Roast Turkey with Sausage-Clam Stuffing and Olive Gravy

Yield: 12 to 14 servings

Ingredients

• 4  cups  day-old bread cubes
• 1  pound  Italian sausage
• 2  cups  finely chopped onion
• 1 1/2  cups  chopped celery
• 3  large garlic cloves, minced
• 3  tablespoons  chopped fresh thyme
• 1  tablespoon  minced fresh sage
• 2  tablespoons  Dijon mustard
• 2/3  cup  minced fresh parsley
• 1/2  cup  butter, melted
• 2  dozen littleneck clams, shucked
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  pepper
• 2  (2 1/2- to 3-pound) boneless, skinless turkey breast halves
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  pepper
• 1  onion, coarsely chopped
• 2  carrots, coarsely chopped
• 2  celery ribs, coarsely chopped
• 8  quahogs or 1 dozen littleneck clams
• 1/2  cup  dry white wine
• 1/2  cup  chicken broth
• 1  teaspoon  cornstarch
• 1  tablespoon  water
• 3/4  cup  ripe olives
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh rosemary

Preparation

Place bread cubes on a baking sheet; bake at 325° for 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer bread to a large bowl, and set aside.

Remove casings from sausage; discard. Cook sausage in a large skillet, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove sausage, reserving drippings in skillet.

Sauté 2 cups onion and next 4 ingredients in drippings over medium-high heat 8 minutes or until tender; stir in sausage, mustard, and next 5 ingredients. Add to bread cubes, stirring until blended. Set aside.

Place turkey breast halves flat on heavy-duty plastic wrap, skin side down. Remove tendons, and trim fat. From center of each breast, slice horizontally through thickest part of each side almost to outer edge; flip fillets over. Pound breasts to flatten and create even thickness. Sprinkle each breast evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Spoon half of stuffing mixture over each breast, spreading to within 1 inch of edges. Fold in sides of breast over filling; roll up over filling. (Rolls should be 10 to 12 inches long.)

Tie rolls securely in several places with heavy string. Place coarsely chopped onion, carrot, and celery in a large roasting pan; nestle quahogs into vegetables. Place turkey rolls, seam side down, over vegetables.

Bake at 425° for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°, and bake 50 additional minutes or until thermometer registers 170°. Remove turkey from pan; set aside.

Remove and discard vegetables and quahogs, reserving drippings in pan. Place roasting pan on cooktop; add wine and chicken broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 3/4 cup.

Combine cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water, stirring until smooth; whisk into broth mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Stir in olives and rosemary. Spoon gravy over sliced turkey.