Suzannes Down Home Southern Dressing Recipes

SUZANNE'S DOWN HOME SOUTHERN DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with bacon grease.
• Mix corn bread mix with milk and egg according to package directions. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook onion and bell pepper in 1/2 cup butter until tender. Stir onion mixture into corn bread batter. Pour into prepared 9x13 inch pan.
• Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cool completely. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Processed cooled corn bread in a food processor until soft and mushy. Pour into a large aluminum roasting pan. Stir in herbed stuffing mix. Stir in chicken broth, a can at a time, until mixture is well moistened, but not soupy. Stir in poultry seasoning and baking powder. Dot with remaining butter, and press butter down into dressing.
• Bake in preheated oven until puffed and golden, 30 to 45 minutes.

SOUTHERN DRESSING

Steps:

• Cut the cornbread and French bread into 1-inch cubes, place on a baking sheet and leave out until completely dried out, several hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add the bacon to a skillet and saute over medium heat until cooked and almost crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove to a plate and wipe out any grease. Melt the butter in the skillet, throw in the celery, red peppers and onions and cook, stirring, until very soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the jalapenos and garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth, add the parsley, rosemary and some salt and pepper and stir. Cook for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat.
• Add the bread and bacon to a large bowl and spoon in some of the broth mixture. Keep adding the broth, tossing as you go, until it is all mixed in. Add more salt and pepper if needed and toss it around, then check the seasoning. If you like your dressing extra moist, add a little more broth.
• Pile the dressing into a 3-quart (9-by-13-inch) casserole pan and bake, uncovered, until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve piping hot.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Add the cornmeal to a large bowl along with the flour, baking powder, salt, basil, sage and thyme and stir together.
• Measure the buttermilk in a measuring cup, add the whole milk and egg and stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until just combined. Do not overmix.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons shortening in the microwave and slowly add to the batter, stirring constantly until combined.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and shortening. Pour the batter into the hot skillet, spread to even out the surface and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Then get it into the oven straightaway and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. The edges should be crispy.