Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because the whole purpose of it is to give thanks. There is no imitation to the purpose of this holiday as there is Christmas and Easter. We focus on how good God has been to us, even when the circumstances we are facing aren’t good. He never changes, and this gives us cause to celebrate in a big way.

What better way to celebrate than to prepare the best feast for whoever is able to join us at our table?

We are driving to GA to have an early Thanksgiving with our daughter and her family. Then we’ll drive to TN to spend Thanksgiving Day with our son and his family. Both have requested my dressing and I love making it for them.

Years ago I created my own recipe combining the dressing my southern grandmother used to make with the dressing my Italian Mother-in-love used to make. Who knew that it would become our family favorite? It makes me happy. I call it…

Our Family’s Best Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

Corn Bread (I use this recipe)
Pepperidge Farms herbed stuffing mix, small
1 stick of butter
3 onions, chopped
6 celery stalks, chopped
3 eggs
32 oz. box of chicken broth + more as needed
16 oz. bulk mild Italian sausage
1 T. Sage

1 cup or more chestnuts, chopped (I buy them ready-to eat at Costco)
Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Make 9 x 9 pan of cornbread according to directions. Let it cool completely, then break it up into crumbs in a large bowl. Add herbed stuffing mix, sage, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Preheat oven to 400°.

In large skillet brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Remove and set aside. In same skillet melt stick of butter then saute’ onions and celery until tender. Add to cornbread mixture along with sausage and stir. Whisk eggs in separate bowl and add to cornbread mixture. Stir with your hands to thoroughly mix adding chicken broth, a ladle at a time. The goal is to reach a consistency like thick oatmeal.

Pour into a 13 x 9 greased pan. Bake covered at 400 degrees for an hour to an hour and a half. Remove foil to brown and until it reaches a temperature of 165°. If you make a day ahead, pour an additional cup of broth over the stuffing before baking.

This is the aroma of Thanksgiving in our home. It represent our two families in one harmonious dish.

We wish you and yours a rich and satisfying celebration whether your table is full or not. It is good to remember the One who never changes and is always present with you.

We thank God for you, our followers. We pray your marriage is strengthened by the grace God supplies all the other days of the year.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬