Authentic Southern Cornbread Dressing From Dixie Food

CHARLOTTE'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Make two recipes of cornbread according to the mix directions (amounts listed are for 2 recipes).
• Crumble cornbread into the roasting pan used for a turkey with turkey crust left in the pan (or large, shallow casserole baking dish).
• Fry the onions and celery in 3/4 stick of butter until tender.
• Add to cornbread and mix well.
• Add sage, dripping, cream of chicken soup, evaportated milk, eggs and broth.
• Taste and adjust seasonings like salt and pepper and sage.
• Mix well and wet the surface using extra broth and the back of a spoon to smooth.
• Bake at 350 F until thick and browned on top. Dressing should be moist.
• Serve with giblet gravy.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Cook onion and celery in some unsalted butter until they are soft, do not brown. Remove from heat.
• Crumble the cornbread and toast into a large bowl, add the onion mixture and mix well.
• Add the chicken broth a little at a time mixing well after each addition until the mixture is moist but not soupy.
• Add the egg, salt and pepper, mix well.
• Turn the mixture into a baking dish and smooth with a spoon.
• Bake at 350: until golden brown on top.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the cornbread: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put butter in an 11-inch skillet. Cast-iron is best here, but any ovenproof skillet will do. Heat butter in oven for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until butter has melted and is just starting to brown.
• While butter melts, whisk together cornmeal, salt and baking powder. In another small bowl, lightly beat eggs, then add buttermilk and stir until mixture is combined. Pour egg mixture into dry ingredients and stir well.
• Remove hot pan from oven, pour butter into batter and stir until batter looks uniform. Pour batter back into the pan and bake for 20 minutes or until the top has begun to just brown.
• Remove cornbread and let it cool on a rack. Tear or cut it into large pieces and place in a large bowl. Let it sit out overnight to dry out slightly.
• Prepare the dressing: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cornbread and white bread in a large bowl, tossing to mix, and breaking cornbread into smaller pieces.
• Melt butter in a large skillet, and add onions, celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sauté until vegetables have softened, about 6 minutes.
• Add vegetables to bread mixture and combine. Lightly beat eggs and add to bowl. Sprinkle in herbs, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper and toss together.
• Add 4 cups broth and stir well. Using your hands, work the mixture to get a very lumpy, thick, batterlike consistency. Add another cup of stock if needed. The mixture should be very wet and pourable but without standing liquid.
• Butter an 8-by-11-inch baking dish. (Any other ovenproof dish that can hold about 2 quarts will work. A deeper vessel could take longer to bake; a more shallow dish less time.) Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake until dressing puffs slightly and has browned well around the edges, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you have drippings from a roasted turkey, spoon some over the top about 30 minutes into the baking time.

MAMA'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x13-inch baking dishes.
• Combine cornbread and stale bread cubes in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and celery and cook until transparent, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pour onion mixture over the cornbread mixture. Add turkey broth, chopped turkey, soup, giblets, hard-cooked eggs, and flour. Mix so that all the cornbread is wet. Mix in parsley, sage, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Add beaten eggs. Mixture should be "soupy." Pour mixture evenly into the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and set, 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the chicken breast halves in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook 1 hour, or until the meat is tender and easily shredded. Shred chicken and set aside. Reserve 4 to 6 cups of the remaining broth.
• Prepare an 8x8 inch pan of cornbread according to package directions. Crumble the corn bread into a large bowl. Mix in the white bread.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the margarine and stir in the onions and celery. Slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.
• Stir the onions and celery into the bread mixture. Mix in the chicken, 4 cups reserved broth, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, pepper and eggs. Blend with a potato masher until the mixture is the consistency of gelatin. Use more of the reserved broth as necessary to attain desired consistency. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until golden brown.