and soak in hot water for about 10 mins.
5. Squeeze the bread until dry.
6. Chop 1 large onion, 3 celery sticks, parsley and thyme.
7. Add the half pound of sausage to the vegetables. 
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Mix it all together until thoroughly combined.
10. In a frying pan add two table spoons of cooking oil.
11. Add sausage mixture and fry until brown.
12. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
13. Chop 3 dozen oysters finely.
14. Once the mixture is cooked , stir in 3 dozen oysters.
15. Stuff the turkey with the mixture.
16. Put left over stuffing inside the pan with turkey.
17. Sift flour over the turkey for browning purposes.
18. Add in tablespoon of oil.
19. Add hot water to pan until full.
20. Occasionally baste the turkey with the water while cooking.
21. Turn the turkey occasionally.
22. Serve hot with gravy.

- Mrs. J. W. Billington

Source —Cooking in Old Creole Days
Prepared by Lniya Burrell
Louisiana Anthology
July 19, 2021