Check out some of my best recipes inspired by my mother, the late Sarah Margaret Lesane.
Sarah Margaret’s Melt-in-your-Mouth Cornbread Dressing
1-package of Stove Top stuffing mix
2- boxes of Jiffy-cornbread mix
2 eggs
Milk
2-Cans of Chicken or Turkey broth
1-Can of cream of chicken
1-can of cream of celery
1/2 cup of finely chopped Celery
1/2 cup of finely chopped Onions
1/4 cup of finely chopped Green peppers
Small package of Chicken Gizzards
Small package of Turkey necks
Salt and pepper
Sage seasoning
Poultry seasoning
Butter
Pan or casserole dish
1-2 slices of bread (optional)
1. Prepare Jiffy cornbread as directed on the package a day ahead of time. Allow prepared cornbread to sit out covered until the next day.
2. The next day, cook turkey necks and chicken gizzards according to directions on the package. Season with salt and pepper. Cooking process could take up to 1 hour to 1-1/2 hours. Allow turkey necks and gizzards to cool after they have cooked.
3. While that is cooking, sauté celery, onions, and green peppers in butter. Season with sage and poultry, seasoning to your taste. Set aside to cool once sautéed.
4. Prepare oven to 350 degrees. Crumble the prepared cornbread in a large bowl and Add the package of Stove Top stuffing mix. Continue to crumble using your hands as a sifter, sifting out the large lumps.
5. Add the sautéed vegetables. Mix with a spoon, continuing to crumble the cornbread.
6. Pull meat from 2 turkey necks, chop as needed and add to the mixture in the bowl.
7. Finely chop 3/4 cup of gizzards and add to the mixture in the bowl.
8. Add can of cream of chicken and can of cream of celery, and mix with a spoon.
9. Add one can of chicken broth, and mix. *Note add another can of broth if needed, according to your desired consistency*
10. Season dressing with sage and poultry seasoning according to your taste.
11. *Note add breadcrumbs from 1 or 2 slices of bread to thicken consistency*. Once dressing is to your desired taste and consistency spoon is into a greased pan or dish for baking.
12. Once your have dressing set in your pan or dish. Melt 1/2 stick of butter and pour over the dressing and cover with foil.
13. Bake for 30 minutes and remove foil. Allow to bake for additional 30 mins to brown. *Note allow more or less baking time according to your desired color and texture.
