Apple, Walnut and Cranberry Stuffing

Hello Everyone,

Today I have for you one of my all time favorite recipes that I seem to only make once a year!  It’s my Apple, Walnut and Cranberry Stuffing.  I love stuffing, love it!  I don’t get why I only have this once a year?  It’s easy to make and so darn tasty!  My guess it’s because I have no self-control when it comes to stuffing!  I keep picking at it until it’s gone!!!  At least I know it won’t go to waste!

Just look at all those apples!  Yummy!  I don’t think stuffing is stuffing without apples!  Matter in fact I love apples so much that one year I stuffed my turkey with apples.  My Husband didn’t like that because he said his gravy tasted like apples.  It doesn’t bother me in the gravy because I don’t care for gravy!  It’s all him!!  My Husband likes gravy so much that I have to buy a spare box of it, just in case he runs out.  His dinner plate is basically a bowl of gravy with a side of mashed potatoes and turkey.  He doesn’t eat anything else.  He doesn’t want rolls or stuffing, just gravy and mashed potatoes!  For me, I’m opposite!  I like the side dishes better, you know roasted corn, stuffing and rolls.  I guess you can tell I love my carbs!

For Thanksgiving this year I was planning on making a roasted chicken because the cost of turkey was so high and it’s just my Husband and I.  We don’t need a 20lbs turkey, it’s so wasteful.  So I bought a roasted chicken from Trader Joe’s and my Husband was happy with that.  Then he texted me the next day and told me that his work is giving him a turkey for Thanksgiving.  Figures!  I thought I would get out of making a turkey this year, I guess not.  So it’s roasted chicken for dinner tonight with a side of my stuffing.

I made this stuffing as healthy as I could!  I used Alvarado Street Flax Seed Bread slices, cut them up into cubes and baked them in the oven for about 7 minutes.  Stuffing makes a good use for bread that is just starting to get stale.  I originally was going to add two chicken apple sausages from Trader Joe’s, but when I was already cooking my stuffing, I dug for the sausage in the freezer and I was out.  I only had Jalapeno Sausage which is good, but I didn’t want to add that to my stuffing, so I went meatless on this one.  If you do add sausage, which would be sooooooooo good, add it in after sauteing the onions and celery and cook for a few minutes, then add your apples and seasoning.

The seasoning in the stuffing is perfect!  I added 4 fresh sage leaves, sliced thin, a pinch of thyme and salt and pepper.  I don’t know what it is but stuffing is so good with sage!!  I also like sage under the skin of the turkey, but again that is another ingredient my Husband doesn’t like.  Last year we got into a little tiff, so I made him make the turkey.  He didn’t want to add lemons to it or anything.  He wanted it plain, rubbed down with a stick of butter.  When he read the recipe on the package it said to add lemons, I laughed!!  Yes, I did help him make it, but I wasn’t to happy with all that butter!  I think that day he turned into Paula Dean!  Me, I like Olive Oil on my turkey!

I hate when I write posts and I think of all the things I want to tell you about the dish, but when I start to type I start to forget.  I know there is something I want to tell you.  What is it?     Ok, I remember, I made the serving size for 5 people, which is approximately 1 cup.  This serving size is perfect for two for three people, if you are serving a bigger party, double the recipe.  The cooking time should remain the same.  This bread is very moist, if you like a crispy topping, bake it in the oven with the foil off for approximately 10 minutes longer.  I put that in my directions.  One last thing, if you want to make this vegan, omit the chicken broth and use vegetable broth, that would be fantastic too!!  Hmmm, I think that is it!

I would love to know what your favorite Thanksgiving recipe is and if there is a recipe you want me to make this week.  Since I’m off, I’ll have a little more time to cook and bake.

Have a great Saturday!!!

Toodles,

Jennifer

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for the Special K Girly Gift Basket.  Last day to enter is today!!

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