Cornbread Stuffing

A savory side dish typically served at Thanksgiving that combines cornbread with herbs, vegetables, and chicken or turkey broth to create a flavorful stuffing.

Instructions

1. 1

   First, make Tia’s Cornbread at least one day before serving the stuffing.

2. 2

   Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously grease a 9-inch (23 cm) baking pan with 1 tablespoon of butter.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, buttermilk, corn, honey and eggs. Using a rubber spatula, add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.

4. 4

   Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool for at least 1 hour, then cut into 1-inch cubes for the stuffing.

5. 5

   For the stuffing, start by cutting the cornbread into cubes.

6. 6

   Spread 4 cups of white bread cubes and 4 cups of the cornbread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and leave out overnight to dry out.

7. 7

   Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 13x9x2-inch (33x23x2 cm) baking dish with butter and set aside.

8. 8

   Transfer the bread cubes to a large bowl.

9. 9

   In a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add the onion, garlic, celery, fennel and sprinkle with the salt and cook until the vegetables are translucent, about 5 minutes.

10. 10

    Add the mixture to the bowl of bread and mix.

11. 11

    In the same sauté pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and let brown for 30 seconds. Add the apples and nutmeg and sauté until the apples are tender, 3 to 4 minutes.

12. 12

    Add the apples to the bread bowl and mix.

13. 13

    Add the sausage to the pan and cook, breaking it up as it browns, 8 to 10 minutes.

14. 14

    Transfer the sausage to the bread bowl and mix.

15. 15

    Mix in the parsley and sage.

16. 16

    Transfer the bread mixture to the buttered baking dish.

17. 17

    Pour the chicken stock around the edges of the baking dish.

18. 18

    Put the baking dish on the middle oven rack and bake at 400°F (200°C), uncovered for 40 minutes, until golden brown.

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