1 (10-lb) fresh turkey
2 lb Coarse (kosher) salt
1/4 lb Unsalted butter
3 tb Olive oil
2 lg Garlic cloves
- peeled and minced
1 lb French or Italian bread
1/2 ts Salt
1/2 ts Freshly ground black pepper
3 1/2 c Chicken stock
2 lg Egg yolks
REMOVE THE GIBLETS from the turkey for another use. Fill the neck and
body
cavities of the turkey with coarse salt, then rub the skin well all
over
with salt. Place the turkey and remaining coarse salt in a large deep
kettle, adding enough cold water to just cover the bird. Set in a cool
spot
for 3 to 4 hours.
TO PREPARE THE STUFFING: Put the butter and olive oil in a large heavy
saute pan, or better yet, a kettle, and place it over moderate heat.
When
the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes until
limp.
Meanwhile, tear the bread into small chunks. Add the bread and the
fine
salt and pepper and toss well. Pour in the chicken stock and beat hard
with
a wooden spoon until the mixture is paste like. Turn the heat to its
lowest
point, cover the kettle and steam 15-to-20 minutes until the bread
absorbs
all the liquid. Add the egg yolks to the stuffing mixture and beat
hard
until smooth. Remove from the heat and reserve. Preheat oven to 400F.
Drain
the turkey and rinse several times in cool water so that all traces of
salt
are gone. Place the bird on the counter with the neck cavity facing
you.
With your hands, begin working the skin free from the breast. Proceed
gently, taking care not to tear the skin. It's slow going at first,
but
once you begin to free the skin, the job goes quickly. Loosen it all
the
way down the bird to within about 1 inch of the tail end, down both
sides.
With your hands, push the stuffing bit by bit far down under the skin
and
continue, packing it in lightly, until the breast is covered with
about a
1-inch layer. Next fill the neck cavity, skewer the neck skin flat
against
the back to enclose, and truss the bird. Place the turkey breast-side
up in
a large shallow roasting pan without a rack and roast uncovered for
about 2
1/2 hours. Do not baste. When the bird is richly browned and a leg
moves
easily in the hip joint, remove from the oven. Let stand, uncovered,
20
minutes. Drain drippings into a sauce boat and keep warm. Remove
trussing
string and skewers and serve at once on a warmed platter.