AARP Hearing Center
Get cooking with renowned chef Andrew Zimmern at AARP's free live virtual event "AARP Presents: A Caregivers Thanksgiving,” taking place Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. ET.
The Emmy Award–winning chef and TV personality helps AARP celebrate National Family Caregivers Month by serving up three special holiday recipes and dishing advice on how to best enjoy the season, even if it looks — and feels — different this year because of the coronavirus.
"I'm inspired by AARP's advocacy for caregivers because I know firsthand how tough the job is — I've been one myself and have grown close to those we've been lucky enough to hire in our family,” Zimmern says. “Knowing the holidays may be difficult for caregivers this year, I'm excited to share simple ways to prepare, eat well and create memories — no matter how or where you're celebrating."
Joining Zimmern in the virtual kitchen is AARP Board Chair Annette Franqui, who will offer information on the support available to family caregivers during the pandemic.
Follow along with Zimmern as he demonstrates a recipe from his tasty Thanksgiving feast. If you'd like to make the dishes at home, find the recipes and step-by-step instructions below.
Stuffed Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast, Pan Gravy
Stuffing
- 12–14 chestnuts
- 1 cup celery, minced
- 1 cup onion, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
- 4 ounces chicken livers
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 6 cups dried bread cubes for stuffing (store-bought seasoned varieties are fine)
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- Salt
- Pepper
Turkey
- One whole 4-pound (roughly) boneless breast of turkey (both breast lobes attached, skin on)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 6 sage leaves, finely chopped
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 recipe stuffing (see below)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Butchers string/cooking twine for securing breast
Instructions:
Make the stuffing
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Make an incision about 1/8-inch deep through each chestnut shell, just into the flesh of the nut, and work your way almost around its circumference. After slitting the shells, transfer the chestnuts to a rimmed baking pan and roast them for about 35 minutes. While the chestnuts are hot, remove and discard each shell and the papery skin. Chop the chestnuts.
Mince the celery, onion and parsley. Set aside.
Mince the chicken livers very finely.
Combine the chestnuts, celery, onion, parsley, liver, butter, cream, bread cubes and spices in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Prepare the turkey
Place the turkey skin side down on a cutting board and slice open the middle of each breast, cutting away from the center. Your knife will be parallel to the cutting board, slicing toward the outer edges of the roast. You are opening up the breast meat to even out the thickness of each breast. The new meat flaps should open up from the middle of each breast like pages of a book folding out to each side.
Season with the thyme, sage, salt and pepper.
Place stuffing onto the breast, and fold the edges of the turkey “envelope” over the stuffing. You should have a “football” of turkey.
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