This Thanksgiving, you can do your usual stuffing or you can check out these recipes and try something a little bit different. I have included the basic turkey stuffing – sometimes sticking to the basics is not a bad thing. Just remember that how your turkey cooks will be influenced by a number of factors such as:
If the turkey is partially frozen, it will need longer cooking
- The depth and size you the pan you are using will affect heat circulation to all areas of the bird
- The use of foil tent for the entire cooking time will slow cooking down
- Turkey placed in a dark roasting pan will cook faster than in a stainless steel or aluminum one
- When you use the pan lid, it will speed up the cooking
- Stuffed turkey will take longer to cook than one without stuffing
- The position of your oven rack can affect cooking and heat circulation
- If your turkey or the pan you will use is too large, it will block heat circulation and affect cooking
Basic Bread Stuffing:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/3 cup butter
- 4 cups bread cubes
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- turkey or chicken broth
Directions:
- Sauté onion and celery in the butter until softened.
- Combine onion mixture with bread, pepper, eggs, salt, sage and poultry seasoning in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir in broth until well moistened.
- Enough for an 8 to 10-pound turkey.
- Or, bake in a greased covered shallow casserole at 325° for about 35 to 45 minutes.
- Take the cover off the last 5 minutes to brown.
Apple Pecan Stuffing
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups dry wheat bread cubes, about 8 slices
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, combine chicken broth, celery, onion, butter, and salt.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine bread cubes, chopped apples, chopped pecans, sage, cinnamon, and pepper.
- Pour broth and vegetable mixture over the bread cubes.
- Gently stir to moisten.
- Spoon into a greased 1 1/2-quart casserole. Bake, covered, at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes.
- May also use as a stuffing for an 8 to 10 pound turkey.
Bread and Oyster Stuffing
Ingredients:
- 1 pound white bread slices, dried in a 250° oven for 1 hour, about 10 to 12 cups torn
- 3/4 cup butter or margarine
- 2 cups finely chopped celery
- 2 cups finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup milk, scalded
- 16 ounces oysters, drained
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
- In a large skillet, sauté onion and celery in butter until tender.
- Tear the dried bread up into a large bowl; sprinkle with warm milk then toss.
- Add onion and celery mixture and the drained oysters.
- Stir gently to mix ingredients together. Sprinkle with lemon juice, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Mix thoroughly but gently. Makes enough stuffing for a 14 pound turkey.
- This stuffing may be cooked in shallow baking pans, covered with foil, for about 25 minutes at 325°.
- Remove foil to brown just before serving.
Hope you have enjoyed this information – please send in your comments, suggestions and experiences, your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated