Cornbread Stuffing With Fresh And Dried Fruit Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 1 stick butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, apple, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and sage and cook until softened, about 3 more minutes.
• Put the cornbread in a large bowl and add the vegetable-apple mixture. Add the pecans and dried fruit; toss to combine. Add 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup at a time, tossing after each addition. The cornbread should feel moist but not mushy; add 1 more cup broth ¼ cup at a time if needed. Melt the remaining 1/2 stick butter and stir into the stuffing.
• Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Add the stuffing mixture and lightly press down. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is dry and browned, about 30 more minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Cornbread:Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in top third. Melt butter in an 8- or 9-inch-square baking dish in oven. Meanwhile, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pecans, raisins, and cranberries in a bowl. Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in a large bowl. Gradually whisk melted butter (set aside baking dish) into buttermilk mixture.
• Whisk cornmeal mixture into buttermilk mixture until just combined, then pour into buttered dish. Bake cornbread until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Cornbread can be made 2 days ahead and stored at room temperature or frozen up to 1 month.
• Dressing:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut cornbread into roughly 1-inch pieces and place on a rimmed baking sheet, along with any crumbs. Toast until golden, about 30 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Whisk together milk, cream, eggs, scallions, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Fold in toasted cornbread and transfer to baking dish. Bake until custard is set and top is browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.