“Let our lives be full of both thanks and giving.”
November on the East Coast can be translated to a decrease in temperature coupled with an increase in holiday spirit. As a new Boston food blogger, I was excited for Thanksgiving here, and my roommates and I decided to throw a feast. This was a treat because I planned to get more into cooking – especially after seeing my new kitchen! What better time than Thanksgiving to kick off a new cooking era. I volunteered to make the all-so-important stuffing, and discovered a great cornbread recipe to try.
Cornbread Stuffing Recipe Ingredients
Cornbread Stuffing Ingredients
You Will Need
2 large onions, chopped
4 ribs of celery, chopped
*1/4 stick of butter
4 cups chicken broth
*1/2 pounds bacon, cut into chunks
*1 cup chopped pecans
2 (16oz) bags dried corn bread mix
*Thyme
*Sage
*Starred ingredients have changed quantities from the original recipe. I used less butter, bacon, and pecans, and more thyme and sage than the recipe called for.
Details
Prep Time: *1-1.5 hrs
Cook Time: *50-75 min
Serves: 6-8 Servings
*Both prep and cook time took a bit longer than the original recipe claimed. I would allow for this amount of time just in case.
Cornbread Stuffing Recipe Step-By-Step
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Step 2: Chop Onions & Celery
Step 3: Chop Pecans
Step 4: Chop bacon and fry until crisp
(I chopped after frying but it would be easier to do it beforehand)
Step 5: Once bacon is crisp, turn down heat and add celery and onions. Sautee until tender (about 6 minutes)
Step 6: Add thyme and sage. The original recipe only called for 1 tablespoon of each, but I was much more generous with mine. The thyme and sage are the essence of the stuffing spice, so I would put in a lot. Saute until fragrant.
Step 7: Stir in pecans
Step 8: In a large bowl, add cornbread mix
Step 9: Stir in bacon & veggies, and add chicken broth
Step 10: Add mix to a 13 by 9 by 2 inch casserole dish. Add butter slices to the top of the casserole and cover with foil.
Step 11: Bake for 30 minutes, then remove foil and cook until top is crisp (about 15-30 more minutes)
Step 12: Enjoy!
Boston Thanksgiving Feast
I found the cutest place settings at the party store near my work, and grabbed a candle from my room for some nice decor. My roommate Ronnie found a darling Thanksgiving tablecloth that just happened to go perfectly with the place settings.
Thanksgiving Dinner Feast Table
All in all, our Boston Thanksgiving feast was a success. Everyone contributed and we had a great variety of seasonal dishes. From left: green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, biscuits, turkey & gravy, cranberry sauce, cornbread stuffing.
I had so much fun with this recipe and it was a hit at the table. I’m inspired to continue cooking new dishes- at least once a week! I’ll keep you posted of course. Let me know if you have any dishes you’d like to see on here!