Third Installment of Thanksgiving Basics
Welcome to episode three of Thanksgiving Basics. I kicked off this much-anticipated series with Homemade Turkey Stock, followed by the simple but game-changing DIY Stuffing Cubes . This year let’s put them together in our family’s tried and true Sage Sausage, Cornbread, and Challah Stuffing.
Evolution of a Stuffing Recipe
When we began hosting Thanksgiving in the stone age a long time ago, we used The Silver Palate Cornbread Sausage stuffing recipe and honestly, if I deviate too far from it, the natives get restless. But as with all recipes, things evolve. Influenced by a 2001 Sheila Lukins recipe in Parade Magazine, I started using dried cherries and apricots in my stuffing, in addition to fresh apples. I also began making my own bread cubes. Since then, I have tested new combinations of bread, variations on the sausage, improved my stock but the apple never falls too far from the tree. This recipe’s roots are still visible in the Silver Palate recipe and Lukins Parade magazine version. But I think you’ll see a very visible imprint from our family traditions in both the ingredients and techniques.
Helpful tips and tricks for Sage Sausage, Cornbread, and Challah Stuffing:
- This recipe can be completely prepared the day before so all you have to do is pop it in the oven while your turkey is resting. We are able to “run” the 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day because the only thing left to do is cook the turkey which is already prepped and bake all the sides while the bird rests.
- You can absolutely cut corners and buy store-bought stock, but really, make your own turkey stock. It can be done well in advance and refrigerated or frozen and it just tastes better.
- Make your own bread cubes – this step is a must. It is not hard and they taste so good. The variety is up to you. I have used up to three kinds of bread but we always use cornbread (I make my own and just let it sit on the counter and dry out a bit.) But even if you use a packaged mix or can find a store that has prepared cornbread, it will work fine. In addition to the cornbread, I used to use white bread and whole wheat but tried challah bread a few years ago and have become a convert. Challah and cornbread is now our standard. If you are not familiar, challah is an eggy Jewish bread that is fairly easy to find year round at Trader Joe’s and generally on Friday’s at bakeries in both grocery stores and specialty stores or you can make mine or my friend Lonni’s recipe.
- For the sausage – I use Jimmy Dean’s Breakfast Sausage with Sage. I have asked a meat department to make some for me or occasionally they will have it in the meat case, but Jimmy Dean’s can be purchased ahead and well, it tastes fantastic in the stuffing. But apparently we’re not the only ones that think so because stores often run out near Thanksgiving. Plan your shopping accordingly.
Sage Sausage, Cornbread, and Challah Stuffing
A riff of the Silver Palate Cornbread Sausage Stuffing Recipe and a 2001 Sheila Lukins recipe from Parade Magazine, this stuffing/dressing is layered with flavor starting with the homemade stuffing cubes which are enhanced with sage sausage, dried cherries and apricots, fresh seared apples, and toasted pecans. A mouthful of Thanksgiving flavor in every single bite.
Ingredients
- 16 cups bread cubes
- 1 ½ pounds breakfast sausage with sage either Jimmy Dean's which will sell out close to Thanksgiving or get your butcher to make it
- 1/2 cup dried apricots chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1 ½ cups pecans coarsely chopped and toasted
- 2 onions chopped, about 2.5 cups
- 3 tart apples chopped and not peeled
- 4 tablespoons butter 1/2 stick
- 2 - 3 teaspoons dried thyme or about double if fresh
- 1 -2 teaspoons dried sage or about double if fresh
- ½ cup Italian parsley chopped
- 1 - 2 cups turkey stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Have a giant bowl ready for mixing it all up and to put the ingredients in as you saute them. I keep the sausage separate in case I have to make a small pan of stuffing without sausage in it.
- Also prep your stuffing pans - probably not necessary but a little greasing couldn't hurt.
- Brown sausage and drain. I leave a bit of drippings in the pans for flavor to kickstart the onions in the next step. (unless you are making a pan of stuffing vegetarian)
- Saute the onions in 2 tablespoons of the butter - low and slow - I like to add some salt and pepper and thyme here to again layer the flavors. You want the onions translucent but not brown. They'll take a while - you can prep other stuff while they are working - just stir occasionally and make sure they are not browning.
- Remove the onions from the pan and add the other 2 tablespoons of butter for sautéing the apple. Turn heat up to high or at least medium high. You want to sear the outside of the apples without turning them to mush. I add a pinch of thyme and sage to the apples.
- Remove the apples to your bowl and now, totally optional, saute the dried fruit in the remains of the apple pan just to soften them up and use the flavor in the pan.
- Mix everything together in the large bowl including adding the chopped parsley, sage, thyme, and salt and pepper. After thoroughly mixed, add about 1.5 cups of broth and mix again.
Put the stuffing in your stuffing pans, cover with foil and refrigerate. I always do this the day before. I usually bake them after the turkey has come out - at 375 for about 30 minutes. Check once for moistness. Can always add some stock. Also, if you like crisp edges, take foil off near the end and let it finish cooking "topless".
Recipe Notes
A loaf of Semifreddo's challah purchased at Trader Joe's will yield about 10 cups of bread cubes. 6 slices of store-bought sourdough bread will yield about 4 cups of bread cubes. One 8X8 pan of cornbread will yield 9 - 12 cups of bread cubes.
I’m Beth – a seasoned marketing professional, kitchen table storyteller, and enthusiastic food consumer. Hang out in my virtual kitchen and I promise to feed you recipes, stories, and lots of inspiration!
This is quite like my husband’s traditional turkey stuffing, minus the dried fruit. He’s Italian, so of course sausage!
I hope we get a chance to cook and share a meal together soon. I am just so pleased to have met you through SFPFS Rita.
Hi Beth!
It’s been so long since our last visit, it’s embarrassing. So glad to be back here to read your new post! Gorgeous stuffing.
We hope everything is better, we just read your reply to our comment 2 posts back (in April), it didn’t reach our mailbox for some reason:/ We understand that you didn’t want to comment publicly of course. And honestly wish things are now better, from the bottom of our hearts.
It’s been crazy here as well, and it has been a tough, difficult year. We managed to post recipes every now and then though, and share the positive things in life, like we always try to do.
Sending you lots (and lots) of greetings from Athens!
Mirella and Panos
Always a bright spot in my day when I see your comments Mirella and Panos. I am sorry to hear that your year was/is so difficult. Though I am still unable to write at great length about our situation, I have been speaking about it I guess through food and cooking – on Instagram more than on my blog. You can see how infrequent my posting has been. We tragically lost our son on March 3. My husband, my daughter, and I struggle every day but also choose to live life and find joy as we know that is exactly what he would want us to do. My heart is broken, sometimes I think literally — he was also my companion in food with his incredible taste buds, eye behind the camera and marketing genius all at the young age of 22. He had a brain and personality that just lit up the room and energized everyone he met. If you want to get to know him, I can send you his memory web site. I know this is hard to read almost as much as it is hard for me to write. But it is my reality now and we try every single day to somehow form our life around this giant hole that is in our hearts. With love and hope from San Jose — Beth
Sometimes words are not enough to express one’s feelings… These are devasting news and we are literally out of words. We are so so so sorry to hear about this tragedy Beth… You have our sincere, deepest sympathy for this profound loss…we really mean it.
He will still live in your beautiful memories…! Try to think that he is with God now dear Beth. Of course, this offers little comfort for you and your family, we know, and please don’t get this the wrong way. It’s one of the thoughts we have ourselves, for good people that we loved and lost.
Please, do send us the link for the site in his memory.
And you are right: living life and finding joy is indeed what he would want you to do.
Such horrible news, literally brought tears in our eyes.
Sending you our love, our deepest sympathies, and a huge hug…!