You'll get very good results with whole birds if you flatten them before grilling. By doing so, you create a piece of meat of uniform thickness that will cook more evenly. If you are going to marinate the bird, flatten it before putting it into the marinade.

Place the bird on a cutting board, breast side up. With a heavy chef's knife, cleaver, or pair of poultry shears, cut through the ribs on one side, as close to the backbone as possible. Make a second cut on the other side of the backbone, again as close to the bone as possible. Remove the backbone completely.

Turn the bird breast side down and spread the rib cage apart. If you make a notch in the end of the breast bone near the wishbone, it will be easier to spread the rib cage.

Turn the bird over and flatten it with the heel of your hand. In the process, expect some of the rib bones to break. Make a slit in the bird's skin near the edge of each breast and tuck in the legs. Fold the wing tips under the wings.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole turkey, about 10 to 12 pounds, fresh or thawed
• About 3 pounds bulk pork sausage
• Vegetable oil
• Salt and fresh-ground black pepper

1. Flatten the turkey according to the directions above, or you can ask your butcher to do it for you. Wash the bird in cold water and pat it dry. Remove the lumps of fat from inside the rib cage. Using your fingers, lift up on the turkey skin, starting at the neck end, and separate the skin from the meat as completely as possible wihout tearing. Push the sausage under the skin, making an even layer about 1/2 inch thick, over the breast, thighs, and legs, if possible, using as much sausage as you can. Smooth out the sausage layer by patting the turkey skin all over. Rub the turkey with vegetable oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat the grill for 10 to 15 minutes, with all the burners on high. Once the grill is hot, turn one burner off and turn the other(s) to medium. Place the turkey, skin side up, over the burner that is off. Close the grill's lid and cook the turkey for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, turning it several times. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer stuck into the thickest part of the breast registers 170 degrees F.

3. Transfer the turkey to a carving board. Cover the bird loosely with a foil tent and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. To carve the turkey, start on one side. First cut the leg and thigh sections completely off, then do the same with the wings. Slice the breast meat thin, then cut the meat from the legs, thighs, and wings. Repeat on the other side. Serve immediately.