Sunnys Simple Stuffing Recipes

SUNNY'S SIMPLE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, mix the stuffing mix with the parsley and set aside.
• In a large pan on medium heat, add the butter, celery, onions, thyme, sage and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and a nice grind of pepper. Cook until the onions and celery are tender but the garlic is not browned. Remove to the bowl of bread cubes. Pour the stock over the bread and veggie mixture and stir to combine (this is a wet dressing, so it should be very moist). If using one of the add-in combinations, mix in the ingredients carefully.
• Pour the mixture into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Press down to make it compact, and then cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes, then raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and bake, uncovered, until golden brown on top, about 15 minutes more.

SUNNY'S CROWD-SOURCED STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat a countertop oven to 300 degrees F.
• Place the bread cubes in a single layer on two quarter sheet trays (9-by-13-inch baking sheets) or countertop oven baking sheets and bake until dried out and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove the bread cubes to a very large bowl.
• Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the celery, onions and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sage, thyme, garlic and scallion whites and continue to cook until the vegetables and herbs meld together, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the vegetable mixture to the bowl with the bread cubes. Add the chestnuts and saltines and mix to combine well.
• Whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and turkey stock in a medium bowl or large measuring cup. Pour over the bread cubes and vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine well.
• Transfer the bread mixture to a 9-by-9-by-2 1/2-inch broiler-safe baking dish. Using a wooden spoon, press down to compact the stuffing. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and switch the countertop oven to broil. Broil the stuffing until the top is golden brown and crispy, 2 minutes on high. Garnish with the scallion greens and Fried Sage, if using.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F. To test if the oil is ready for frying, drop in a small sage leaf. If it begins to sizzle, the oil is ready. Add the sage leaves to the oil and fry until crisp, 20 to 25 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, remove the leaves to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt.

SUNNY'S ITALIAN SAUSAGE HOLIDAY STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Saute the sausage. In a large pan on medium-high heat, add olive oil and sausage. Cook until heated through and browned. Remove to a large bowl along with any remaining fat from the pan. Saute the vegetables and fruit. In the same pan add butter and melt on medium heat. Add scallions, celery, onion, cranberries and Hidden Valley® Homestyle Italian Dressing & Seasoning Mix. Cook while stirring until the vegetables are tender and cranberries become a bit plump, about 6-8 minutes. Remove all to the bowl with the sausage. Mix stuffing. Add stuffing cubes to the bowl and toss. Pour over the chicken stock adding 1/4 cup or so more if cubes are not moist enough, this should feel like thick mashed potatoes. Bake stuffing. Coat the bottom and sides of an 8" x 8" baking dish with cooking spray. Pour in stuffing and press down, leveling off the top with a rubber spatula or back of a spoon. Bake until top is golden, about 35-40 minutes.

SUNNY'S EASY APPLE STUFFING LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large skillet, add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add the celery, onions, thyme, sage, scallions, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until the onions and celery are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute. Transfer the vegetables to a large mixing bowl.
• To the bowl of veggies, add the stuffing mix, walnuts, parsley, cranberries and apples and mix well. Add 2 1/2 cups of the stock, tossing well to coat and soak all of the cubes. If more stock is needed, add it splash by splash. There should be no liquid pooling in the bottom of your bowl.
• Scoop the stuffing mixture into the prepared loaf pan and press down firmly to pack it. Cover the pan with foil, place on a sheet pan and bake for 1 hour. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove the foil and continue to bake until golden brown on top, 25 to 30 more minutes.
• Dig in warm or allow to cool slightly and turn out onto a plate to serve. Or allow to cool completely, then cut into 1-inch-thick slices with a serrated knife and toast in a pan with butter.