Frans Eggplant Cornbread Dressing Recipes

FRAN'S EGGPLANT CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Grease a 2 quart casserole dish and set aside.
• Microwave eggplant until soft. Perhaps 6 minutes. When done, mash to a pulp.
• Fry the onion in a little butter until soft and translucent.
• Crumble the cornbread into coarse crumbs.
• Combine eggplant, onion, butter and cornbread.
• Stir in the remaining ingredients and pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes or until the casserole is "set:" in the middle. ("Set" means a knife inserted in the middle of the casserole comes out clean, but not so well done that the casserole is dry.).
• This is a very forgiving recipe. Instead of measuring out 2 cups of cornbread crumbs, I usually just crumble up an 8x8 pan of fresh cornbread. You want the mixture to be wet enough to wet all the cornbread crumbs, but not so wet that it won't "set up." If it seems a little dry before baking, add just a little chicken broth or water.
• I have also used yellow squash or zucchini in place of the eggplant. The prep time can be reduced by using frozen onions in place of fresh. Also, I am just really slow at prep!

EGGPLANT CUPS WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplants into 1-inch chunks. Scoop out the flesh with a melon baller or teaspoon measure to form small cups, making sure not to go all the way through the bottom. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place the cups, scooped side up, onto the sheet pan and lightly spray them with cooking spray. Season them with salt and pepper. Bake the cups until they are just softened but not collapsed, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the eggplant cups are baking, heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a fork, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until cooked through. Stir in the corn muffin crumbles, broth, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Fill the eggplant cups with the sausage mixture. Transfer to platter and garnished with chopped chives, if desired.

EGGPLANT DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Cook ground hamburger meat-use a 92/8 mixture drain any fat, add garlic powder, S & P, and chopped bell pepper, and onion cook on low till onion wilted.
• 2. Peel eggplant, slice and cut each slice into 1" cubes.
• 3. Add eggplant to meat mixture, turn up heat, put lid on so eggplant will steam. Each time you check mash down eggplant with back of spoon. Continue until eggplant is tender and mixes in with meat mixture. This takes about 45 minutes.
• 4. Cook rice according to package directions.
• 5. Stir in cooked rice to mixture and heat so its hot through and through.
• * Cooking time for recipe maybe a little bit more.

RICH CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees, and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Melt remaining butter. In a large bowl, combine cornbread, white bread, onion, celery, sage, salt and pepper to taste. Toss until well mixed. Add melted butter, eggs, cream and 1 1/2 cups broth. Toss in oysters, if using. Mix lightly but well; mixture should be very moist.
• Turn mixture into prepared dish. If mixture seems dry around edges, drizzle on remaining broth. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, until firm and browned on top.

EGGPLANT DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Cook until done. Add eggplant and cook a few minutes more,
• 2. Add as much rice as you like,
• 3. May bake in oven a few minutes or cook on top of stove in heavy skillet.