PICTURES OF STUFFING RECIPES

Steps:

• Add dry bread cubes to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
• Melt 1 stick of butter in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and salt, and sauté until the onions soften and turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add sage, thyme, and broth to the pan. Stir together and wait for the mixture to come to a boil.
• Carefully remove from heat and pour over the bread cubes. Toss with a large spoon until the bread is evenly saturated.
• Let the mixture sit and cool in the bowl for about 15 minutes, tossing occasionally.
• Add black pepper, cayenne, parsley, rosemary, and beaten egg to the bowl and mix until evenly combined. Allow mixture to cool completely, tossing occasionally.
• Melt remaining 1/2 stick of butter in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the stuffing mixture, and pat down with a spatula. Cook until a golden brown crust forms, about 5 minutes, before turning the stuffing over, one spatula's worth at a time. Cover and cook about 5 minutes, before uncovering and tossing again. Continue cooking and tossing uncovered, until the desired amount of browning and crusting has occurred.
• Transfer to a casserole dish or serving plate.

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet over medium heat melt the butter, then sauté the onion and celery (and mushroom, if using) until the onion is soft, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the salt, pepper, and sage and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
• Place the bread cubes into a large, deep bowl.
• Pour 1/4 cup of the butter/celery mixture over the cubes and toss well, then repeat steps until all of the butter mixture is used.
• Toss the cubes thoroughly to coat.
• (Regarding the optional chicken broth: for dry stuffing, add little or no liquid; for moist stuffing mix in lightly with fork just enough chicken broth to moisten dry crumbs.) Let cool and use as stuffing for the turkey.
• We've made this stuffing in the crockpot, as well, adding the chicken broth for moistness.
• Adapted from Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, circa 1950.
• Note: regardling the amount of salt - yes, the amount listed above is correct and is what is listed in the original Betty Crocker recipe. When the butter mixture is first added to the bread, if you taste it at this point it might seem salty (because it is sitting right on the surface of the bread) but remember that the liquid and butter soaks into the bread and redistributes evenly. Also, this recipe, being from the 1950s, is specifically for cooking *inside* the turkey, which a lot of people no longer do, and again the salt will redistribute from the juices in the meat. If you use a crockpot for cooking your stuffing, I'd recommend reducing the amount of salt.
• Note #2: again, regarding the salt. You're going to have to decide for yourself about the salt. Having eaten this recipe for every year of my life I know it tastes wonderful as it's written. But that's just me.