But it must be fairly soupy before cooking or it will be too dry when it's done.

Then maybe it's time the cornbread folks post tried and true recipes so those of us either unfamiliar (or not real fans) can test them out?

"After following the directions to chill the product, I opened the can, dumped the contents into a large pan, and found myself staring at a quivering mound of congealed goop. Figuring there must be a fowl in there somewhere, I pawed my way through the gelatinous mass and, sure enough, discovered one very sorry-looking chicken about the size of a Cornish hen. I poked at a wing; it fell off."

LOL--I'm dying!!!

I've never actually tried to make dressing (although i can cook)....but i've eaten dressing that was too dry and dressing that was soupy and neither is fun. I'm sure i'd fail miserably my first time trying to make it. I *like* dressing, but i don't love it.....i find myself usually thinking "i wish they had just given me the cornbread that they put in here".

Both at my house. Thanksgiving is my holiday to put on. I guess I better get moving.....

I make a fantastic bacon cornbread stuffing every year. My family loves it. (They keep coming back every year, anyway. Can't get rid of them.) I posted the recipe here a couple of years ago. And we call it stuffing. I agree with Aggs - dressing is what you put on salad.

Making dressing is a delicate balance. Bad dressing ruins the whole meal for me.

Regarding the canned chicken - When the zombie apocalypse arrives, you all will be wishing for a few canned chickens.

::adds canned chickens to list of supplies for doomsday bunker::

What amazes me is the ratio of time that is spent at the table eating Thanksgiving dinner compared to the time it takes to prepare the food and clean up afterwards.

cleaning up is the sisters' job

I clicked on Freak's link and immediately regretted it. I was naive enough to picture some sort of Spam concoction and was instead greeted by that crime against humanity. Thank goodness I hadn't had lunch yet!!

So you're having canned chicken for lunch today?

At least if it's too dry, you can try to salvage it with butter and gravy. When it's too wet, baking the heck out of it may work.

There is a certain 'feel' to it...just like there SHOULD be with biscuit dough...the latter of which I've really never mastered.

ETA: and if anyone thinks you can make it with that fake jiffy mix stuff? Forgeddaboudit.

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking of salad dressing Aggs

We call it stuffing but we cook it in a pan and it is made with portuguese bread and chirico (spicy portuguese sausage like chirizo in other parts of the country. It is uncomparable !!!

PatsGirl, are you in Cambridge?

really?

I use my aunt's recipe, and it's just a rough outline of ingredients that you have to play with and adjust until you get it the way you like it. I'll try to remember to look at it tonight and post from home.

Whooh...hold up....You can make cornbread without Jiffy?? That's the only way I've ever had it! I need to head to your place for real cornbread.

Mine's pretty simple. And I do sometimes add a little bit of Italian Herb bread crumbs, but most (or all of it) is homemade cornbread.

So, you tear up hunks of homemade cornbread. (must be cooked in iron skillets)...js.

Add in broth that you made ahead of time seasoned with onion and celery, garlic, pepper and whatever else makes me happy. I take the celery out cause I don't like to eat it. Blech!

Break up a couple boiled eggs, if you want to...not important.

Add poultry seasoning (and sage if you like it - I don't)

If you want oyster dressing - add oysters.

I think that's all.

Bake until light golden brown.



EAT!

MonKee...Jiffy is not cornbread. Trust ME!

OH, the horror! Jiffy is not, I repeat, NOT real cornbread.

Cornbread...

Not a fan.

See...we know these things!

We are mortified...can you tell?

My cornbread life has been a lie!!

Also on Cutthroat Kitchen - and Giada had to eat the dish made with it!