Turkeys roasting on an open fire

I'm under pressure this year. Mum and Dad are coming to our place for Chrissy lunch and the outlaws are also here, so there's a few good cooks around the table waiting to see if I - self-proclaimed foodie frankie - can come up with the tasty goods. Hubby has offered to stuff and BBQ the turkey and although that makes me happy, I'm seriously worried about turkey burn-out.

But it's not my first time handling an oversized bird, so I have the three tools a good turkey cooker needs: foil, butter and a baster. And I'm not afraid to make my hubby use them. But the BIG decision of the week has been... what to stuff with? Rice? Bread? Three spatchcocks and a sage leaf? Here's my list of nominations for best stuffing in a BBQ birdie...

* Wild rice, hazelnuts and mushrooms
Cook wild rice and brown rice together (the wild ones might have to go in a bit earlier). While they're boiling, saute some mushrooms in butter and oil for a couple of minutes, remove from heat, season and stir in a handful of parsley and thyme. Add some spring onion, leeks, pinenuts and cooked bacon if you fancy. Let the rice cool, mix together with mushies and other ingredients, put in fridge overnight.

* Sourdough, speck and chestnuts
The chestnuts need to be cooked - buy them already cooked or do yourself. Saute the nuts in a bit of verjuice, reduce and add smoked speck, pork sausage, prunes, garlic and onion. Remove from heat, add a heap of parsley and sourdough bread, cubed. Drizzle with oil, place in bird.

* Pistachio, sage and cranberry
An old fave, this one's as easy as mixing cubed bread with a lightly beaten egg, chopped pistachios, cranberries, roasted garlic (pop a few whole cloves in the oven for 20 minutes), sage and seasoning. Yum.

And the winner goes to... Speck n chesties! Will let you know how we go. Can't wait.
Oh and amigos, if you're doing the turkey for the first time, my only advice is this: baste every half hour (leave the foil on until the last 30 minutes) and make a damn fine gravy lest it all go to jingle bell hell.