Cornbread Dressing

Cornbread dressing is the only dressing there is for many Southerners. It's a favorite for Thanksgiving. The recipe below is a basic foundation for many variations. Each cook has his or her favorite version.

8 to 10 servings

• Southern cornbread, crumbled -- 1 doubled recipe
• Butter or oil -- 2-3 tablespoons
• Onion, chopped -- 1
• Celery, chopped -- 2 stalks
• Sage, crumbled -- 1 tablespoon
• Chicken or turkey stock -- 2 cups
• Salt and pepper -- to taste
• Eggs, beaten -- 2-3 each

Method

1. Make a double batch of Southern cornbread, or use your own recipe. Once the cornbread has cooled completely, break it into pieces about the size of a walnut with your hands. Place the pieces and all the crumbs in a large bowl.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat the butter or oil in a sauté pan. Sauté the onions, celery and sage until the onions are translucent but not browned. Add to the bowl with the cornbread.
3. Stir the chicken broth into the cornbread to moisten and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the eggs. The stuffing should now be moist but not soggy. If it seems too dry, stir in a little more stock. If it is too wet, stir in some breadcrumbs.
4. Spread the stuffing in a buttered baking dish and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the stuffing is cooked through and browned on the top. Serve with poultry or pork.

Variations

• Use half cornbread and half regular cubed bread for a lighter stuffing if you like.
• Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or other nuts.
• Chop up turkey or chicken giblets and sauté with the onions and celery.
• Replace some of the stock with cream or half and half.
• This recipe can also be used to stuff a bird, at which time it becomes stuffing instead of dressing.