Cornbread dressing is my absolute favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal. In fact, I have been known to make this recipe in July because I just can’t bear the thought of eating it only once a year! The recipe was never written down until Beth and I demanded that Mama show us how to make it. She came up with the ingredient amounts and demonstrated the mixing technique. (Hint: You’ve gotta get your hands in it!)

　　

Ingredients

serves 12

　　1/2 loaf white bread, cut into small cubes and toasted

　　1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

　　2 tablespoons butter or turkey fat (skimmed from the pan drippings)

　　1 pound Buttermilk Cornbread (page 154; about 3/4 recipe)

　　1/4 pound saltine crackers (about 35 crackers or 1 sleeve), crumbled

　　3 hard-boiled large eggs, peeled and chopped

　　4 cups turkey pan juices (page 104), chicken broth (page 40), or low-sodium canned broth

　　Salt and pepper to taste

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 × 13 × 2-inch baking dish.

　　

Step 2

Place the bread cubes on a large baking sheet and toast in the oven for 30 minutes, turning once after 15 minutes, until lightly brown. Set aside to cool. Raise the oven temperature to 450°F.

　　

Step 3

In a medium skillet, sauté the onion in the butter until translucent and softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. In a very large bowl, crumble the corn bread, toasted bread cubes, and cracker crumbs. Add the onion and eggs and toss with a fork until mixed. Add 3 cups of the broth and mix well, adding more as needed to make a very moist but not soupy dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake in the prepared pan for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

　　Reprinted with permission from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen: Recipes from My Family to Yours by Trisha Yearwood with Gwen Yearwood and Beth Yearwood Bernard. Copyright © 2008 by Trisha Yearwood. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Trisha Yearwood is a three-time Grammy-award winning country music star and the author of the bestselling cookbook Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. She is married to megastar Garth Brooks.