Lets talk Stuffing.

What stuffing will be on your Thanksgiving table?

Everyone knows Thanksgiving is all about the Turkey. The turkey gets the glory and the pain as it were, when it comes to Thanks giving. But what about the Stuffing, lets talk about stuffing for a minute. Did you know the way you stuff your turkey changes how you will cook it ? Me personally I prefer my stuffing on the side. I like a lot of stuffing and a little turkey. Their is so many varieties of stuffing to please the most discriminating pallet.

Southern Cornbread Stuffing

Ingredients

• Cornbread, recipe follows
• 7 slices oven-dried white bread
• 1 sleeve saltine crackers
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups celery, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 7 cups chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sage (optional)
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (optional)
• 5 eggs, beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine crumbled cornbread, dried white bread slices, and saltines; set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook until transparent, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Pour the vegetable mixture over cornbread mixture. Add the stock, mix well, taste, and add salt, pepper to taste, sage, and poultry seasoning. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Reserve 2 heaping tablespoons of this mixture for the giblet gravy. Pour mixture into a greased pan and bake until dressing is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Serve with turkey as a side dish.

Cornbread:

• 1 cup self-rising cornmeal
• 1/2 cup self-rising flour
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into a greased shallow baking dish. Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

To serve, cut into desired squares and serve with butter.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Cornbread Stuffing with Apples and Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
• 1 medium onions, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped coarsely
• 1 teaspoon freshly minced thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped sage leaves
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1 1/4 pounds cubed and dried cornbread stuffing, store-bought
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 2 cups turkey or low-sodium chicken stock
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in 12-inch skillet.

Cook sausage for 5 to 7 minutes until browned. Add onions and celery and saute until softened. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix in apples, thyme and sage and saute for another 2 minutes. Add bourbon. *Cook's Note: When adding alcohol take pan off flame. Allow to simmer until bourbon is almost evaporated; 1 to 2 minutes.

In a large bowl, add cornbread stuffing, parsley, chicken stock, eggs and pecans. Mix well. Mix in vegetable mixture to bowl. Combine and stir well together. Add to a large casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes.

Cornbread Stuffing With Shrimp and Ham

Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
• 1 pound ham (in 1 piece), chopped
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken broth
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 6 cups stale cornbread cubes
• 8 cups stale white bread cubes
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the ham and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, tarragon, thyme and Old Bay and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.

Whisk the eggs and parsley in a large bowl. Add the cornbread, white bread and shrimp, then pour in the vegetable-broth mixture and gently toss to combine.

Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish and dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until golden, about 30 more minutes.

Tortilla Chip-Chorizo Stuffing

Ingredients

• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
• 12 ounces dried chorizo, chopped
• 4 bunches scallions, chopped
• 4 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles, drained
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 3 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken broth
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 13-ounce bag corn tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
• 8 cups stale white bread cubes
• 2 cups cubed queso fresco cheese
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Melt 8 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the chorizo, scallions, chiles and cumin and cook, stirring, until the chorizo is slightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.

Whisk the eggs and cilantro in a large bowl. Add the tortilla chips, bread and cheese and season with salt and pepper. Slowly pour in the chorizo-broth mixture and toss to combine.

Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish; dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until golden, about 30 more minutes.

Chef's Note: If you're using fresh bread, dry the cubes in a 300 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

With so many options to choose from, their is no excuse why the stuffing can't get any love this Thanksgiving.

Brick City catering.