Admit it: You’ve already begun thinking about the Thanksgiving dinner. With Halloween behind us, that big day is just three weeks away. It’s understood that certain staples must be on the table to avoid family riots. But as each November rolls around, we all spend at least a little time wondering what we might do to freshen up the feast.
One ready way is try a new take on stuffing. (Call it stuffing, call it dressing — either way most people consider it a holiday must.)
“When prepared just right, Thanksgiving stuffing is everything Americans love about food: It’s savory and a little sweet, warm and soft but a little crunchy on the outside. In short, it’s the ultimate comfort food,” says foodnetwork.com.
Whether cooked in a casserole dish or inside the turkey, stuffing can be flavored with nuts, fruit, wild rice, sausage, liqueurs, new spice combinations and perhaps even a few ingredients you’ve never thought of.
“Let’s be clear about something: When making stuffing, it’s always better to slice and dry your own bread cubes,” says Associated Press recipe developer and tester Alison Ladman. “Hands down, the taste and texture are better.”
But let’s also be realistic, she continues. “In the chaos of getting the many components of Thanksgiving dinner on the table in a timely manner, many of us won’t have the time to make that happen. It’s all good. Truth is, you can make a pretty respectable stuffing using those bagged stuffing mixes.”
It all comes down to what you add to it. If all you do is follow the package directions — which usually amount to not much more than adding broth and an onion — you’re doomed to dull stuffing. But if you’re willing to toss in some more exciting ingredients, you can have a great stuffing nobody will guess started in a bag.
From muffins to capers
Ladman suggests 10 variations. Start with a 12-ounce bag of stuffing mix, flavor of your choice. Prepare it according to package directions, but add one of the following combinations before baking.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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