Substituting chicken liver, heart and gisset for turkey liver, heart and gisset

[Mythreegirls]

Hi:
My mother's recipe calls for the turkey liver, heat and gisset for our stuffing. Unfortunately, I need to make my stuffing earlier than usual and don't have the turkey yet. Can I substitute chicken liver, heart and gisset. Thank you.

[hill food]

not meaning to go off topic, but I've never heard them called gissets before. is this a regional thing?

and yeah chicken will be just fine, toss the chopped turkey ones into the gravy when they're available.

[Mythreegirls]

No, I bought them separately. I bought livers and then a package with heart and gissets.

I don't know - I'm from New England and that's what we've always called them and that's actually how I asked for them at the store.

[hill food]

interesting, that explains a lot, I've never spent much time in New England (I'm from the cusp of the lower Midwest/upper South) and god knows the word doesn't come up all that often anywhere you go.

glad you found them packaged, I always feel ripped off if I buy a roaster and there's maybe half the liver but three hearts and no gizzard (gisset) or some such random part assortment.

[pcdarnell]

It's a phonetic spelling of the New England pronounciation of gizzards. It's spelled almost exactly like my mother says the word - though hers sounds more like gissids.

[Mythreegirls]

Too funny! We really do come up with different pronounciations and don't think twice about until someone asks.

[hill food]

pcd - I figured as much, NE soft 'R' vs. a hard 'R' elsewhere.

great, now I have to track the etymology of the word itself. good thing I have some time on my hands.

and hey My3G, we all knew what you meant, variations are what make things interesting.

[Breezychow]

Yup - you can definitely sub in chicken livers, hearts, & gizzards for turkey. When you do get your turkey, just save the turkey giblets for another use - like turkey stock or gravy (or your pets, if you have any :).)

[Mythreegirls]

Thank you for the reply. This is the first time I've had to substitute so I was really nervous about it. I'll definitely be saving the parts for my Christmas stuffing.

[Breezychow]

Yeah - even though they'll be at least partially thawed before you can yank them out of the turkey, it'll be okay to refreeze them. No worries. Been there, done that. :)

Will you be buying chicken giblets separately, or hope to get them from inside a chicken? If the latter, make sure you check the label, since these days many whole chickens do not come with the giblets.