March 9, 2014

ROAST CHICKEN AND SAVORY CORNBREAD DRESSING


If it’s chicken, Southerners are bound to like it. Wrap it in a crust, put dumplings in it, fry it, mix it with spaghetti or slather it in barbecue sauce…..family always ask for seconds. The odds are that chicken and dressing will appear on tables not only at Thanksgiving, but we find it most special for Sunday dinners.


I love Sundays when we can fill the house with the comforting aroma of a roaster in the crockpot. This was a day when the darling and I traveled to Desoto to watch Noah play in a baseball tournament. We braved that Texas cold and wind for about four hours.

Practicing our selfies!

 It was convenient to just place some carrots, baby red potatoes, onions and a few celery stalks in with the chicken, juice a few lemons over the chicken and place them around the sides, sprinkle with rotisserie and Greek seasoning and simmer on low for eight hours.


The darling said.....
"What is this? Are we celebrating something?"
 
Me: "No...nothing special.
I just thought I would make something that is reminiscent of  the way
 Sunday dinner used to be.
I don't want life to be over and I did not make the average day,
 something we enjoy and are thankful for!"
 

It’s not stuffing….it’s dressing. Whether you prefer bread dressing or cornbread dressing, you owe it to yourself to make a delicious savory dressing that becomes a tradition in your home!



YELLOW CORNBREAD
1 cup self-rising cornmeal
½ cup self-rising flour
¾ cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 Tablespoon vegetable oil

 SOUTHERN DRESSING
Cornbread, at least day old and dried
1 ½ cup onions, diced
2 cups of celery, diced (about 3 stalks)
1 cup of green bell peppers diced (about 1 medium green bell pepper. You could also add in some red bell pepper as well if you’d like)
3 pieces of dried bread
2 eggs, hard boiled
2 eggs, beaten
3-4 cups of chicken or turkey broth, hot
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
Seasoning (poultry seasonings, sage, black pepper, parsley)

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, stir together the cornmeal & flour.

Add in the buttermilk, eggs & oil. Stir until combined.

Pour into a greased, shallow baking dish (9” X 9”) or iron skillet. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until set. Let cool.

When your cornbread has cooled, break it up in a large bowl, along with the dried bread. I prepare this 1-3 days ahead and allow to dry in a large bowl.

 

Sauté onions, celery and green bell peppers in a little bit of butter until tender.

Add the sautéed vegetables into the cornbread/bread mixture. Mix ingredients well.

Add in some spices. I usually start with a teaspoon of each and then add more after I put the broth in if it needs it. Mix it up well.

Next add in the broth a little at a time. Add in just enough to make it thick & kind of soupy Add in the cream of chicken soup. Finally gently stir in the 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped. The taste should be to your preference.

When you are content with the taste, go ahead and stir in the eggs.

Pour into a buttered 9 X 13 casserole pan.

Bake for 45-60 minutes.


 

8 comments:

  1. OH! This sounds so good Estelle. My sis in WV makes cornbread dressing and I love it. I have always made bread dressing because i am to lazy to make the cornbread to put in it. LOL
    Love your selfie picture. I am afraid to take one for fear I will break my camera. :-)

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    1. I adore bread dressing Beth! My mother made the best bread dressing in the world. I so miss that! Of course, this dinner will last about three times over! Thank you for making me laugh....oh those silly selfies!!! Hugs!

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  2. Hi Estelle, your Sunday dinner looks wonderful! Makes me feel a little bad about the hot dogs and sauerkraut we had today....I'm taking a much needed lazy day. My cornbread dressing is famous. It's very similar to your recipe but my crew would not like the peppers and boiled eggs even though I would. Maybe one day I will try your recipe for my Mr. Wonderful and he will eat anything I cook. Love your beautiful blog pictures. Thanks for brightening my day....

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    1. Hi Maxc! Hey, hot dogs and sauerkraut are one of my favorites!!! Dressing is such a personal side dish, isn't it? I would love to learn how you make yours! I am so happy you enjoyed the post and I so appreciate your visit today! Many blessings love!

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  3. If I close my eyes I'm transported back to my childhood sitting around the dining table after church on Sunday - roasted chicken and dressing was definitely on my Mom's menu....at least twice a month. She, too, made a mean cornbread dressing, rather on the plain side with just cornbread, no bread - it was wonderful served with her gravy. Crock pots weren't around then so she roasted the chicken in a black and white enamel roasting pan. Thanks for awakening beautiful memories - your entire menu will be served next Sunday at my home. Blessings, Judith, Houston, Tx

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    1. What a lovely comment Judith! I am so very happy this inspired you with something your family will enjoy! I appreciate you taking time to visit!

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  4. Dear Ms. Estelle, I must say that I look so forward to always opening your site with excitement to see what has Ms. M, brought us this day. I've been through hundreds of sites that often I cancel cause they don't really have much substance. But yours has just captivated me, and really inspires me to want to do more to my home. The pictures you take are beautiful, and I can just sit for hours, looking at everything, but I can't-have so much to do. I've already tried many of your recipes, that are just wonderful! I love cooking and baking when I have time.This Thanksgiving I'm working, and your crockpot roasted chicken, and dressing have given me the idea, to take a crockpot full of turkey and dressing to surprise my co-workers! we have such long hours at the hospital. Thank you for all the wonderful things and recipes you share with all of us. From California

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    1. Hi Delores! You are ever so kind and sweet! I am "over the moon" that you have enjoyed visiting Estelle's and have found things to read, to bake and items that inspire you! That is my wish for all....to just take time to enjoy each other's snippets of life! Blessings to you always! I so hope Thanksgiving will be a joyful one for you and your coworkers! Hugs!

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