So…how are your Thanksgiving plans progressing? Do you have your menu for the big feast set yet? (I don’t…still trying out a few recipes.) Here on At Home w/ GCH, we have been featuring a few recipes that would make good candidates to serve as side dishes for your Thanksgiving meal.

Today’s recipe is for Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage, Apples and Cranberries. OK, here’s the big question: do you call yours ‘stuffing’ or ‘dressing?’ Oh, and another question: to cook inside the bird or as a casserole? I’d love to hear your replies in the comments below!

The recipe I prepared included gluten-free cornbread but can be made in the same manner with traditional cornbread which is made with wheat flour. Also, this could be made without the sausage 🙁 to make a vegetarian side dish (as a suggestion, increase the liquids slightly and add some melted butter, too). Enjoy!

Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage, Apples and Cranberries

Ingredients:
1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2-3 apples, cored and chopped coarsely
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning *
1/2 cup apple cider
1 cup dried cranberries, soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes
2 cups turkey or chicken stock (or broth)
2 eggs, beaten
Cornbread croutons (see below)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 375.
• A day or so beforehand, prepare a 9×13 pan of cornbread. After cooling in pan, cut into smallish cubes (croutons) and set aside to dry on a large baking sheet. (I left mine out overnight.)  About an hour or so prior to preparing the stuffing, place cornbread croutons into a 350 oven and bake, to dry even further, for 20-30 minutes. (Alternately, you could purchase cubed and dried cornbread stuffing cubes.)
• Saute the sausage in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking up with a spoon, about 10-15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon to drain, remove the cooked sausage to a very large bowl.
• Meantime, beat the eggs lightly and then mix with the cider and 1 cup of stock or broth.
• Add the butter to the sausage drippings, and melt over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and onions and celery to the skillet and saute until the leeks are just getting soft, about 5-6 minutes.
• Add the chopped apples and continue to cook for 5 more minutes.
• Mix in the soaked cranberries (with their liquid) and the poultry seasoning.
• Add this mixture to the sausage in the bowl. Then stir in the cornbread croutons.
• Next add the additional 1 cup of stock, 1/4 cup at a time, until the stuffing is very moist. Be careful not to overdo it; it should not be mushy. Season with salt and pepper as you are adding the stock.
• Bake in a glass 14-inch oval or 9×13  casserole dish, uncovered, in the oven for 30 minutes ‘til the top is crispy and the middle is piping hot. Remove and serve immediately (or cover loosely with aluminum foil).

To make your own Homemade Poultry Seasoning, combine:

1 tablespoon ground sage
1/2 tablespoon ground thyme
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1/2 tablespoon ground rosemary
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

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God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen