Roast Goose with Molasses Glaze and Apricot Stuffing

--Molasses Glaze-- 1 C Molasses

2 Tsp Bottled Hot Pepper Sauce

1 Tsp Fresh Gingerroot -- finely chopped

1 Tsp Garlic -- chopped

1/2 Tsp Black Pepper -- coarsely

10 Lb Goose -- dressed

Salt To Taste 8 Oz Onion -- chopped (about 1-3/4

1 Ea Celery Stalk -- chopped (1/2

1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

1 Tbsp Garlic -- minced

1/2 Tbsp Black Pepper -- cracked

1 Tbsp Fresh Thyme -- chopped -OR-

1 Tsp Dried Thyme

1 Tbsp Parsley -- chopped

1 Tbsp Fresh Sage -- chopped -OR-

1/2 Tsp Dried Rubbed Sage

1 C Dried Apricots -- chopped

2 C Corn Bread -- day-old, crumbled

Salt To Taste 1 Ea Egg

1 1/2 C Rich Chicken Stock

Small Apples And Grapes For Garnish

To Make Molasses Glaze:

In medium bowl combine molasses, bottled hot pepper sauce, ginger, garlic, and coarsely ground black pepper. Mix well and set aside.

To Make Roast Goose:

Preheat oven to 425F. Remove giblets from goose to use another time. Rinse goose in cold water, removing as much fat as possible from body cavity. Pat goose dry with paper towels. Pierce skin all over with tines of large fork. Season goose with salt insode and out. Arrange beast side up on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Roast at 425F for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F. Continue roasting for 20 to 23 minutes per pound until thermometer inserted between leg and thickest part of thigh registers 180F. (Make sure thermometer does not touch bone.) Drain off all fat from pan. Brush some of molasses glaze completely over goose. Continue roasting 20 minutes, brushing with molasses mixture after 10 minutes. Remove goose from oven. Cover with foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving.

To Make Apricot Stuffing:

While goose is roasting, butter deep 1-1/2 quart casserole. In medium skillet, saute onion and celery in hot oil over medium-high heat until soft, about 4 to 5 minutes. Pour into large bowl. Add garlic, cracked pepper, thyme, parsley, sage, apricots, corn bread, and salt to taste. Toss to mix. Set aside. In small bowl whisk together egg and stock. Pour over stuffing. Mix well. (Mixture will seem soupy.) Pour into baking dish. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes until hot in center.

To serve the whole thing:

Arrange goose on serving platter. Garnish with apples and grapes. Carve goose. Serve with apricot stuffing.

>From Chef Dean Fearing at The Mansion on Turtle Creek; Dallas, Texas.

Roast Goose with All the Fixings, December, 1995 "Victoria" magazine.

>From the files of [email protected]

Typos by Jeff Pruett.

>From the files of [email protected]