Stuffing/Dressing 101

How to make stuffing:

1. Cook vegetables, fruits, herbs and/or meat in butter, then add broth.

2. Toss with beaten eggs and cubed bread.

3. Transfer to a buttered baking dish and dot with butter or drippings. Bake, covered, at 375 degrees F, 30 minutes; uncover and bake until golden, about 30 more minutes (or cook the cooled stuffing in the turkey).

Each recipe serves 8 and is enough to fill a 12-14 pound turkey.

Classic Melt 1 stick butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cups each diced onions and celery and 1 tablespoon each minced sage and thyme; add salt and pepper and cook 5 minutes. Add 3 cups turkey or chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Beat 2 eggs with 1/4 cup chopped parsley in a large bowl; add 16 cups cubed stale white bread, then pour in the vegetable-broth mixture and toss. Transfer to a buttered baking dish and dot with butter. Cover and bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees F; uncover and bake until golden, 30 more minutes. (Or stuff in your turkey and bake.)

Orange Cranberry Make a directed above, but add the zest of one orange and it's juice to the stuffing mix before baking, as well as 1/2-1 cup dried cranberries.

You can make any variation of stuffing, do what suits your family.  Change up the fruits/vegetables as you like and add cooked sausage if you'd like, add more or less herbs.  Just follow the basic equation and add the flavors your family likes best.

For my family I ususally do two flavors - the Orange Cranberry and a Modified Classic.