Traditional Bread Stuffing

What's a turkey without stuffing?

I guess we can call this the "all-time" favorite side with turkey! If we had just this and a heaping pile of mashed potatoes and gravy, my family would still be thrilled with their Thanksgiving dinner.

I usually make two different kinds of stuffing, this traditional one and an Italian one my mom always made. We call it Italian Stuffing (made with meatball mix-  mushrooms, chunks of mozzarella, parmesan and veggies) because she never had a name for it. I guess I could call it Meatball Stuffing or Meat Stuffing...anyway, I've gone off track a bit. LOL!

You can increase or decrease the herb seasonings to your taste.  You can also add plain sausage, mild Italian or even apple sausage. They all add a savory bite. Want crunch? Try adding nuts, like pecans, pine nuts or walnuts. Dried fruit add flavor too, try cranberries, currants, raisins, apricots or cherries. Fresh chopped apples or mushrooms do well in it too. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

2 sticks celery, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 (12 oz.) pkg. cubed bread for stuffing (serves 14)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 cups chicken broth (approx.)

1 tsp. dried parsley

1/2 tsp. sage

1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350'F.  Prepare a 2 quart casserole dish or 9x13" pan.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onions and sauté until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in sage, poultry seasoning and parsley, until fragrant, about another minute. 

In a large mixing bowl place cubed bread, chicken broth and egg. (Add chicken broth to desired consistency. Some like a drier stuffing, some a more moist stuffing.) Stir in the sautéed vegetables and mix well.

Spoon into prepared casserole dish.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake 35 minutes or until hot. Uncover 20 minutes before done, ladle a bit of turkey drippings over top and leave uncovered until top is golden brown.

A Tip from Grammy:

-Make the day before and write the temp and time on the aluminum foil. You won't have to look it up the day of baking it.

-Just before placing your turkey in the oven, put a heaping spoonful of stuffing into the cavity for flavor.

-And, of course, NEVER stuff your turkey the day before!

 

Be encouraged!

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13