Giblets

The giblets consist of the neck, gizzard, heart and liver of the bird as well as the lungs and intestines (though the last two are generally not included in ready-prepared birds). Unless you clean the bird yourself, you will usually find the giblets packed in a plastic bag inside the body cavity. Often, however, they are absent from ready-prepared birds. Occasionally, you can buy them separately from a butcher if you wish to prepare stock.

To make stock for gravy, trim the giblets, discarding the membrane and yellow gall bladder from the liver. Simmer them with a few tablespoonfuls of chopped onion and carrot, a bouquet garni and a few black peppercorns.