Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Chicken and Dressing

Chicken and Dressing
From: swampbear

Cornbread:

2 cups of self rising corn meal 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
2 eggs Three-fourths to a cup of buttermilk

Combine all ingredients. Use enough buttermilk to make it soft. Pour into a hot greased iron skillet or baking pan and bake at 475 degrees for about 20 minutes, until brown. Turn out onto a plate and let cool.

Chicken:

One large baking hen
One quart of water (cover chicken)
salt to taste

Wash the chicken and place into a large boiler, then add the water and salt. Boil for about one hour until tender. Baking hens usually come with giblets (the neck, liver, gizzard, and heart). You can boil those with the hen or separately, but you'll need the giblets. Drain the chicken, but save the broth, and allow the chicken to cool. Pull or chop the chicken when cooled.

Dressing:

Cooled cornbread
Sage to taste (never too much IMO)
Chicken broth 4 eggs, beaten
1 finely chopped onion Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of chopped celery Pulled or chopped chicken

Crumble the cornbread into a large mixing bowl; add enough chicken broth to make it real soupy. If you don't think you have enough, use some canned broth. Let it stand to soak up the broth. Add onion, celery, sage, eggs, salt and pepper and chicken. Use more broth if the mixture looks too dry. Bake in a long casserole dish or pan at 400 degrees for one hour or until brown on top.

Giblet Gravy:

Giblets Salt and pepper to taste
2 boiled eggs 2 cups of chicken broth
One-half stick of butter or (if you must) margarine One-third cup of flour

Chop the giblets. Chop the boiled eggs. Melt butter in a small boiler; add the flour, salt and pepper. Stir well and add the broth. Add the chopped giblets and boil until thickened over a medium heat. Turn on low heat after it's thickened and add the chopped eggs. More broth can be added if it is too thick. Serve warm over dressing.

NOTE: Although this is the traditional dressing served with turkey at Thanksgiving in the south, there's enough chicken for it to be a main course also. I sometimes do this. Also, if you desire not to use the chicken, that's ok too. Make you some chicken salad!

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