Ingredients

serves 8 to 10

　　One 6-pound hen

　　4 to 6 ribs celery, cut into large pieces

　　2 tablespoons salt

　　1 tablespoon whole peppercorns

　　4 bay leaves

　　1 large onion, peeled and left whole

　　3 chicken bouillon cubes

　　

Corn Bread

1 cup self-rising cornmeal

　　1/2 cup self-rising flour

　　3/4 cup buttermilk

　　2 eggs

　　2 tablespoons vegetable oil

　　

Southern Corn Bread Stuffing

7 slices white bread (dried in warm oven)

　　Corn bread

　　1 sleeve saltine crackers

　　2 cups chopped celery

　　1 large onion, chopped

　　8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter

　　7 cups stock reserved from cooking hen

　　1 teaspoon salt

　　1/2 teaspoon pepper

　　1 teaspoon sage (optional)

　　1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (optional)

　　5 eggs, beaten

　　

Giblet Gravy

4 cups stock reserved from cooking hen

　　Giblets from hen (liver, gizzard, and neck), chopped

　　2 chicken bouillon cubes

　　2 heaping tablespoons reserved uncooked corn bread stuffing mix

　　3 tablespoons cornstarch

　　1/3 cup cold water

　　1 hard-boiled egg, sliced

　　Salt and pepper to taste

　　

Step 1

Remove giblets from bird. Wash giblets and bird well, inside and out. Place all ingredients including giblets in large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender, approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Skim fat from pot at end of cooking time. (You will need to reserve stock for stuffing and gravy.) In the meantime, prepare and cook corn bread.

　　

Corn Bread

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased shallow baking dish. Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

　　

Southern Corn Bread Stuffing

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crumble dried white bread slices, cornbread, and saltines; mix together and set aside. Sauté chopped celery and onion in butter until transparent, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Pour over corn bread mixture. Add stock; mix well and taste; add salt, pepper, sage, and poultry seasoning. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Reserve 2 heaping tablespoons of this mixture for the giblet gravy. Pour into a greased pan. Place bird on top of dressing and bake until dressing is done, about 45 minutes. If hen browns too quickly, make a tent of foil and place over bird.

　　

Giblet Gravy

Step 4

Bring stock to a boil along with giblets and the meat that has been removed from the neck. Add bouillon cubes and raw stuffing mixture. Mix cornstarch with water and add to boiling stock, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste, and add sliced boiled egg. Serve with hen.

　　Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics