Lifetime Mothers
Read! Write! Tell us what you think!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Recipe contest was a bust!

We are sad to report that no one entered the from-scratch stuffing recipe contest! If you have any feedback about this contest, please post it, so we will know what kind of contests you would like to see in the future.

Here is a simple from-scratch dressing recipe made with challah -- Jewish egg bread. I'm calling it "dressing" because it's meant to be cooked in a casserole dish rather than in a bird. (That's the difference between "dressing" and "stuffing.") The reason it doesn't go into a bird is that it contains eggs, and you shouldn't put stuffings containing raw eggs into turkeys (according to the official food-safety people.)

Unfortunately I don't have a photo of it, so I'm posting a photo of challah instead. If your store doesn't have challah, you can usually find sliced packaged "egg bread."

a loaf of challah


2 loaves challah or egg bread, sliced
1 large sweet onion, diced
4 stalks celery, diced
mushrooms (optional)
kosher salt
black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
hot chicken broth. One can or box is more than enough!

First, toast your challah. The easiest way to do this is to lay challah slices on cookie or jelly-roll sheets and toast them in a warm oven (250 - 300 degrees.) As the challah slices come out of the oven, tear them up with your fingers and put them in a large mixing bowl.

While the toasting is going on, sautee the onion. I like to carmelize it. In any case, your goal is to get it nice and brown. A longer time over a lower heat is best for that.

When the onion is about halfway through, add the celery. Same with the mushrooms, if you are using them. Once the celery and mushrooms join the pan, hit them with salt and pepper.

Mix the veggies well with the torn-up toast. Taste and see if you want to add more pepper or salt.

Then mix in the eggs and enough broth to make everything moist but not soggy, gloppy or sticky.

Bake in a lightly oiled casserole at 350 for 30 - 40 minutes, until top is crusty.

Written at 8:34 AM by Lifetime Mothers.
0 comments