Turkey Stuffing

There are so many recipes and traditions for turkey stuffing and many families have their own tried and true ways of making this essential part of the Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey dinner.

I have found numerous recipes that I love and then I put the magazine aside and cannot remember where it is when it is time to make the stuffing.   No turkey dressing that I have made has ever been exactly the same.  Probably most of us are like that - we just make it with certain ingredients and then add a few extras each time.

 Bacon is one of the essential ingredients as far as I am concerned, but this year because we had some guests who do not eat any meat accept fish, adding bacon was not to be.  Smoked paprika is an option then because it has a hint of the bacon flavour without being meat.    Interestingly enough, the stuffing this Christmas tasted really great, and while I don't remember the quantities of any ingredients, I am writing down what I put in so at least I can try it again!!

Finely chopped large onion and 2 minced garlic cloves sauted in olive oil and butter (a good amount of butter).
Add finely chopped celery and cook until onions become clear.
Add finely chopped fresh rosemary, thyme and sage, salt, fresh ground pepper and a little smoked paprika.
Let them saute for a bit so the flavours really begin to mingle.
Add some vegetable broth and let the broth absorb these flavours now too and after about 10 minutes of  simmering slowly, add the juice of 1/2 lemon.
Now add this mixtures to your bread cubes (old focaccia bread works great)
Butter your casserole dish and place the stuffing into it, and have it ready to cook when the turkey comes out.
Some of the stuffing was in the bird but then the casserole dish stuffing ensured that the non meat eaters could still enjoy this dish too.
And besides....we always want lots of stuffing for leftover turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwiches!!
Leftover stuffing is even excellent in a turkey style shepherds pie with stuffing on the meat/gravy mixture and then mashed potatoes on top of that.