Happy Weekend dear readers! I like to think this lounge chair is waiting for me, it’s a nice thought anyway. What are you all up to this fine February weekend? The temperatures are finally warming up over here so we’re going to try to spend some quality time with outdoors. I’ll be soaking up every last bit of city livin’ that I can while we still live smack dab in the middle of Old Town Alexandria. I love walking to the Saturday Farmers Market, strolling King Street and its fabulous local shops and restaurants (Oh Hank’s, how I’ll miss you and your dollar oysters!)- I’m so sad to leave this darling town. Granted, we are only moving 15 minutes away but I know how these things go- it’s never quite as easy as you think to get back. I have vowed to make the tiny trek to the Old Town Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning- weather permitting. It has become such a happy place of mine and I’d love the bebes to continue to enjoy the fresh flowers, colorful produce and live music every weekend. I think it’s one of the country’s best small markets. Sigh… I am clearly preparing to say Sayonara to my beloved town and hit the mean streets of the ‘burbs.
But let’s change the subject and get to the vino… What I’m Drinking:
Let’s talk Tempranillo. A beautiful and versatile Spanish grape, this is the grape of the famed Rioja region. It’s also used all throughout Spain in single varietal bottles as well as blends. The traditional Rioja winemaking method uses American oak. If not well-balanced, I can’t get away from the intensity of the dill that comes through on the nose and I’m not the biggest fan. I’m trying a budget-friendly bottle(because that’s the way we roll around here as Miss V.’s reno slowly steamrolls out of control- Ahhhhh!), Val de los Frailes Tempranillo from Spain’s up and coming Castilla y Leon wine region (hence the lower price tag than a Rioja or Ribera del Duero). I’ll let you know what I think of this one. Tasting note to follow.
A Few Things:
1. This house! Those windows, those trees, all of it. (La Dolce Vita)
Charlie and Meryl, how we love thee, but boy do I love their moms even more!
I’m not quite sure what to think about this. Now with the Op-Eds? Franco, you’re pushing it.
It’s almost spring, time to break out the leopard flats. I found these at Target for $14. Stick an orthotics insert in there and you’re good to go. (I sound like I’m 80, but let’s be honest- a $14 shoe is not going to be big on arch support).
Just a quick roundup of things that are making me happy nowadays.
I’m wearing this spotted shift to an arts gala next month. I can’t resist a good dalmatian print.
These plates make me smile. I just bought a set for Miss V. (aka: our new house).
Washington’s Beltway through the lens of Rashmi Pappu’s camera. Rashmi is a talented local photographer here in Old Town Alexandria. I love following her Instaworld.
If I can’t eat there (anytime soon anyway), I might as well read about it. Faviken is the first cook book penned by critically lauded 28 year-old Swedish chef Magnus Nilsson. His restaurant, also named Faviken, is situated on a 20,000 acre farm in the Scandinavian countryside. Talk about a destination meal- this is the stuff of dreams.
This little baby really puts a smile on my face. I have shopped high and low for an affordable espresso machine that is easy to use, makes delicious coffee and is above all, great looking. I’m a big illy fan, so this one takes the cake. Sold. C thinks it looks like a Panda Bear, I think it looks like it knows it’s awesome.
And the fabulous Miss Stritch- she never disappoints. If you didn’t catch this appearance on Kathie Lee & Hoda… you’re welcome. Not only does she drop the F bomb, but she’s got her feet in Kathie Lee’s lap and she’s wearing a floor length fur. What is happening! DI-to-the-VA. Love her. I can’t wait to see this new documentary. And if you haven’t seen Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, do yourself a favor and see it pronto, her stories are unbelievable.
These pink roofs make me happy. Happy Weekend dear readers! What are you all up to this first weekend of February? Yay- it’s February, let’s hope Punxsutawney Phil is in the clear on Sunday- come on Spring! We’ll be drinking our Caip-beer-inhas and watching the Super Bowl, maybe take in a Frozen Sing-A-Long matinee with the bebes (their first official movie outing- we’ll see how that goes), make an IKEA run (AHHHHH! Am I crazy to attempt a weekend run?- Yes.), and continue our reno/home improvements. Our furnace conked out on us less than 2 weeks after owning our home. Ha. Homeownership- woohoo.
Tina Fey grabs coffee and a cronut with Jerry Seinfeld. I can never get enough Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Does Jerry Seinfeld have the life or what? Just driving around in cool cars grabbing coffee and pastries with the quirkiest and coolest cats- come on!
Happy Weekend dear readers. I don’t want to come off crass, but I have been known to use colorful language from time to time so when I saw this quote floating around on Pinterest, well- I kind of had to bite. The author of this illustrious quote is sadly unknown- pretty funny.
Well, at the risk of crying wolf, I regretfully did not get Miss Virginie’s (our new house) photos up here along with inspiration images and reno updates, as promised. We just brought down the demo hammer this week. Woohoo! Still, no time to post due to the freezing tundra that is currently Northern Virginia (I’m officially over winter) and the unbelievable amount of time it takes to get the kiddos in and out of the house (they look just like the kids all bundled up in A Christmas Story) and this insane preschool application process that I am currently enduring. Oh, and I started teaching at George Mason this week- I’m officially an academic. Pretty fun. I’m an Adjunct Professor and teaching the dance majors advanced ballet. I’m thrilled to be there, the program is run like a conservatory and the talent, faculty and studio spaces are outstanding- good times.
What are you all up to this weekend? We will start packing up our tiny apartment and start the epic move into Miss Virginie. We don’t anticipate actually moving in for another few weeks because of the reno, but we’ll get a headstart so that we can try to make this place look half way attractive to potential buyers (it’s current state is pretty much a toy explosion).
What I’m Drinking:
An old standby, this Morellino di Scansano. I crave an Italian red when it’s cold out and when I don’t want to splurge on my favorite region (Brunello!), I go in for this little beauty. It’s $15, rustic but not too rustic, tastes and smells of dirt, cherries and wild herbs, and is a trusty and excellent partner to pizza, pasta and my fancy homemade grilled cheese (mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes, and olive bread pressed with a grill iron- yum and eat your heart out panini!) .
A Few Things of Note:
A Somm who actually tries to sell his wine as cheap as he can? This is a guy after my own heart. I know I don’t live there anymore, but I can’t help following my NYC Eater feed and reading about the city’s latest and greatest eateries. Pearl & Ash has been on the list since it opened last year. Admission: I have their wine list bookmarked and sometimes… I just click to read and reread, dreaming up what I’ll order when I finally pony up to the bar. Patrick Cappiello has done a killer job with the wine list. Here it is, read it and weep.
How a working class couple amassed a priceless art collection- this is so cool.
How delicious does this little citrus honey yogurt tart look! I want to make this for a Sunday brunch party.
This brass hood kills me. I’d love to have it in my kitchen, they are really tough to find affordably, let me know if you come across one.
Ralph & Russo channels Grace Kelly- I wish I had somewhere to wear this.
These are some seriously inspired Ikea hacks. After pricing out dining chairs (sigh), I think I might just go Ikea and arm myself with a Sharpie to replicate the coveted Les Touche pattern on the seat covers like this clever gal did here. Inspired!
Portrait of Francoise With A Bow In Her Hair, Picasso 1946.
I love the drawings of Francoise, Picasso’s second to last wife, and this one with the little bow is my favorite. His interpretation of her is so lovely. It’s interesting to compare his artistic representation of Francoise to the other women in his life, especially Dora Maar- whoa.
Well hello dear readers. Please excuse the radio silence as of late. We closed on our house, my hubby’s still in Istanbul, I’m trying as hard as I can to wrangle 2 spots for the kiddos in a great preschool (which translates to tons of time spent at open houses) and my mom and I were busy playing with the bebes and enjoying long lunches out- it was a momentous week. I promised some photos and inspiration boards for Miss Virginie (our new abode) but clearly did not muster up the time to do so. Next week… there’s always next week.
I hope you all are off to some swell adventures this weekend. We have no big plans and I don’t even know what I’m drinking, though I may try this. I’m in the mood for something big, bold, a bit funky and cheap- our reno budget is loomly large over my brain.
Eat like it’s summer using winter seasonal veggies- a great salad to cure the winter blues.
Girl Scout wine pairings anyone? ‘Tis the season for the Thin Mint and… Syrah? A little scary maybe, but fun for an over-indulgent girls night in. My sister-in-law Lauren sent me this- fun.
Now this is the kind of hostel I’m talking about. I did my time in the blech hostels of Europe during my student roaming days and vowed I would never do so again, but the new wave in luxe hostels might change my mind. If anyone’s headed to Venice and low on cash (an oxymoron of sorts, right) check this joint out.
While we’re talking about furniture, my heart skips a beat when I find something like this on craigslist. I would need to have it reupholstered and maybe even repainted a high gloss black or white, but it’s pretty fabulous.
On a recent action-packed trip to NYC (no work and all play- hooray), I managed to squeeze in a little pre-Christmas party prep with one of my best girls, Meghan Frank. It was the first time I had visited her in her fab Park Slope abode with her hubby and we had such fun catching up and prepping for her annual birthchristmukkah party. Her birthday is around the holidays- Happy Birthday Meg!- so she always throws a big blowout. I couldn’t stay for the party (sniff) but making these pretzel treats with her was maybe just as fun.
Meghan’s become quite the domestic and I was super impressed with her homemade New York cheesecake cupcakes as well as her ambition to make these little salty sweets. All of this from a girl who is a full time, hard-hitting television journalist- seriously folks. These pretzel rods are so easy to make and pretty too, that I had to share. This is one that the kids would love (and clearly the adults too).
Here’s What You Need:
2 Bags of Pretzel Rods
3 bars of good quality dark or milk (or both) chocolate
Sprinkles
Pistachio Pieces
Sea Salt
Coconut Flakes
Here’s What You Do:
1. Break your chocolate bars into pieces
2. Place in a saucepan and slowly melt over low-medium heat (or just microwave in a bowl)
3. Dip each rod into the melted chocolate using a spoon to smooth out the chocolate
4. Decorate with whatever topping and decorations you like (some we just sprinkled with sea salt- yum!)
5. Et Voilà- just lay on parchment paper until dry.
Enjoy! Do you have any favorite holiday treats that you love to make? Do tell.
Happy Weekend dear readers. It’s Santa Lucia Day! Cue my annual viewing of one of the most fantastic and hilarious holiday movies ever- The Ref, of course. Have you seen it? If you haven’t, you will not believe it’s taken you so long to see this little masterpiece. It’s seriously unbelievably funny with a killer cast- Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis and Denis Leary, not to mention the hilarious Christine Baranski (“slipper socks… medium”- my favorite line of the movie). The script is flawless. If you don’t mind a little profanity and uncomfortable family gatherings in your holiday movies (just the way I like ‘em), you’ll love it.
What are you all up to this festive weekend? There will be brunching, imbibing, playing (never too much play for those bebes) and general merriment around these parts, and maybe some rest too if I can manage to squeeze that in. We’re taking the bebes to Sesame Street Live tomorrow- woohoo- they love that Elmo so we’ll see what they think. I’m hoping to finally get my Christmas cards out, we’ll see how that goes- doubtful.
What I’m Drinking This Weekend:
I’m popping open a bottle of ’11 Volver tempranillo. I’m kind of in a Spanish mood these days, maybe because I’ve been talking to my friend Alana, of the fab Analogue Guides, who currently lives in Barcelona. Volver was recommended by another wino pal. It’s red, it’s rich, it’s hearty, it’s single vineyard, it’s $12 and it shares the same name as the great Almódovar film- ok, I’ll give it a shot. I’ll let you know what I think on Monday. I’m planning on making this City Bakery Pretzel Chicken as an experiment in whether or not the kiddos and the adults can dine on the same dish- maybe not the most perfect match with the Volver, but the mustard-baked chicken promises to be a hearty so we’ll so how it pairs.
A Few Things:
This makes my friggin’ day! Faith in humanity restored.
.A rare Redford interview and it’s 40 minutes long with the incomparable Terry Gross. Awesome.
Maureen Corrigan’s Best Books of 2013. If only I had the time or energy to read more than one page a day. Filed away.
My talented friend Alana Stone has done it again. She and her husband Stefan Horn have just published the three latest editions to their Analogue Guide travel series- Barcelona (where they currently reside with their young daughter), Berlin and Los Angeles, folks. If you’re headed east or west anytime soon, you must pick up one of these little lovelies to accompany you.
Alana is my go-to girl for all things la dolce vita and especially all things done with a crafted and detailed hand. The maps in their guidebooks are impeccable and the photos, beautiful. Little gems. The New York Times just named The Analogue Guides in their 2013 Holiday Gift Guide- “Can a guidebook be artisanal? The almost pocket-size Analogue Guides are about as close as they come”. True that, Times.
The guides are organized by neighborhood so you can take in the city’s spots like a local, not a crazed tourist trying to traverse the city at top speed while checking off the so-called must-sees. These guides really give you an insider’s look into how the locals live from a well-rounded perspective. Great for foodies, art lovers, design mavens, bon vivants and adventurers alike.
If you have a traveler in your life, the Analogue Guide is an awesome gift. Currently available for London, Paris, Copenhagen and New York as well, with more cities on the way.
Read it to believe it.
Alana’s 5 favorite spots in the City of Angels:
1. Intelligentsia Silver Lake
One of LA’s premier coffee spots, Chicago based hipster haven Intelligentsia offers cutting edge brew in the artisanally tiled Sunset Junction outdoor complex, which also houses Café Stella and The Cheese Store of Silver lake. Undoubtedly a place to see and to be seen, Intelligentsia’s tiled bar is an excellent spot to catch up on the latest news while losing yourself in the depths of a perfectly formed flat white.
2. Heath Ceramics
Founded in 1948 by potter Edith Heath, Heath Ceramics grew to become one of the most iconic names in California design. Heath’s wonderfully earthy single kiln fired tableware and tiles, still hand crafted in Sausalito, California, are available for purchase at the attractive LA flagship store. A testament to their lasting quality and artistic value, Heath’s designs are on display at LACMA and MoMA. In addition to phenomenal ceramics, the shop also sells books on craft and design.
3. AXE
Named after a Yoruban salutation, Axe is the brainchild of chef and owner Joanna Moore. Designed in a light and modern mix of congona and black acacia woods softened by handmade lamps, Axe is one of Venice’s most attractive haunts. Open windows and a lovely back patio allow for a constant whiff of Pacific breeze. Dishes are fresh, delicious and inspired, taking full advantage of the diversity of fruits and vegetables sprouting locally. Wines incorporate robust California and Old World selections.
4. Stahl House
In the aftermath of World War II, Arts & Architecture magazine commissioned America’s architectural avant-garde to create a series of efficient yet inexpensive model homes. Many of these Case Study Houses, designed by the likes of Richard Neutra and Eero Saarinen, were built in the Los Angeles area. Overlooking the city from the Hollywood Hills, Pierre Koenig’s Stahl House, or Case Study House #22, is perhaps the most iconic representation of Los Angeles modernism. The house is privately owned but open for visits upon arrangement.
5. Hollywood Bowl
A summer evening concert at the Hollywood Bowl is a quintessential LA experience. Dramatically nestled in the Hollywood Hills with prime views of the Hollywood sign, the Bowl hosts world renowned classical and contemporary musicians, in addition to the LA Philharmonic’s summer season. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine along or simply book a table at one of the Bowl’s al fresco restaurants.
Stop the Press! If your Thanksgiving turkey recipe is not set in stone and you still have time to hoof it to the gourmet grocer- THIS is your recipe, dear readers.
Let’s not kid ourselves, do you really look forward to the turkey at Thanksgiving? I don’t. It’s usually bland, tasteless and a dry disappoint. (cue the wah-wah sound effect) Its only benefit- that late afternoon visit from the tryptophan man that puts me in a hazy fog for the rest of the day, which I quite like after all the morning mayhem. My hubby and I took a class at our local Sur La Table last weekend to try out their cooking classes and got a little more than we bargained for- in a good way. We had a delightful class thanks to the talented Chef Ciji Wagner and her team, and tasted the single most delicious turkey on the planet.
Seriously. I’m not even exaggerating in the slightest, this choice piece of poultry was DI-dare I say-VINE. I will not roast a turkey any other way after learning the ways of this moist and juicy delicacy. It was so juicy, I almost questioned whether it was done or not but before I could voice that doubt, Chef Ciji noted that because we don’t normally have turkey this moist, we may indeed think that it is not done but the thermometer read a hot 165 degrees- just right. We also learned that basting is for suckers- it actually just dries out your bird even more due to the amount of times you have to open and close the oven during cook time. Stuffing inside the bird another no-no. Chefs laugh their cackle-y open-mouthed villain laughs at amateurs who still practice this method from ye olden days. Oh yeah and butter is a cook’s best friend- duh.
I usually like to take a recipe and mess with it, ultimately making it my own but this one is the grand madame Ina Garten’s and is such perfection, I wouldn’t dare change a thing. We also made her turkey gravy (where the Cognac is the thing) and butternut squash salad with warm apple cider vinaigrette (a revelation in gourds)- both of which will appear tomorrow on my Thanksgiving table intact as The Contessa intends.
Three cheers for Ina and Ciji, you have made our holiday truly a juicy one. Of course, I’ll make my grandmother’s old school Texan Cornbread dressing as well- because it’s only the best thing ever and the second best thing to not being in Texas with my family- and my voilá- my meal (along with a few other sides and some seasonal holiday pie courtesy of my bro and sis-in-law) will be complete.
On to the turkey- make this and you will not be disappointed.
Chef’s Tip: Pay close attention to the thermometer and make sure you place it directly in the armpit of the bird so that it reads from the center-most point of your bird.
ROAST TURKEY WITH TRUFFLE BUTTER recipe by: Ina Garten
My Thoughts: I’ll never cook a turkey any other way. Enough said. Tip: I also just added some truffle oil to regular unsalted butter to make the truffle butter. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of truffle per stick of room temperature butter.
Total Time: 3 hr. 45 min.
Prep: 10 min.
Cool: 20 min.
Cook: 3 hours 15 min.
Serves: 8
Level: E-to the-Z
What You Need:
1 (12 to 14-pound) fresh turkey, with giblets removed
3 ounces white truffle butter, at room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Large bunch fresh thyme
1 large onion, unpeeled and cut in eighths
1 whole head garlic, unpeeled and cut in half crosswise
Good olive oil
What You Do:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Drain any juices from the turkey and place it on a flat rack in a large, shallow roasting pan. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
3. Working from the large cavity end, gently run your fingers between the skin and the meat to loosen the skin, taking care not to tear the skin. (Be careful not to do this with rings on your fingers!) Place the softened butter under the skin and gently massage the skin to spread the butter evenly over the whole breast.
4. Sprinkle the cavity generously with salt and pepper. Place half of the thyme sprigs in the cavity along with the onion and garlic. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tie 1 length of string around the bird and the wings to keep the wings close to the body.
5. Brush the turkey with olive oil, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Remove 1 tablespoon of thyme leaves from the stems, chop them, and sprinkle on the turkey. Roast the turkey for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until an instant-read thermometer placed in the center of the breast registers 160 degrees F. If you want the skin to be crisp, don’t baste the turkey at all! About halfway through, when the breast is golden brown, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the skin from burning.
6. Remove from the oven, cover tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Carve and serve with the pan juices.
COGNAC-INFUSED TURKEY GRAVY- da bomb.
recipe by Ina Garten
My Thoughts: We could not get enough of this. Make more than you think you’ll need, it’s great over everything. The Cognac is really the thing here. Be gone giblet gravy of yore (sorry mom, I know you love that stuff but blech!)
Total Time: 30 min.
Prep: 5 min.
Cook: 25 min.
Yields: 3 cups
Level: E-to the-Z
What You Need:
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (2 onions)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade, heated
1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy
1 tablespoon heavy cream (optional)
What You Do:
1. In a large (10- to 12-inch) sauté pan, cook the butter and onions on medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Don’t rush this step; it makes all the difference when the onions are well cooked.
2. Sprinkle the flour into the pan, whisk in, then add the salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock and Cognac, and cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes, until thickened. Add the cream, if desired, and serve.
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH WARM CIDER VINAIGRETTE
recipe by Ina Garten
My thoughts: you may not think of serving salad at Thanksgiving but Holy Smokes is this good. Be careful to add the arugula at the very end directly before serving to avoid soggy greens. Best served warm and freshly made with squash cooked just al dente- be careful not to overcook, al dente is the key here. This recipe ruly a revelation and a game changer when it comes to the way you (or at least I) feel about squash. Tip: I caved and bought pre-cut squash to save myself the hassle of breaking down those tough butternuts. If you are loaded down with recipes to make, I highly suggest springing for the pre-cut veggies.
Total TIme: 1 hour
Serves: 4
Level: E-to the-Z
What You Need:
1 (1 ½-pound) butternut squash, peeled and 3/4-inch diced
Good olive oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
¾ cup apple cider or apple juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry
½ cup walnut halves, toasted
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
What You Do:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place the squash on a sheet pan. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper and toss. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes.
3. While the squash is roasting, combine the apple cider, vinegar, and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cider is reduced to about ¼ cup. Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, ½ cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
4. Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts, and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten, and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
What will you all be making tomorrow? Do share. I would love to hear about your family traditions and recipes. Have a wonderful and happy holiday. I am truly grateful this year for so many blessings, what a wonderful time of year to reflect on the love and joy in our lives.
Happy Holidays and Cin Cin!
P.S.: My in-laws are performing with Pippin tomorrow morning in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Look out for Charlotte and Terry as they strut their stuff and don their jazz hands, hopefully they will not be rained out. ‘Tis the season for jazz hands and Santa’s big entrance- two of the best things in the world.
This is the real deal, folks. Gen-u-wine old school Texas cornbread dressing. Notice I say dressing and not stuffing. This is meant to compliment your bird not get stuck inside it only to dry it out. Don’t be a victim of ye olde stuffing, make it a side dish- it doesn’t do anybody any good inside that bird. Trust me.
We have been making this recipe in my family for decades. It officially started with my great grandmother, at least that’s when it was documented. We do NOT add meat to this as for me, the turkey’s the thing. More meat in the dressing just confuses me. But if you must have that additional dose of meat, add as you like.
This dressing is simple, fragrant and delish. If you want a little bit of the Lone Star state on your plate- this is it kids. Yippee-kay-yay.
OLD SCHOOL TEXAS CORNBREAD DRESSING
Serves: 8
What You Need:
3 packages of cornbread mix. (If you’re on the East Coast, you’ll have to deal with what you can find but Martha White’s is the best.)
6 slices of old school white bread left out overnight and dried
2 cups chopped celery (I cheat and buy this already chopped)
2 cups chopped onion (this too)
1 stick unsalted butter
3 eggs slightly beaten
3 boxes organic chicken broth
fresh or dried sage, poultry seasoning and salt and pepper to taste (I add thyme to this mix too)
What You Do:
1. Preheat oven 450 degrees.
2. Make cornbread and set aside to cool. You can also do this a day ahead.
3. Crumble cornbread and dried sliced bread together in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
4. Sauté onions and celery in butter on medium heat until al dente. Add to the bread mix.
5. Mix together well with clean hands- NO SPOONS allowed, adding in chicken stock and eggs as you mix. Make sure it is nice and juicy as it will dry in the oven and who wants dry dressing?
*Make sure not to over mix. The beauty of this dish is its rustic and fluffy texture. You want big chunks of bread in your stuffing not a soupy mess. Just slightly mix to maintain the rustic chunkiness.
6. Season to taste with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, sage and any other herbs you want to add to the mix.
7. Spoon into a roasting pan and bake until slightly browned on top and piping hot- about 45 minutes.
Former showgirl, forever travel junkie, sometime sommelier, and mom to twin bebes. This little blog is a mixed bag of tasting notes, travels, tales of motherhood, and current musings. Thank you for stopping by. Cin Cin! (photo by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine)
read more...
