makes 4-6 servings

1 unsliced 75% whole-wheat loaf
1/4 c. (60 mL) equal parts butter and olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 large tart apples, peeled, diced
2 100 g pkgs. pecans and/or filberts
(hazelnuts), toasted and minced*
1 c. (250 mL) raisins
1 c. (250 mL) Craisins (dried cranberries)
2 tsp. (10 mL) ground dry thyme
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
2 tsp. (10 mL) coarse black pepper
1/2 c. (125 mL) chopped fresh parsley
1 c. (250 mL) orange juice
2 whole ducks (about 4-1/2 lbs./2 kg each)
Liquid honey

*Toast nuts by spreading on a baking sheet and baking in a 350°F (180°C) oven about 15 minutes. If using filberts (hazelnuts), rub in a tea towel to remove most of the skins before chopping.

Make crumbs from the loaf of bread, using a food processor. Heat butter and oil in a large sauté pan until bubbly. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion starts to soften. Add apples, toasted minced nuts, raisins, Craisins, thyme, salt, pepper, parsley and orange juice. Stir and heat about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add breadcrumbs to the pan. Mix well and let cool completely. (Stuffing can be made the day before and refrigerated.) Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Wash and thoroughly dry the ducks. Assemble string, skewers and four small squares of foil. Stuff both cavities of the two ducks. Truss with string and/or skewers. Place small foil pieces over top of drumsticks. Brush both ducks with honey. Roast 1 hour. Brush with honey again. Roast another hour. Remove foil pieces. Brush with honey and drippings for the third time and roast a final hour. Let stand 10 minutes before carving.

Note: This amount of stuffing makes enough to fill both cavities of both ducks with some left over to bake in a foil package for the last hour. Or, it will fill both cavities of a medium-size turkey. Recipe can also be halved if you want stuffing only for the twin ducks and no leftovers.

Calories: 801; Protein 49 g; Carbohydrate 61 g; Fat 41 g/serving with stuffing
Calories: 446; Protein 8 g; Carbohydrate 62 g; Fat 21 g/serving of stuffing alone

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