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Gem's Best Dressing

Source of Recipe

Gem's own


List of Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds homemade cornbread (see note2)
1 1/2 pounds fresh whole wheat bread (Pepperidge Farm or Earth Grains)
OR: 1 1/2 pounds Italian 7 grain loaf, fresh from deli
3 Cups celery & leaves. chopped
1 1/2 Cups onions, diced
5 or 6 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 Cup margarine, (1 1/2 Stick)
3 Cups fresh mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons pepper, freshly ground
3 teaspoons rubbed sage
1 1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 1/4 teaspoons poultry seasoning
3 eggs, slightly scrambled
1 quart (32 ounces) plus 1 Can (14 1/2 ounce) reduced sodium chicken broth


Recipe

1. Prepare cornbread according to directions and let cool to room temperture. Crumble cornbread well into very large bowl or pot (about 8 quart).
2. Slice wheat bread into 1/2 inch cubes. Mix well with cornbread.
3. Melt margarine in large skillet. Add celery, onions, mushrooms and garlic. Stir occasionally while heating over medium heat.
4. Mix salt, pepper, sage, thyme and poultry seasoning in small bowl or cup. Add to and mix well with bread mixture.
5. When celery mixture is tender and most of the liquid is evaporated, add to and mix well with bread mixture.
6. Add eggs and chicken broth and mix well with bread mixture.
7. Lightly spray a 9.5 X 13.5 X 2 inch casserole dish with cooking oil. Spoon dressing mixture into casserole dish. Cover with tinfoil and place in center rack of pre-heated oven at 350 degrees F.
8. Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover casserole and Bake 20 more minutes.

Servers: 16

Note: While I make this Dressing every Thanksgiving and Christmas, I could eat it any day of the year.

Note2: I always make my own cornbread using just cornmeal without any flour added and very little sugar. (I use flour and sugar for cakes and breads... "real" cornbread should not be called a bread and certainly not resemble a sweetcake). The cornbread can be made a day ahead, wrapped in tinfoil and stored in the refrigerator. See my Cornbread recipe. It makes a Great meal with Blackeyed-Peas, sliced onions and fresh ripe tomatoes.