Okay, let’s get serious about Turkey Day.
Well, we are only three and a turkey, even small, is just too much to handle right now, aside from the fact that we don’t go to shops that HAVE turkeys…Thanksgiving is not a French celebration.
But mama is making her mama’s stuffing, called dressing in the south, which was semi-famous among her mama’s mama’s circle, and mama tells me that her mama gave it away for holiday gifts to her friends.
Here it is: Make cornbread (Albers was king then, still may be, but mama uses coarse polenta now) and add a spoon of any good chili powder to the mix, like this: Mama heats an large ovenproof skillet, adds 4 tablespoons butter, adds the (ancho) chili powder for a few seconds, then pours the melted butter into her cornbread mix:
Heat oven to 375F or 185C
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar (we don’t like it too sweet)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk mixed with 2 eggs (plain milk is ok but buttermilk is better)
1 carton plain yogurt
Mix everything along with the melted butter (don’t mix too much, lumps are good) and pour back into the heated skillet, letting the mix sizzle a little.
Bake for 20 minutes or just until bread is firm. (Stick a broomstraw in the middle and if it comes out clean, it’s done.)
But who has a straw broom? Where did they go? Whatever they are.
Mama’s mama broke up the cornbread into chunks and let it sit for 2 days in a big bowl to get a bit stale.
Then mixed in a splash of olive oil, fresh chopped sage (or dried), 3 sweet onions, chopped fine and sautéed with 2 cups celery, chopped fine, and a few garlic cloves, chopped fine, salt and pepper.
Before stuffing the turkey, she added a handful of grilled almonds, chopped fine, a little more melted butter (or olive oil), a cup or two of rich chicken or turkey broth, and 2 beaten eggs.
(Grilled, slivered almonds.)
The stuffing should be moist but not wet as it will get juice from its home as it roasts! Her mama also put a thin cloth dipped in melted butter over the breast to keep the meat tender.
Well, I have to STOP! I’m drooling all over my computer…
Mama, do you have a napkin handy?
That stuffing looks tasty, Loulou. We’re hoping to get a little taste of turkey tomorrow.
OOH, some kitties have all the luck.
That sounds absolutely FANTASTIC! My Mom makes “dressing” too as her Mom was a Southern lady and called it that. But this recipe is very different and my Mom will try it one day. This year it’s the usual. I like smelling the turkey cooking but not eating it. I know that’s weird but I’m not a turkey guy. Happy DRESSING DAY to you!!!!!!!!
Hugs, Teddy
YOU DON’T EAT TURKEY???? Wow. But yes, the smell is heaven.
Yum, Loulou that sounds amazeballs! My mouth is watering too.
Well, we’ll bake it in the oven because we have no bird. Well, not a turkey anyway…
Well, Papa is going to make a new recipe – maigret de canard with truffle honey! Served on truffled rice. It’s a new dish but sounds delicious – will let you know!!!!!
Mama still wants that recipe!!! She couldn’t understand anything of the video…poor mama.
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I love cornbread stuffing.
And the cornbread with a little butter is pretty hard to leave alone, haha.
Goodness ! With those ingredients that has to be wonderful stuffing ! The chili powder is an inspired addition !
That’s the secret of mama’s mama’s recipe…sauteed chili powder to give it a zip. It’s not hot.
Tis the season for the yum, yum!
YES, yum yum Yuletime….