Yuletide Cuisine
Posted
Fri, 12/26/03
Our Christmas turned out rather well. Since it was just me, Wilbert and Foofer there were no guests or logistical nightmares to contend with. I planned our holiday dinner about a month in advance, having decided to forego preparing another turkey in favor of a baked ham. Since Wilbert is a big fan of stuffing, I chose a recipe that contained non-turkey ingredients such as diced apples and Italian sausage. The recipe is very simple, the only lengthy part being toasting and chopping two loaves of bread and the actual baking time.
The original dish is from Disney Family Fun:
Apple & Sausage Stuffing
1 LB sweet Italian turkey or pork sausage, casing removed
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Brown the sausage until cooked through. Remove from heat; transfer to a large mixing bowl and crumble sausage. Melt the butter in the skillet; simmer onion for two to three minutes, or until translucent. Add the celery, apples, garlic and poultry seasoning; cook for three to five minutes, stirring frequently. Add the apple-vegetable mixture to the bowl of sausage, along with the stuffing mix or bread; mix well. Moisten with chicken broth, and season with salt and black pepper. Cool completely before stuffing turkey. Recipe makes about twenty cups; ingredients can be halved for less quantity. Note: Stuffing can be cooked separately in a large glass casserole dish, but more stock may be needed to replace moisture which usually comes from the turkey cavity.
The stuffing can also be made for use in a turkey. I added a little extra broth to retain moistness, but the end result was delicious. We have plenty of leftovers, which Wilbert will likely use of for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He likes stuffing with his morning eggs. He also baked a large ham, letting it cook for three hours before basting with a combination of brown sugar and the natural juices. During the last thirty minutes of cooking time, he also studded the ham with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries.
No one went hungry. Even Foofer had his fill of ham, rejecting the last bits we offered him. Later, as all of us splayed out on the bed, Foofer slept like a log for several hours. His paws twitched now and then. I wondered if he was having visions of plates of ham along with the many Christmas presents he received.
Our blessings were many this year, and there is much to be thankful for.
Tags: Christmas;
Side Dishes
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