Fantastic Food Friday: Stuffing...er...Dressing

Oh, heck what's in a name anyway?  A couple weeks ago my friend Maria was looking for a stuffing recipe.  Gasp!  I hadn't got around to posting any of the recipes I use.  Oh, the horror!  So, without further ado...

First up, my mom's classic stand-by.

Poultry Stuffing

1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cup chopped celery
3/4 cups butter
1 pound chopped mushrooms
8 cups bread crumbs (about 14 slices, diced)
1 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup liquid (broth or potato water)

Melt butter, saute onion and celery till limp but not browned. Add mushrooms and saute. Combine with bread and seasonings.  Toss with enough liquid to moisten. Pack loosely into bird or cook separately in covered casserole in oven.  Makes enough for a 12-15 pound bird.

Now, I do mine in the crock pot because an unstuffed bird cooks faster and is moister.  I've not made any changes in the quantities of Mom's recipe, use broth for the liquid, and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.  Stir once during cooking to avoid dressing sticking to bottom. 

When I do turkey for Christmas this is the recipe I use.  This recipe also pairs up wonderfully with pork, our family loves this as a side to pork chops.

Next up, my Thanksgiving classic.

Harvest Dressing -- This is actually a combination of two recipes.

1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 - 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (to taste)
12 cups bread crumbs
2 cups chopped, peeled apple
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 - 1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups chicken broth (if you're on top of things you saved broth from last year's turkey!)

In a large bowl, or your crock pot if large enough for you to mix in, combine everything but the butter and broth.  Pour butter and broth over bread mixture and toss gently.  Place mixture in crock pot and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Stir once during cooking to avoid dressing sticking to the bottom.

This is my all time favorite dressing recipe.  I'll eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner till it's exhausted, LOL (Why not? It has all the food groups!)

**Photos pending:  Because I didn't actually cook for Thanksgiving this year, I don't have any photos to attach to these dishes.  If I wait for Christmas it'll be too late for those in search of a stuffing...er...dressing recipe.

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